The world of publishing has faced its fair share of unpredictable market trends, but the recent turn of events concerning a book on President Joe Biden's administration signals a more discernible shift.
According to The Post Millenial, Simon and Schuster's decision to terminate their contract with Axios' national political correspondent, Alex Thompson, underscores the tough market for Biden-themed literature. This is a blow to the Biden administration as the group was writing a book about the Biden presidency.
The termination was first brought to light by Daniel Lippman at Politico, who cited two sources. This move comes in the wake of witnessing poor sales for literature related to President Biden, a stark contrast to the interest garnered by books focusing on former President Donald Trump. The aforementioned contrast illustrates a broader market trend where literature about the current president is struggling to find its footing.
Alex Thompson took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to confirm the news. He expressed his continued commitment to writing the book with an optimistic outlook for a 2025 release, extending an invitation to interested publishers. This development illustrates Thompson's determination to shed light on the Biden presidency through his work, despite the setback.
It was anticipated that Thompson’s book would offer valuable insights into President Biden's presidency, especially given Thompson's extensive coverage of the White House transition. His intention to persist with the writing process evidences the journalist's dedication to storytelling and political analysis.
The sales figures lay bare the challenge faced by books on President Biden. Works such as Gabriel Debenedetti's "The Long Alliance," Chris Whipple’s "The Fight of His Life," and Franklin Foer’s "The Last Politician" have seen relatively modest sales.
In comparison, publications about former President Trump, like Michael Wolff’s "Fire and Fury" and Bob Woodward and Robert Costa’s "Peril," have enjoyed substantially higher sales figures. This difference not only highlights a potential political reading preference but also signifies the complexities of the current literary market.
The journalist's announcement on X reiterated his determination, "It’s true. But still writing it and aiming for 2025 to tell the story of the Biden presidency. If you’re a publisher and interested, email/number in bio."
This explicit statement of commitment from Thompson has sparked conversations about the nature of political literature and its reception among the American populace. It underscores the importance of perseverance in the face of market adversity and the unpredictability of reader interest.
The termination of Thompson's contract with Simon and Schuster is not just a reflection of the challenging market for Biden-related literature but also an indication of the broader trends affecting political book sales. The comparison between the sales figures for Biden and Trump-themed books provides a stark illustration of the current landscape. Despite the setback, Thompson's decision to continue with the project points to an ongoing interest in the inner workings and impacts of the Biden administration. His commitment to pursuing publication, even in the face of market challenges, reflects the dynamic and often unpredictable world of book publishing.
The termination of Alex Thompson's contract by Simon and Schuster due to low interest in Biden-related literature highlights a unique challenge within the publishing industry.
The notable disparity in sales between Biden and Trump-themed books underscores a broader trend that favors the sensational over the subtle.
Thompson's resolve to move forward with his book, aimed at a 2025 release, indicates a determined effort to navigate this challenging landscape, offering hope for future authors tackling politically themed works.
