Republican 2023 hardcover book sales update
Top GOP Lawmakers and Presidential Hopefuls Sell Hundreds of Thousands of Books
A cohort of top GOP lawmakers, 2024 presidential hopefuls, and other notable conservatives have achieved impressive book sales in the first weeks of their 2023 releases, according to data. The 10 Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), collectively sold at least 194,540 hardcover copies during the first week of their book releases in 2023, based on data obtained by the Washington Examiner.
“You can usually sort the winners and losers in politician books by looking at which ones are memoirs,” a senior publishing industry employee told the Washington Examiner. “Most politicians only know and care about one thing: themselves. The books that sell much better are about topics voters care about.”
Impressive Sales Figures
Among the GOP presidential candidates, DeSantis leads the pack with 94,285 hardcovers sold in the first week for his memoir, The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival. Trump’s book, Letters to Trump, sold 15,979 hardcovers in its first week and became a No. 1 Amazon bestseller. The book, priced at approximately $91 on Amazon, features correspondence from world leaders, sports figures, and celebrities.
It’s worth noting that BookScan’s first-week sales data for Letters to Trump may not capture its full market success, as the book has also been sold directly to consumers and at events like Trump rallies, which are not tracked by the data provider.
Other notable sales include Vivek Ramaswamy’s Capitalist Punishment: How Wall Street Is Using Your Money to Create a Country You Didn’t Vote For, which sold 1,174 hardcover copies in its first week, and Mike Pompeo’s Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love, which sold 34,630 hardcovers in its first week.
BookScan: The Industry Standard
BookScan, the industry standard for measuring book sales, tracks sales through major retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, and Amazon. It provides accurate insights into sales patterns, although it may not capture sales from all retailers. The data provider’s owner, the NPD Group, is a market research firm based in Port Washington, New York.
Despite the impressive sales figures, it’s important to note that the majority of Winning Team Publishing’s sales, including Trump’s books, are direct-to-consumer, surpassing the reported figures.
Authors Reflect on Their Success
Authors like Pompeo and Trey Gowdy, whose book Start, Stay, or Leave: The Art of Decision Making sold 18,482 hardcovers in its first week, attribute their success to engaging storytelling and appealing to a broader audience beyond political enthusiasts.
Looking ahead, these authors hope their books will inspire action and contribute to the renewal of America. David McCormick, author of Superpower in Peril: A Battle Plan to Renew America, expressed gratitude for the positive response to his battle plan and hopes to see his ideas put into action in Washington.
Kari Lake, the Republican Arizona gubernatorial nominee in 2022, released her book Unafraid: Just Getting Started, which sold 1,715 hardcovers in its first week. The book outlines her journey from a beloved newscaster to a leader of a grassroots movement.
Rubio’s book, Decades of Decadence: How Our Spoiled Elites Blew America’s Inheritance of Liberty, Security, and Prosperity, focuses on China’s influence, globalization, and open borders. Rubio believes that understanding the past is crucial to solving the serious challenges America faces.
Hawley’s book, Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs, sold 3,311 hardcovers in its first month and has continued to gain traction. His previous work, The Tyranny of Big Tech, sold over 40,000 copies and became a New York Times bestseller.
Overall, these book sales demonstrate the enduring popularity of conservative voices and the public’s interest in topics that go beyond personal memoirs.
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