Perry and the Sales Figures

Ever since Lord Baden-Powell released the accidentally hilariously-titled Scouting For Boys in 1908, political authors have made much hay about how sticking boys in shorts in the middle of nowhere with nothing but two twigs and a compass is fabulous for building character.

Now there's great hooplah how Gov. Rick Perry's book, On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting For, is number one in the Washington Post's hardcover nonfiction charts for the week ending Feb. 17. Which is fantastic, considering that this chart is a region-specific listing provided by Nielsen BookScan: So, basically, it's selling really well with policy wonks in the metropolitan D.C. area. And in no way would anyone suggest that this book is an attempt to boost his national reputation and conservative credentials now that John McCain is looking for a running mate (how conservative? Our good friend Kate Messer over at GayPlace can explain that.)

Possibly Perry can take some solace in the national sales. Only. Erm. Not so much. It's 486th in the overall Amazon sales chart, well behind Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope at number 11. If Amazon sales figures were anything to go by, then Jonah Goldberg, author of Liberal Fascism (Amazon's no. four best-seller), would have a better shot at the vice-presidential nomination, but he'd be in the cue behind Valerie Bertinelli. Maybe Perry's signing event at Bookpeople this Wednesday at 7pm will shift units.