McGraw-Hill Speeds Obama Book

By Lynn Andriani -- Publishers Weekly, 9/10/2008 2:47:00 PM

McGraw-Hill has crashed a book on Barack Obama's public speaking abilities that will go on sale September 29. Say It Like Obama: The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision by Shel Leanne was acquired, written, edited and printed within three months. In the book, Leanne, president of the leadership development company Wilshel Corporation, uses examples of Obama’s speeches to explain the art of persuasion, the power of presentation and effective communication techniques. The book includes Obama’s 2004 DNC keynote address and  his 2008 Democratic National Convention speech, given just two weeks ago on August 28. 

McGraw-Hill Professional senior publicist Kenya Henderson said the publisher did not need permission to reprint the speeches, but nevertheless contacted the Obama campaign, which supported the use of the speeches in the book. When laying the book out, the publisher reserved eight pages for Obama’s August 28 speech, and the production team worked over Labor Day weekend to copyedit and typeset the speech. The book went to the printer on September 1, and McGraw-Hill had finished books by September 4.