Hiring a ghostwriter may seem like a far-fetched idea for some. What you may not be aware of is the sheer volume of your favourite books that enlisted the services of a ghostwriter! In order to take the mystique out of the concept of ghostwriting, we have outlined a few best-selling books that hired an external party to aid in the writing process.
(Ghostwriter: Ken Shelton)
As one of the most popular and sought after self-help books, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey has been inspiring and empowering readers since its initial publication in 1989 and has gone on to become a classic. Here, Covey unveils a step-by-step process for integrating principles of fairness, integrity service and human dignity into our day-to-day lives. It has since sold over 25 million copies and become the first audio book to sell more than a million copies. This may be the most surprising book on the list, especially since Covey reads the audio version.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People
(Ghostwriter: Joanne Gordon)
This popular narrative work by Howard Schultz details how Starbucks emerged from the ashes of the recession to reach epic levels of success. This book is brutally honest about how Starbucks management lost the sight of their core values and almost went bankrupt as a result. It is deemed a ‘must read’ by anyone in the business field interested in global brand management.
Source: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/593027/onward-by-howard-schultz-with-joanne-gordon/
(Ghostwriter: James Fox)
Is it surprising that Keith Richards hired a ghostwriter to pen his autobiography? Probably not. Author, journalist and long-time friend, James Fox, co-wrote Keith Richards’ riveting memoir detailing his time as the Rolling Stones’ guitarist. Fox is credited with bringing Richards’ plethora of noteworthy stories to life. But the book also touches on the trappings of fame and fans’ expectations.
4. Art of the Deal
(Ghostwriter Tony Schwartz)
In perhaps the most famous (or infamous depending on how you look at it) The Art of the Deal and helped build President Donald Trump’s reputation as a savvy businessman, paving the way for his successful run as the President of the United States. This book undoubtably made Trump a household name. It is also perhaps the most controversial one on the list since Tony Schwartz has spent the better part of the last ten years distancing himself from Trump and the book. While the book depicts Trump as a smart and shrewd real estate mogul, Tony Schwartz has since gone on record as saying that Trump is a sociopath.
Source: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all
(Ghostwriter: John Byrne)
This book also gives you a chance to understand the thought process of Jack Welch, who was nicknamed Neutron Jack because of his tough management style and decisions. He was controversial and demanding, but for awhile he was thought to be the best CEO of his time – perhaps any time. However, with the financial struggles that General Electric underwent after Jack Welch’s retirement, his star has faded somewhat, but his book still has plenty to teach us about business. Jack-Straight from the Gut is a book for those who would like an entertaining and candid look into the office of a CEO.
(Ghostwriter Edward Whitley)
Losing My Virginity is the ultimate story of one of the most celebrated and fascinating businessmen of our age. Richard Branson is often criticized as being chauvinistic and a stunt performer, but Edward Whitley was able to work with Branson to bring out the softer side of the billionaire. The book takes the reader back to Branson’s childhood and how he suffers from dyslexia. For any business person, this book is a must read as it gets into the mind of one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs. If anything Branson proves that a disadvantage can be turned into advantage, providing the right mindset and strategy. In the end, whether you are a student of business or not, the book offers a fascinating autobiography of a man who succeeded by taking huge risks and proving that those risks can pay off.
Source: https://www.revolvy.com/page/Losing-My-Virginity
(Ghostwriter: Quincy Troupe)
The Pursuit of Happyness is an autobiographical book based on entrepreneur and businessman Chris Gardner’s early struggles, including a year of being homeless. The book tells the period of his life when he arrives in San Francisco and decides to try and land a job at a prestigious financial firm. This is a feel-good story of one man lifting himself out of poverty to become a success, transforming to become a powerful player in the world of high finance. Quincy Troupe was appointed California’s first poet laureate and became a professor of Caribbean and American literatures and creative writing at the University of California. The book has been made into an incredibly popular film staring Will Smith.
Source: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/chris-gardner/the-pursuit-of-happyness
(Ghostwriter John Huey)
Everybody knows Samuel Moore Walton as an American businessman and entrepreneur who founded Walmart. Wal-Mart Stores grew to be the world’s largest corporation by revenue and employs more people than the population of most countries. John Huey is the former editor-in-chief of Time Magazine and editor of Fortune. The autobiography explains how Sam Walton took his store from a small five-and-dime store in Arkansas to a dominant retailer.
Source: https://www.getabstract.com/en/summary/made-in-america/8824
(Ghostwriter J.R Moehringer)
Ghostwritten by the Pulitzer Prize winning writer JR. Moehringer, this autobiography about Andre Agassi is surprisingly personal. It gives the reader insight into the tennis star that few athletes would think was good for their image. The result is a portrait of an incredibly gifted man, painting a truthful and revealing picture of what it actually feels like to be under that much pressure every hour of every day. Agassi definitely benefited from using a ghostwriter as it would have been hard for Agassi to pull off such a skilful literary feat himself.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/books/12agassi.html
(Ghostwriter: Ted Sorenson)
This book was written in 1956 and is a collection of short biographies depicting the brave acts of eight U.S. senators. Authorship of this book, which started out as a magazine article, was all part of the carefully crafted PR campaign image which helped John F. Kennedy along the path to becoming the President of the United States and one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. The actual writing was done by the talented Ted Sorenson, the speechwriter who also gave JFK such immortal lines as “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. This is a wonderful example of just how valuable the services of a ghostwriter can be.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profiles_in_Courage
Conclusion
No matter what genre of book you are pursuing or the style of writing that you wish to employ, a ghostwriter can be a major asset in bringing your knowledge, ideas and stories to a written format. If you are embarking on a writing project and require some guidance or assistance, please reach out to Ghostwriters and Co and we would be happy to ease the process for you!
Joel Mark Harris graduated from the Langara School of Journalism in 2007. Joel is an award-winning journalist, novelist, screenwriter and producer.
He has ghostwritten numerous books in all types of genres including true life crime, business, memoir, and self help. With over 1,000 blog posts to his name, he has helped hundreds of business owners scale their business and increase their visibility. You can email him at info@ghostwritersandco.com
