Hoda Kotb Vs. Willie Geist: Book War! Who Sold More In Week One?

by Steve Krakauer | 12:48 pm, October 25th, 2010

» 14 comments

NBC’s Hoda Kotb and MSNBC’s Willie Geist both had books that came out last week, so obviously that means it’s war.

We have the results from the first week sales – and while both did well, one was the clear winner.

First of all, it had to be a good sign when this week’s New York Times Best Sellers List came out and both were on it. Kotb’s book came in at #23 last week while Geist’s was #33. It was a little strange that American Freak Show was on the nonfiction list, but I guess since Jon Stewart‘s Earth is at the top of the list, nonfiction doesn’t necessarily mean ‘true.’

In the first week, Kotb’s book sold 4,908 copies and Geist’s had 2,145, in Bookscan numbers obtained by Mediaite. Both benefited from promotion on their respective networks, with Freak Show getting more than 80 mentions in the last three weeks (mostly on Morning Joe). Last time we did this, during Rick Sanchez‘ first week of book sales, the former CNN host got 802 (and 36 mentions on CNN in the prior three weeks).

Other comparisons from media figures as authors: Meghan McCain’s book sold 2,644 and Arianna Huffington’s sold 1,985 during their first weeks.

In other news, Glenn Beck‘s Broke comes out tomorrow and will, um, probably sell more than all of these (it’s currently #11 on Amazon).

We talked to Geist and Kotb about their books during Mediaite Office Hours.
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American Freak Show, book sales, books, Hoda, Hoda Kotb, morning joe, msnbc, NBC, Today Show, Way Too Early, Willie Geist

Big Eddie

At least Willie and Hoda are not down in Milbank territory .
More Liberty

“obtained by Mediaite.. ”

Notice the two periods? Does anyone edit these articles before posting? If you get this type of stuff wrong, you know your lack of attention to detail, what else do you get wrong? It is also safe to assume that no one is doing any fact checking either.
Azarkhan

Meghan McCain’s book sold 2,644
Arianna Huffington’s book sold 1,985
Sarah Palin’s book sold 469,000 in first week.

“Going Rogue,” the newly released memoir by Sarah Palin, the former Alaskan governor and Republican nominee for vice president, sold 469,000 copies in its first week of release, according to sales figures released Wednesday by Nielsen BookScan.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/going-rogue-goes-to-top-of-book-sales-chart/

LOL.
BlackWidow

Azarkhan said:
Meghan McCain’s book sold 2,644Arianna Huffington’s book sold 1,985Sarah Palin’s book sold 469,000 in first week. “Going Rogue,” the newly released memoir by Sarah Palin, the former Alaskan governor and Republican nominee for vice president, sold 469,000 copies in its first week of release, according to sales figures released Wednesday by Nielsen BookScan. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/going-rogue-goes-to-top-of-book-sales-chart/ LOL.

Seems you missed the story about Fox buying thousands of copies of Palins book to give out free at different events.
Azarkhan

BlackWidow said:
Seems you missed the story about Fox buying thousands of copies of Palins book to give out free at different events.

LOL. That is a lie.
Republitarian

BlackWidow said:
Seems you missed the story about Fox buying thousands of copies of Palins book to give out free at different events.

Good Lord, what an imbecilic comment. Whatever you think about Palin, it is impossible to argue that her book was anything other than a GIANT success, and this leftist meme about “FNC giving out free copies”, is facially absurd. Palin’s book has sold in excess of 1.9 million copies, in hard-cover alone. That, by any standard, is a GIGANTIC run.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

More Liberty said:
If you get this type of stuff wrong, you know your lack of attention to detail, what else do you get wrong? It is also safe to assume that no one is doing any fact checking either.

Totally RIGHT!!!!!111 This site is a MOCKERY wrapped in a SHAM wrapped in a TRAVESTY!!!111 It is written by Obamessiah-worshiping LIB hacks who delight in churning out PROPAGANDA faster than NPR!!!!!!!111 Sure, I could read NEWSBUSTERS or FOX NATION or something that conformed more to my Right-Thinking WORLDVIEW, but instead I will bravely continue to register my DISGUST right here!!!!111 It’s what JESUS would do!!!!111
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Republitarian said:
Good Lord, what an imbecilic comment. Whatever you think about Palin, it is impossible to argue that her book was anything other than a GIANT success, and this leftist meme about “FNC giving out free copies”, is facially absurd. Palin’s book has sold in excess of 1.9 million copies, in hard-cover alone. That, by any standard, is a GIGANTIC run.

Yeah DUMBASS!!!!!111 It was NEWSMAX that was giving away all those free copies!!!!111 BlackWidow is more FACTUALLY CHALLENGED than MediaSHITE itself!!!!!111

http://shop.newsmax.com/shop/index.cfm?page=products&productid=680
ROCKSTEADY

Azarkhan said:
Republican nominee for vice president, sold 469,000 copies in its first week of release

Also has been reported repulican organizations bought up books to give away for donations.But make sure and put a check mark next to her being such a good grizzly mamma.
ROCKSTEADY

Azarkhan said:
LOL. That is a lie.

How do you know? Is everything a lie?
ROCKSTEADY

Karl Spensen said:
It’s what JESUS would do!!!!111

This was very funny.hahhahahah.
writer

Bania must have been laid off. I blame Bush.
Azarkhan

ROCKSTEADY said:
How do you know? Is everything a lie?

It is true about Mitt Romney, not Sarah Palin. Bulk sales of Romney’s book had been mentioned on the Conservatives4Palin site in March. Ben Smith confirmed it in Politico a couple weeks ago.
shootfromthehip

It was true about Palin’s book, too, Azarkhan.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/sarah-palin-pac-buy-book/story?id=9718024