In a declining paper book market (-2.5% in volume and -1.5% in value in 2025 vs 2024), the political book market “is doing particularly well” during the same period according to a study conducted by NielsenIQ BookData, showing a growth of +52% in both volume and value.
The growth is logically driven by new releases and recent content, addressing topics that concern the French population: Inflation, economic crisis, terrorism, climate change, political situation in France, immigration, international politics especially when they approach these subjects from an “anxiety-inducing” perspective.
Positive Dynamics
According to NielsenIQ Book Data from the Electre database, Nicolas Sarkozy, the champion of the segment in 2025, sold 225,000 copies of his Journal of a prisoner (Fayard), while The pack: investigation on La France insoumise by Jean-Luc Mélenchon by Charlotte Belaîch and Olivier Pérou approaches 130,000 copies sold.
Among other notable sales of 2025, mention should also be made of Populicide by Philippe de Villiers (Fayard, 190,000 copies) ; What the French want by Jordan Bardella (Fayard, 110,000 copies) ; The accomplices of evil by Omar Youssef Souleimane (Plon, 80,000 copies) ; The mass is not said by Éric Zemmour (Fayard, 74,000 copies) ; Billionaires do not pay income tax and we will put an end to it by Gabriel Zucman (Seuil, 65,000 copies) ; Flight over a nest of cuckolds by Gilles-William Goldnadel (Fayard, 31,000 copies) ; The toxic president by Étienne Campion (Robert Laffont, 30,000 copies) or The ten renouncements that made France by Thierry Breton (Plon, 12,000 copies).
With the approach of the 2027 presidential elections, the political book supports this positive trend that affects the left and right in a very differentiated manner, not always in correlation with the electoral results, but often related to media and advertising pressure.
The thorough analysis conducted by NielsenIQ BookData, which sells its study to publishers, helps understand the place of political books in the publishing market, identify themes and personalities likely to attract readers, and offer editorial prospects for 2026.
