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Obama’s Books Out-Selling McCain’s Titles In 2008

3 minute read | October 2008

If book sales were electoral votes, the U.S. presidential election would hardly be a close contest.

So far in 2008, four books published by Sen. Barack Obama between 2004 and fall 2008 have sold a combined 912,000 copies, according to Nielsen BookScan. 

In comparison, Sen. John McCain’s five titles, published between 1999 and summer 2008, have sold a total of 116,000 copies — almost 800,000 copies less than Obama.

Between January and September 21, 2008, McCain’s top selling book, “Faith of My Fathers,” sold 73,000 copies in hardcover, paperback, and audio editions. 

Obama’s top book, “The Audacity of Hope,” out-sold McCain’s title by 639% during the same period, according to Nielsen, with sales of 540,000 copies in hardcover, paperback, audio, and Spanish language editions.

John McCain’s

Book Titles

FormatPub DatePublisher

(Imprint)

2008 Unit Sales

(Thru Sept. 21, 2008) *

FAITH OF MY FATHERSHardcover3/1/2008RANDOM HOUSE36,000
FAITH OF MY FATHERSTrade Paperback9/1/2000HARPER PERENNIAL35,000
WHY COURAGE MATTERSMM Paperback7/1/2008BALLANTINE BOOKS11,000
HARD CALLTrade Paperback2/1/2008TWELVE9,000
WORTH THE FIGHTING FORTrade Paperback9/1/2003RANDOM HOUSE7,000
WHY COURAGE MATTERSHardcover1/1/2004RANDOM HOUSE5,000
CHARACTER IS DESTINYTrade Paperback8/1/2007RANDOM HOUSE4,000
HARD CALLHardcover8/1/2007TWELVE4,000
FAITH OF MY FATHERSHardcover8/1/1999RANDOM HOUSE1,000
CHARACTER IS DESTINYHardcover10/1/2005RANDOM HOUSE1,000
FAITH OF MY FATHERSAudio4/1/2008RANDOM HOUSE AUDIBLE1,000
HARD CALLAudio2/1/2008HACHETTE AUDIO1,000
Source: The Nielsen Company (January 1, 2008 – September 21, 2008).

*BookScan does not track sales from Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club, BJ’s, and airports.

 

Barack Obama’s

Book Titles

FormatPub DatePublisher

(Imprint)

2008 Unit Sales

(Thru Sept. 21, 2008) *

THE AUDACITY OF HOPETrade Paperback11/1/2007THREE RIVERS PRESS (CA)441,000
DREAMS FROM MY FATHERTrade Paperback8/1/2004THREE RIVERS PRESS (CA)310,000
THE AUDACITY OF HOPEHardcover10/1/2006CROWN PUBLISHERS33,000
DREAMS FROM MY FATHERHardcover1/1/2007CROWN PUBLISHERS30,000
THE AUDACITY OF HOPEMM Paperback7/1/2008VINTAGE BOOKS USA30,000
THE AUDACITY OF HOPEAudio11/1/2007RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO ASSETS27,000
DREAMS FROM MY FATHERAudio5/1/2005RANDOM HOUSE AUDIBLE13,000
THE ESSENTIAL BARACK OBAMAAudio3/1/2008RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO ASSETS9,000
BARACK OBAMA: IN HIS OWN WORDSTrade Paperback3/1/2007CARROLL & GRAF PUBLISHERS7,000
LA AUDACIA DE LA ESPERANZATrade Paperback6/1/2007VINTAGE BOOKS USA4,000
THE AUDACITY OF HOPEAudio10/1/2006RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO ASSETS3,000
CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE INAudio9/1/2008RANDOM HOUSE AUDIBLE1,000
Source: The Nielsen Company (January 1, 2008 – September 21, 2008).

*BookScan does not track sales from Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club, BJ’s, and airports.

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