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Obama Reported To Receive Massive Advance For His Memoirs

Obama Reported To Receive Massive Advance For His Memoirs

Big bucks!

James Dawson

James Dawson

You may not be aware of it, but alongside being a former US President, Barack Obama is also a best-selling author. So it's no surprise he's expected to be offered a book deal after leaving office.

I've been reading his biography Dreams of My Fathers over the past few weeks. It covers his early years - his experiences of racism in high school, his experimentation with marijuana in college and how the came to hold the political beliefs that he would carry through to the eight year of his presidency.

It's worth a read if you're interested in politics, or more broadly about how the people we elect to power come to be.

Dreams was written in 1995, before he ever knew he would become the most powerful man in the world and, you can't help but feel it is more honest for it - for instance, no political adviser would tell a would-be Presidential candidate to discuss their drug use.

Barack reading from his book back in 1995

He has also released Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream in 2006, a political memoir written ahead of his bid for presidency, and Thee I Sing: Letters to My Daughters, a children's book.

It's now been reported that the 55-year-old could rake in more than $20million (£15.94m) in advance for a memoir covering his days in the oval office.

After leaving office, George W Bush got $7million (£5.58m) for 2010's Decision Points and Bill Clinton received $15million (£11.95m) for his 2001 memoir, My Life, and sold 2.6million and 2.2million copies of their books, respectively.

"There's no doubt Obama's memoir will go for more than any president's has ever gone," Esther Newberg, co-head of ICM Partners' publishing unit, told the Hollywood Reporter.

Obama and President Trump pictures together. Credit: PA Images

Asked about his post-presidency plans, Obama said he writing a book would be a "top priority."

One of the reasons it is likely to sell so well is that he polarises opinion. Princeton University presidential historian Julian Zelizer told the Hollywood Reporter that he believes sales for an Obama book will top both his predecessors.

"There is broader fascination with Obama, from conservatives who really hate him as well as liberals who deeply admire what he did," he said.

Literary agent Raphael Sagalyn told the New York Times last September that Obama could earn as much as $30 million for a two-to-three post-presidency book contract.

"His is going to be easily the most valuable presidential memoir ever," he said. "And I think Michelle Obama has the opportunity to sell the most valuable first lady memoir in history."

President Barack Obama speaks at Anacostia Library in Washington in 2015. Credit: PA Images

There has been a long history written books while in office and after leaving the presidency.

Theodore Roosevelt, who was in office from 1901 to 1909, authored nearly 40 books between 1882 and the year of his death, 1919.

As well as being expected to begin writing his memoir, Barack Obama has also been busy setting up a new charity alongside his wife Michelle...

Barack's Post-Presidential Plans

If you were wondering what a president does when they're forced to retire following the end of their second term, then Barack Obama has provided an answer last week.

He made his first Tweet after relinquishing his position of president, earlier, telling his followers than he and his wife Michelle would be going on a much earned vacation.

But after that the two will be back to work, with the couple having set up a charity named the Obama Foundation.

The couple explain exactly what the organisation will do in the following video...

Credit: Obama.org

The Obama Foundation website says it will be a "living, working startup for citizenship - an ongoing project for us to shape, together, what it means to be a good citizen in the 21st century."

Barack Obama first tweeted a link to the foundation in a farewell message on Twitter, put out through the official President of the United States account.

He wrote: "It's been the honour of my life to serve you. You made me a better leader and a better man.

"I won't stop; I'll be right there with you as a citizen, inspired by your voices of truth and justice, good humour, and love.

"I'm still asking you to believe - not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours. I believe in change because I believe in you."

You can find out more about the Obama Foundation by visiting their website.

The former President had previously joked about what he would be doing when he was forced to retire at just 55-years-old...

Barack's Pre-Retirement Banter

In May, Barack hosted his final White House Correspondent's Dinner and found the time to create a hilarious video called 'Couch Commander'.

The video's title was a dig at MSNBC news anchor Chuck Todd, who famously said Obama was going 'from commander-in-chief' to 'couch commander'.

The film took the piss out of the amount of time President Obama would have on his hands when he became a citizen.

Watch it here...

Credit: Obama White House

The video even features a cheeky dig at the scandal surrounding his 'foreign' birth certificate when he was first sworn in as President.

Looks as though the Obamas are still going to have a lot on their plates, even now they've left the White House.


Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Money, President, Obama

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