"Change" will be released by Three Rivers Press, a paperback imprint of Crown Publishing, which published Obama's "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope." According to Obama's literary representative, Washington attorney Robert Barnett, the contract is between Crown and Obama's presidential campaign, not Obama himself. Financial terms were not available, although Barnett says the campaign will donate all net proceeds to a charity still to be determined. The new release was assembled over the past few weeks and is not part of the senator's current deal with Crown, which calls for him to write two more books, including a children's book. "Change We Can Believe In" will test Obama's appeal. Policy books are rarely hits with the public, although they can be quite useful for candidates, such as Obama, who have been criticized for lacking substance. In 1992, Bill Clinton and running mate Al Gore released "Putting People First," a blueprint for their time in office that became a best seller and remained popular even after they were elected. Obama's book will have strong competition at stores. It comes out at the same time as Bob Woodward's fourth volume on the Bush administration, one of the fall's most anticipated releases. Crown is a division of Random House Inc.
Obama policy book coming out Sept. 9
NEW YORK (AP) -August 11, 2008 "Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew
America's Promise" is coming out Sept. 9 as a paperback with an
announced first printing of 300,000 copies and a list price of
$13.95. Looking ahead to the digital market, the e-book, also
$13.95, will go on sale the day before.
"We are proud to have published two best-selling books by
Barack Obama and are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue
to work with his campaign on such an important and inspiring book
at this critical moment in our country," Crown Publishing Group
president Jenny Frost said in a statement.
The book will include a foreword by Obama, the Democrats'
presumptive presidential nominee, and feature sections - written by
members of Obama for America, his presidential campaign - on such
issues as health care, energy and national security. "Change We
Can Believe In" also compiles some of his better known speeches,
including his celebrated talk on race and his recent address in
Berlin.