Hillary Clinton’s Latest Book Sells Only 27K Copies in First Week

Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, released her latest book, Something Lost, Something Gained: Lessons on Life, Love, and Liberty, last month. However, the book’s reception has been lackluster, with only 27,000 copies sold in its first week. This modest figure is a sharp contrast to the sales of her 2017 memoir, What Happened, which chronicled her defeat to Donald Trump in the 2016 election and sold 167,000 copies during its debut week.

Clinton, a towering figure in American politics for decades, has long been a polarizing character. Her latest book, which reflects on personal and political lessons learned throughout her life, was expected to garner significant attention. Yet, the tepid response suggests that the public’s interest in hearing Clinton’s perspective has waned considerably compared to when she first reflected on the shocking 2016 election loss.

The 27,000 copies sold in the first week represent an over 80% drop compared to the launch of What Happened. In 2017, despite losing the election to Trump, Clinton’s memoir achieved solid sales. While some viewed the 167,000 copies sold as a reflection of public curiosity about her perspective on the election’s outcome, others felt that the number, even then, wasn’t particularly impressive for someone with such a prominent public profile.

Following the release of What Happened, Simon & Schuster, the book’s publisher, touted the sales as a remarkable achievement. Carolyn Reidy, the publisher’s then-president and CEO, boasted about the book’s performance, claiming that it had the “biggest first-week sales recorded by any author for a hardcover nonfiction title published since 2012.” Reidy also pointed to the intense public interest in Clinton’s account of the 2016 election as a driving factor behind the book’s success.

“The remarkable response to What Happened indicates that, notwithstanding all that has been written and discussed over the last year, there is clearly an overwhelming desire among readers to learn about and experience, from Hillary Clinton’s singular perspective, the [historical] events of the 2016 election. In its candor and immediacy, What Happened is satisfying that demand,” Reidy said at the time.

However, the recent dismal sales of Something Lost, Something Gained indicate that the enthusiasm surrounding Clinton’s perspective on current events has significantly diminished.

Critics of Clinton have seized on the book’s weak sales numbers as an opportunity to mock the former candidate and her supporters. Bill Mitchell, the CEO of YourVoice Studios, responded to the news with a scathing social media post. Mitchell pointed out the stark contrast in sales compared to her previous book, suggesting that this decline is reflective of a broader disinterest in Clinton’s views and the Democratic agenda.

“If Kamala’s agenda is so popular, why do their movies and books fail so badly,” Mitchell wrote in one post, referring not only to Clinton but also to Vice President Kamala Harris and the broader Democratic Party.

FAIL NOTICE: Hillary Clinton's latest book, "Something Lost, Something Gained," DRASTICALLY underperforms, with first-week sales down more than 80 percent compared to her previous memoir. If Kamala's agenda is so popular, why do their movies and books fail so badly. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/zuJAWt9oz6

— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) October 10, 2024

Mitchell’s criticism didn’t stop there. He followed up with another post that took direct aim at Clinton’s political relevance and the public’s supposed lack of interest in the ideas promoted by the left. “Who else thinks it is absolutely hilarious that Hillary Clinton’s new book is a complete disaster? This has always been my question. If the far-left agenda is so popular, why do all of its news shows, books, and movies go broke for lack of interest?”

Who else thinks it is absolutely hilarious that Hillary Clinton's new book is a complete disaster? This has always been my question. If the far left agenda is so popular, why do all of its news shows, books and movies go broke for lack of interest? https://t.co/0WIssk8wtT

— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) October 10, 2024

Mitchell’s comments echo a sentiment shared by many on the political right, who argue that the declining sales of left-leaning content—whether it be books, films, or news programs—demonstrate that the progressive agenda is out of step with mainstream America.

Several factors may explain why Something Lost, Something Gained hasn’t captured the same level of attention as What Happened. For one, the political landscape has changed significantly since 2017. In the aftermath of the 2016 election, there was heightened interest in dissecting the reasons behind Clinton’s unexpected loss. The shock of Trump’s victory, combined with ongoing investigations into foreign interference in the election, made What Happened a timely and relevant read for many.

In contrast, Clinton’s latest book doesn’t have the same immediacy or urgency attached to it. While it offers reflections on life, politics, and personal experiences, it doesn’t seem to have sparked the same level of intrigue or controversy. Furthermore, public interest in Clinton may have simply waned over time as other political figures have taken center stage, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

Additionally, some critics argue that Clinton’s focus on past grievances, especially her continued reflections on the 2016 election, may not resonate with readers eager to move on from that chapter in political history.

The release of Something Lost, Something Gained was expected to draw attention, given Clinton’s enduring presence in American politics. However, the weak first-week sales suggest that the public’s appetite for her political and personal reflections has diminished. With only 27,000 copies sold, the book’s launch pales in comparison to her previous work, What Happened, which sold over six times as many copies during its debut week.

As Clinton’s political relevance continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether future efforts—be they books, speeches, or other ventures—will be able to recapture the public’s interest.