Stephen Colbert Explains How His Children's Book Ended Up on the Nonfiction Bestseller Lists

Posted on June 4, 2012

Stephen Colbert is now a children's author. His new book I Am a Pole (And So Can You) has landed at #1 on the New York Times Advice, How-to, and Miscellaneous list. He then explained why his book (which involves a talking pole on a journey to find its purpose in life) could possibly end up on a nonfiction bestseller list. He says it's all Publisher's Weekly's fault. PW listed the book as #2 on its Adult Nonfiction bestseller list. So it's all PW's fault that his book is in the wrong category. Now he's secretly hoping for a major literary scandal that will end with him tearfully confessing something to Oprah Winfrey.

PW responded to Stephen's comments with this explanation: "Indeed, PW considers I Am a Pole (described by Colbert as the story of 'a talking pole who finds purpose in life and in strip clubs') to be nonfiction for adults - decidedly not a children's book, and more in the vein of social satire, not unlike Go the F***k to Sleep, which was also on PW's adult nonfiction list. In any event, in our editors' estimation, I Am a Pole has just the requisite amount of truthiness to confirm its place on our nonfiction list, right there with the work of Colbert's Papa Bear, Bill O'Reilly."

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Photo: Grand Central Publishing