I will protect your pensions. Nothing about your pension is going to change when I am governor. - Chris Christie, "An Open Letter to the Teachers of NJ" October, 2009

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Ravitch Kicks Rhee's Book-Selling Tail

You'll remember earlier this year when Michelle Rhee's auto-hagiography, Radical, was published. I tracked the sales for a while on Amazon; maybe I missed a higher number, but this was the best sales rank for Rhee that I could find, a little less than three weeks after her book was released:


As I wrote at the time:
According to Amazon.com, Radical was released on February 5, 2013, almost three weeks ago. In that time, Rhee has been on what must be any author's dream book tour: The Daily ShowThis WeekCharlie Roseand many other outlets. She's been treated very gently, despite the cheating scandal that surrounds her and her mediocre record running Washington, D. C.'s schools. Given the extent of her book tour and it's fawning nature, you would think that Radical would be flying off of the shelves.
It didn't. In contrast, Diane Ravitch's Reign of Error was released to the public today. How's it doing on Amazon?


As far as I know, Diane hasn't done any national television; certainly, nothing on the level of the shows Rhee appeared on. And yet, after one day, Ravitch is kicking Rhee's tail in the book-selling game.

Aside from my obvious glee in watching Diane soar where Rhee crashed, I bring this up to make a larger point:

Micheel Rhee does not lead a "grassroots" effort. Her wealthy backers bought her a place in the education reform debate -- a place she didn't earn through achievements, nor by speaking for parents, teachers, or students. 

The anemic sales of Radical are proof that Michelle Rhee's grassroots support is nonexistent. So it's time for the press to stop giving Rhee an outsized place in the media, and to start giving Diane Ravitch and those like her a chance to make their case.

America has voted: more of this...

...and less of this.

ADDING: Hey, some crazy music teacher/blogger wrote a review of Reign of Error for the NEA blog EdVotes.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Ahh, yes. Amazon Schadenfreude.

Lutton said...

Just got back from Diane's discussion at the Free Library of Philadelphia. She said it was up to #105 at one point this evening.

It's currently #1 (and kindle version is #3) in Public Affairs and Policy: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-Public-Affairs-Policy-Politics/zgbs/books/5571275011/ref=zg_bs_nav_b_3_5571255011

Anonymous said...

Mr. Market speaks: will the so-called reformers listen?

Nah...

Jagey said...

Wal-Mart is selling it in their stores: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Reign-of-Error-The-Hoax-of-the-Privatization-Movement-and-the-Danger-for-America-s-Public-Schools/23079584

Does anyone else find this hilarious?

~The Bargain Babe from *Zucchini Summer Blog* said...

Jagey--yes. Oh the irony! LOL

And YAY that something is shutting Rhee up.