Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard's Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Autobiography landed the top spot in the Non-Fiction bestseller list on its first week of release, with almost 7,000 copies sold according to official Nielsen Bookscan data.

The memoir has also claimed first place on the Dymocks Bestseller charts released yesterday while topping the Non-Fiction bestseller list with 6,590 copies sold.

HarperCollins Publishing Director Shona Martyn said: "I am thrilled to see John Howard's memoir debut as number-one non-fiction title - especially on less than a full week's sales."

"This is a well-written, highly readable and important book, and early word-of-mouth is reflecting this. Reaction to Mr Howard at events has been extremely positive, with individual people buying multiple copies of Lazarus Rising."

"But it is also selling strongly across a wide variety of retailers. I look forward to increasing sales as we head to Christmas."

The new book follows Mr. John Howard's rise to become Australia's Prime Minister. It will take readers through the life and motivations of the former Prime Minister, and through the forces which have changed and shaped both him and the country he led for 11 years.

Due to its popularity, HarperCollins ordered a second reprint of Lazarus Rising, which will take the number in print to 75,000 copies.

To promote the book, former Prime Minister John Howard is currently conducting an author's tour Australia. He will be in the following places this month of November:

  • Melbourne, 8-9 November
  • Brisbane, 16 November
  • Townsville, 17 November
  • Cairns, 18 November
  • Gold Coast, 19 November
  • Hobart, 22 November
  • Launceston, 23 November
  • Perth, 24-25 November
  • Adelaide, 30 November