"In the short term, autobiographies by popular athletes will see good sales. But whether the sales will continue is hard to say, since Olympic fever is ephemeral. The autobiographies with consistent sales are about people who are relevant in both culture and history."
Chinese tennis player Li Na might be facing a different story, as she lost her first match in the Olympic Games. The release date for her autobiography has been pushed forward.
When asked about what they anticipate from sales, Ma Ying, editor of CITIC Press Corporation and the publisher of Li Na's book said, "We will not change our plan because of Li's performance in Olympic Games. She has proved herself many times, and we cannot judge people only on their success. It is content that matters for a book."
Commercially driven ?
Liu Xuan said that autobiographies help readers gain an understanding of the lives of athletes, to see them as more than just idols.
"These athletes have something worth learning from. Their autobiographies benefit people," Liu said.
But some question the commercialization of athletes who suddenly turn from the racket to the pen.
"Honestly speaking, I wouldn't buy Lin Dan's book. The publishing is so commercialized. It has become a trend for professional athletes to immerse themselves in commercial things," said Ding Zhihui, an avid reader from Hefei, Anhui Province.
"The trend for popular athletes to publish an autobiography is commercially driven. Athletes get both financial reward and fame through this. But there is little significance in the actual content of the books. Athletes should just focus in their competitions," Zhao Yan, a cultural critic, told Global Times.
Because athletes are not professional writers, ghost writers are often responsible for the majority of their autobiography. Li Na disclosed that some parts of her biography were written by others.
"Many athletes do not have a [formal] education. So ghostwriting is inevitable. But this is dishonest," said Zhao. "Olympic champions who are not famous and are living off the radar should be given more attention. Their autobiography might offer readers a [different perspective.]"
Source: Global Times
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