Bernie Sanders’ Book Sales Overview
Senator Bernie Sanders has authored or co-authored several books since the 1990s, with sales surging alongside his presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. His books often focus on progressive politics, economic inequality, and democratic reform, and they’ve contributed significantly to his reported net worth of around $2.5 million as of 2025—largely through royalties and advances. Exact sales figures are tracked by services like NPD BookScan (which covers ~85% of U.S. print sales and excludes bulk purchases), but comprehensive data for all titles isn’t always public. Below, I’ll summarize known sales and royalties based on financial disclosures, publisher reports, and industry trackers. Note that digital and audiobook sales (growing in popularity) are harder to quantify precisely.
Total Book Earnings (2011–2022)
- Sanders earned $2.5 million in advances and royalties from books during this period, per his Senate financial disclosures. This exceeds his Senate salary earnings over the same timeframe by about $420,000.
- Political committees (including his campaigns) purchased $843,000 worth of his books from publishers, often for fundraising or distribution—though these bulk buys don’t count toward personal royalties or bestseller rankings.
- Annual royalties peaked at $850,000 in 2017 (post-2016 campaign books) and dipped to $170,000 in 2022. 8 13
Key Books and Sales Figures
Here’s a breakdown of his major titles with available data (estimates where noted; figures are U.S.-focused unless specified):
| Book Title | Publication Year | Estimated U.S. Sales (via NPD BookScan or Reports) | Royalties/Advances (Reported) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In | 2016 | 220,000–1,000,000+ copies | $795,000 advance; contributed to $1M+ in 2017 royalties | Debuted at #3 on NYT Bestseller list; tied to 2016 campaign. Highest-selling title. |
| 10 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 16 | ||||
| Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution | 2017 | 27,000–500,000+ copies | Part of $865,000 total book earnings in 2016–2017 | Youth-focused companion to Our Revolution. |
| 10 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 16 | ||||
| Where We Go From Here: Two Years in the Resistance | 2018 | 26,000 copies | Included in $1.7M series total (2016–2018) | Post-2016 election analysis. |
| 10 | ||||
| 16 | ||||
| It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism | 2022 | Not publicly detailed (bestseller status) | $340,000 total ($170,000 in 2022 alone) | NYT Bestseller; critique of economic systems. |
| 13 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| Fight Oligarchy | 2025 (e-book/audiobook Sept. 30; paperback Oct. 21) | No exact figures available (recent release) | Not yet disclosed (2025 filings pending) | NYT Bestseller; 4.8/5 stars on Amazon (165+ reviews); tied to 2025 “Fighting Oligarchy” tour (280,000+ attendees). |
| 0 | ||||
| 20 | ||||
| 21 | ||||
| 23 | ||||
| 24 | ||||
| Strong early digital sales expected due to timely Trump-era release. | ||||
| Earlier Works (e.g., The Speech, Outsider in the White House) | 1997–2015 | ~27,000 combined for select titles | $6,735 (2016 royalties from Outsider) | Modest sales pre-fame; The Speech (2011) proceeds donated to charity. |
| 10 | ||||
| 18 | ||||
Insights and Context
- Overall Sales Estimate: Across all books, Sanders has likely sold 1.5–2.5 million copies in the U.S. since 2016, driven by campaign momentum and bulk political buys. His works perform best in political/non-fiction categories, with audiobooks (narrated by Sanders himself) boosting digital reach. 15
- Bestseller Impact: Most major titles hit the NYT list, amplifying visibility. Fight Oligarchy follows this pattern, leveraging his 2025 tour’s massive crowds (e.g., tens of thousands per event in red states like Idaho).
- Revenue Breakdown: Books account for ~80% of his non-salary income. He pays high effective taxes (30%+ in peak years) and donates portions to charity.
- Limitations: 2025 data for Fight Oligarchy is preliminary—full sales will appear in 2026 disclosures. Bulk campaign purchases inflate totals but not rankings.