As anticipation builds for the return of Mary Trump's estranged uncle to the White House, she reflects on the future of political tell-all books. Mary Trump, author of the bestselling 'Too Much and Never Enough,' doesn't foresee any upcoming book reaching the same level of success as previous first-term exposés like 'Fire and Fury.' She notes that much has already been revealed through existing publications, questioning what more there is to learn.
During Donald Trump's presidency, the political book genre experienced a surge in sales, nearly doubling from 2015 to 2020. Bestsellers included works by Michael Wolff, James Comey, John Bolton, and Bob Woodward. Dystopian fiction also saw increased interest, with Margaret Atwood's 'A Handmaid's Tale' leading the way.
However, since Trump's departure from office, interest in political books has waned, returning to pre-2016 levels. Even releases related to Trump have failed to generate the same level of excitement among readers. Publishers remain cautious about the future success of Trump-related books, although some believe there is still a market for insightful analyses of recent events.
Following Trump's election victory, books like 'The Handmaid's Tale' and '1984' experienced a resurgence in popularity. Pro-Trump literature also saw a rise in sales, including works by Cabinet members and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Melania Trump's memoir, 'Melania,' has been a surprise hit, outselling expectations and garnering significant attention.
Conservative books have maintained steady sales, with publishers anticipating critical works to make their way onto bestseller lists. The possibility of future tell-alls or investigative works on Trump remains uncertain, with the potential for insider accounts or revelations about planned initiatives to shape the narrative.
While a new 'Fire and Fury' seems unlikely, given the author's lack of access to the current administration, other authors like Bob Woodward remain undecided about their next projects. Woodward suggests that the direction of future Trump-related books will depend on the actions of the president-elect and the unfolding political landscape.
Top 5 bestselling Trump-related books, according to Circana:
- 'Too Much and Never Enough' by Mary Trump: 1,248,212 copies
- 'Fire and Fury' by Michael Wolff: 936,116 copies
- 'Fear' by Bob Woodward: 872,014 copies
- 'The Room Where It Happened' by John Bolton: 676,010 copies
- 'Rage' by Bob Woodward: 549,685 copies
These figures represent total sales tracked by Circana, covering approximately 85% of the print market and excluding e-book or audiobook sales.
