'Unfit for Command' Hits #1 on NY Times Bestsellers List

What is arguably the country's most controversial new book has now become the country's best-selling book.

"Unfit for Command," which vaulted onto the New York Times Bestsellers List at #3 last week (issue date 8/29/04), climbed to the #1 spot this week (issue date 9/5/04).

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"The book is now in its 10th printing with more than 650,000 copies in print or on order," according to Jeff Carneal, CEO of Regnery.

"Demand for 'Unfit for Command' has exceeded our highest expectations and shows absolutely no sign of stopping."

Carneal confirmed that about 325,000 books have shipped to the trade so far. The balance of the books will ship within the next 5-7 days.

"Despite what some customers may believe, it isn't the stores' fault that supplies are scarce. I wish I could blame it on a vast left-wing conspiracy," joked Carneal, "but I just can't. The book's record-setting demand just couldn't have been anticipated by the stores or by us."

Initially slated for September publication, demand for "unfit for Command" reached a fevered pitch in early August when several incidents from the book, which calls John Kerry's war record into question, appeared on The Drudge Report.

"We just signed this book up in June," noted Carneal. "The authors, John O'Neill and Jerry Corsi, turned in a compelling, well-researched manuscript in record time, and our editorial and production teams moved mountains to get this book ready ahead of the original September pub date."

Carneal reported the entire book trade's initial order was a modest 30,000 copies, yet Regnery printed 85,000, based on their higher expectations. But even that number proved woefully inadequate, as customers clamored to buy copies when the Swift Boat Veteran's story broke.

Editor's note: