There are always two goals that exist in the fantasy world of a
publishers head: First is a book that sells a million copies,
second is a book that is certain to sell more than a million and
requires a printing larger than a million. Levin's book has
scored here as well, with 1.2 million now in print.
The announcement came from Louise Burke, Threshold Editions'
Executive Vice President and Publisher. Burke called Levin's
achievement "a rare publishing milestone."
Burke is correct about the milestone, since the book was
published barely six months ago and started out its debut already
in the number one slot of the New York Times bestseller list. It
spent 12 weeks there and is still in the top ten.
I
reviewed the book in the June issue of the
Spectator. This is without doubt the 21st century
version of Barry Goldwater's Conscience of a
Conservative, serving as what the publisher correctly calls
a "roadmap back" to the conservative movement's political roots.
What I enjoyed is that Levin really put in considerable work
translating the great basic texts of conservatism (Adam Smith,
Charles Montesquieu, John Locke, Edmund Burke) and related their
writings directly to the problems America is facing right now. If
you need a guidebook through the socialist swamp that is the Age
of Obama -- and well beyond that -- this is the necessary book.
The roadmap out.
What is particularly noteworthy is that this success comes
without the usual mainstream media attention that is accorded
liberal authors. As I have also noted in my "Media Malpractice"
article today, to this literal instant Levin has not been
invited on the usual round of network morning shows or profiled
in the Old Media papers with the exception of the
Philadelphia Inquirer.
There is a reason for this. What Levin has to say -- the book is
a clear enunciation of conservative principles -- absolutely
terrifies these people. People who are, as we all now have long
known, not impartial journalists but liberal activists
masquerading as journalists. The way Goldwater put it was that
these activists "had long held a monopoly on the information
flowing to the American people." And that was in 1961!
That monopoly is now gone. There is no more emphatic testament to
that than the fact that in spite of this media blackout,
Liberty and Tyranny as of this day is a million seller.
It is discussed on Fox. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have had
Levin on their air to dissect the book in detail. The Internet is
flooded with conversations about this book.
As Glenn Beck talked with actor Jon Voight he casually asked what
Voight was reading, to which the actor's unhesitating reply was
"Mark Levin's book."
This is a moment that will surely cause some celebration in the
Levin clan. But for the rest of us this has a considerable
importance well beyond the knowledge a million Americans are
thumbing their way through this book. It is the realization so
many are learning, some for the first time, just why the
principles Levin discusses are important. The realization that
more and more people are understanding the impact of those
principles on the real world in which they live.
The publisher also announced, by the way, that they had signed
Levin up for another book. Mark Levin is on his way to becoming
the J.K. Rowling of conservatism.
Congratulations, Great One.
Now get off those damn laurels and get back to work!
Michelle Malkin's "Culture of Corruption" is excellent, too. When
is your next book coming out, Jeff?
Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 1:44PM
Daisy....
Michelle is terrific, I just haven't caught up with her book. She
is an absolute whirlwind.
My next book sits in growing form on my computer...with a note
that says "Daisy and others are waiting...get cracking!"
I am! Thanks!
Liberal Reader| 9.15.09 @ 2:15PM
Mr Lord --
I think you unwittingly hit on the perfect critical assessment of
Levin:
He is, very much indeed, the JK Rowling of current conservatism.
Spot on.
Daisy| 9.15.09 @ 2:15PM
Glad to hear it--you're a great writer!
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.15.09 @ 2:21PM
My (only) non-fiction book took three years to exceed a million
sold. The sweetest compliment I ever got was: "After reading it
through a couple of times, it became my "john" book". Heh!
He read excerpts every day while on the john.
I wrote the man and thanked him for his attention.
Liberal Reader| 9.15.09 @ 3:09PM
I agree a second time, Mr. Lord.
My description of Michelle Malkin would be "a giftless
reactionary windbag."
She is, indeed, full of wind.
SoCon| 9.15.09 @ 3:12PM
So are you, moron. Unfortunately, it's the kind of wind not
mentioned in polite society.
Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 3:48PM
LR...
So you read Levin's book? And you disagree about....?
Richard| 9.15.09 @ 4:37PM
I have listened to Livin on talk radio ad nauseam and find him
plain nasty, mean, and a master of hate speech. Anyone who wastes
a dime on his book is a fool and a victim.
Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 4:59PM
Richard...
Closed minds are never a good thing. Get it from the library if
you don't want to buy it....
SoCon| 9.15.09 @ 6:25PM
Richard, if you think Mark Levin is a master of hate speech, why
do you listen to him ad nauseam? You sound like a glutton for
punishment.
CJ | 9.15.09 @ 7:01PM
Richard...
you can't HANDLE the truth!! the truth is not always pretty, or
nice, or flowery...just effective....it'll set you free
The old saying "a stuck pig squeals" seems to apply here.
Keep squealing, folks, and keep proving how dangerous Levin is to
your twisted worldview.
caraby| 9.15.09 @ 8:21PM
What's LR so threatened by anyway? She probably lives in the
basement of her JFK-worshipping hippie parents and was not
allowed to date any boy whose name wasn't Moonbeam or,,,Hussein.
or may not make the eleven o'clock news. The intelligent Conservative alternative. About DANCING IN THE STREETS: Levin Book Breaks Million Record Today Posted at September 15, 2009 Levin Book Breaks Million Record Today The American Spectator It’s official. Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto by radio talk star Mark Levin is, as of today, officially that most sought after of publishing…
karen| 9.16.09 @ 4:37PM
Very enlightening and eloquently-written book. I'm not surprised
it's a blockbuster!!!!
Keep declaring the truth about our founding principals laid out
in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence and where we
are today! You are admired for your knowledge of our Constitution
and your penmanship. Truly powerful.
Glad I found you on my radio dial too. You are informing and
instilling hope in those of us who hold true to our conservative
values--the right ones that every American should hold if they
value their freedom!!!!!!
Leon Foonman| 1.17.10 @ 7:28PM
Thank God a good Christian man has sold his message of hope to
all real AMERICANS. No thanks to the left wing union communists!
Daisy| 9.15.09 @ 1:35PM
Michelle Malkin's "Culture of Corruption" is excellent, too. When is your next book coming out, Jeff?
Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 1:44PM
Daisy....
Michelle is terrific, I just haven't caught up with her book. She is an absolute whirlwind.
My next book sits in growing form on my computer...with a note that says "Daisy and others are waiting...get cracking!"
I am! Thanks!
Liberal Reader| 9.15.09 @ 2:15PM
Mr Lord --
I think you unwittingly hit on the perfect critical assessment of Levin:
He is, very much indeed, the JK Rowling of current conservatism.
Spot on.
Daisy| 9.15.09 @ 2:15PM
Glad to hear it--you're a great writer!
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.15.09 @ 2:21PM
My (only) non-fiction book took three years to exceed a million sold. The sweetest compliment I ever got was: "After reading it through a couple of times, it became my "john" book". Heh!
He read excerpts every day while on the john.
I wrote the man and thanked him for his attention.
Liberal Reader| 9.15.09 @ 3:09PM
I agree a second time, Mr. Lord.
My description of Michelle Malkin would be "a giftless reactionary windbag."
She is, indeed, full of wind.
SoCon| 9.15.09 @ 3:12PM
So are you, moron. Unfortunately, it's the kind of wind not mentioned in polite society.
Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 3:48PM
LR...
So you read Levin's book? And you disagree about....?
Richard| 9.15.09 @ 4:37PM
I have listened to Livin on talk radio ad nauseam and find him plain nasty, mean, and a master of hate speech. Anyone who wastes a dime on his book is a fool and a victim.
Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 4:59PM
Richard...
Closed minds are never a good thing. Get it from the library if you don't want to buy it....
SoCon| 9.15.09 @ 6:25PM
Richard, if you think Mark Levin is a master of hate speech, why do you listen to him ad nauseam? You sound like a glutton for punishment.
CJ | 9.15.09 @ 7:01PM
Richard...
you can't HANDLE the truth!! the truth is not always pretty, or nice, or flowery...just effective....it'll set you free
ConservativeWanderer| 9.15.09 @ 7:05PM
Ahh, the lefty vitriol here warms my heart.
The old saying "a stuck pig squeals" seems to apply here.
Keep squealing, folks, and keep proving how dangerous Levin is to your twisted worldview.
caraby| 9.15.09 @ 8:21PM
What's LR so threatened by anyway? She probably lives in the basement of her JFK-worshipping hippie parents and was not allowed to date any boy whose name wasn't Moonbeam or,,,Hussein.
Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 10:07PM
DANCING IN THE STREETS: Levin Book Breaks Million Record Today links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
karen| 9.16.09 @ 4:37PM
Very enlightening and eloquently-written book. I'm not surprised it's a blockbuster!!!!
Keep declaring the truth about our founding principals laid out in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence and where we are today! You are admired for your knowledge of our Constitution and your penmanship. Truly powerful.
Glad I found you on my radio dial too. You are informing and instilling hope in those of us who hold true to our conservative values--the right ones that every American should hold if they value their freedom!!!!!!
Leon Foonman| 1.17.10 @ 7:28PM
Thank God a good Christian man has sold his message of hope to all real AMERICANS. No thanks to the left wing union communists!