Lessons From the Corridors of Power: 10 Best-Selling Political Memoirs of All Time

Oct 02, 2023

By: Sahib Preet Singh

Wise words from seasoned politicians that can inspire and guide

In the era of political memoirs, influential figures who have proved their mettle in elections and beyond have penned narratives that resonate with readers beyond the pages. From Barack Obama's introspective exploration of his identity and journey to the ...

"A Promised Land" by Barack Obama

Barack Obama's "A Promised Land," released on November 17, 2020, sold a staggering 890,000 copies within just 24 hours, showcasing the immense interest in his presidential journey. In the highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoi...

"Hard Choices: A Memoir" by Hillary Clinton

"Hillary Clinton's memoir, 'Hard Choices: A Memoir,' released on June 10, 2014, garnered significant attention with first-week sales reaching 100,000 copies. Within its pages, Clinton reflected on her tenure as secretary of state during...

"Promise Me, Dad" by Joe Biden

In "Promise Me, Dad," Joe Biden recounts the transformative year of 2014, marked by his son Beau's battle with a malignant brain tumor. Amidst family traditions and devastating uncertainty, Biden, as Vice President, juggled global crises while p...

"My Life" by Bill Clinton

"My Life," penned by former President Bill Clinton, hit the shelves on June 22, 2004, and swiftly achieved resounding success with first-week sales soaring to a staggering 1 million copies. This political memoir delves deep into the life of the 42nd ...

"Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man" by Mary L. Trump

Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man" by Mary L. Trump made a thunderous entrance into the literary world on July 14, 2020, with an impressive first-week sales record of 1.35 million copies. As a trained...

"The Downing Street Years" by Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, released her memoir "The Downing Street Years" on October 1, 1993, providing an intimate account of her remarkable 11 1/2 years at 10 Downing Street, the official Prime Ministeri...

"A Journey: My Political Life" by Tony Blair

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair released "A Journey: My Political Life" on September 2, 2010. In this deeply personal memoir, Blair provides readers with candid revelations and insights into his transformative stint in office, between Ma...

"True Compass" by Ted Kennedy

"True Compass" is the poignant memoir penned by former Senator Ted Kennedy, and it was released on September 14, 2009, shortly after his tragic passing. Kennedy, following a diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor, embarked on this memoir, offering a de...

"A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership" by James Comey

"A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership" is a revealing memoir by James Comey, who held the position of FBI director from September 2013 until his abrupt dismissal in May 2017. Released on April 17, 2018, the book garnered significant atte...

"Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" by Barack Obama

"Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" stands as former President Barack Obama's debut memoir, released in 1995. In its initial week, the book sold only 10,000 copies, but sales picked up later in the run-up to Obama's...