I grew up in the sixties when people had these messianic illusions. I was already fairly immune to it at a pretty young age. I was never a radical. So I think having a sense of Jewish history is one of these gifts.
Though collections of previously published political articles are not known to succeed, your book Things That Matter topped The New York Times bestseller list. How do you explain its success?
I got a call from a Newsweek reporter in December. She said, “My editor wants to know why your book is flying off the shelves.” So I decided to be very humble and self-deprecating and said, “Aw shucks, I really don’t know. You should call other people and find out.” Two weeks later a friend calls and says, “Did you see the Newsweek story on your book? Let me read you the first sentence” ‘Charles Krauthammer’s book Things That Matter is flying off the shelves and nobody has any idea why.’ ” So I’m not doing humble and self-deprecating any more.
It just sold its millionth copy. It’s still on the bestseller list, about 40 weeks in. The initial print run was thirty-two thousand, so this is just totally unexpected. Maybe it’s because this is thirty years.My life’s work is in here. I wrote it because when you write a column it appears in newspapers on Friday, even if it’s 400 newspapers, and by Tuesday it’s wrapping fish. So I’m very happy there’s something that will last. Maybe it’s a reflection of the audience. Whatever the reason, I don’t want to speculate too much. I think I’m going to remain humble and self-deprecating.
Sara Lehmann, a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, was formerly an editor at a major New York publishing house. Her Jewish Press “Right Angle” column, which normally appears in the second issue of each month, will return in the Oct. 10 issue.
