One must seriously ask, how exactly do political memoirs increase human productivity?
2009 marked the resurrection of the infamous “Book Deal” with lovely Ms. Palin and entourage leading the charge. However, books are not the actual product; it is the kindling (amazon pun intended) that they provide for endless fodder for the mainstream and new media. It’s the money shot.
Entering a mid-term election year with the future of our country in the balance, the onslaught of meaningless dribble will be epic. The national pundits will go wild fueling local media coverage as the authors engage in their cross-country tours of duty performing the perfunctory act of accomplishment.
There will be a wide audience of Americans asking themselves the same question:
Should the past be used to predict the future?
Karl Rove
Former deputy White House chief of staff’s book Courage and Consequence will be published on 9 March by Simon and Schuster’s Threshold Editions, a conservative imprint. Deal reported by US media at $2m.
Donald Rumsfeld
To be published in the autumn by Sentinel, an imprint of Penguin. No advance for the former defense secretary, share of proceeds to go to charity.
George W Bush
Autobiography, tentatively titled Decision Points, is to be published by Crown. Deal estimated at $7m.
Laura Bush
Her memoir is due in the spring from Scribner. Laura’s deal may be worth more than her husband’s. US media put it at $8m.
Dick Cheney
Scheduled for spring 2011, the former vice-president shares publisher with Rove. His deal is estimated at $2m.
What if this conversation has no currency?
What if we are reaching a tipping point? What if nobody cares anymore? What if none of this makes any sense to anyone? What if we can more accurately use the future to predict what really happened in the past?
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