(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 15 - Prince Harry's controversial memoir SPARE has become the best-selling non-fiction book of all time, having sold 1.43 million copies on its first day on sale in the United Kingdom, the United States United States and Canada.
The Guinness World Record certifies it.
The record was previously held by Barack Obama's fourth book, A Promised Land (2020), which sold 887,000 copies on its day of release.
Sales are also flying in Italy: Spare - The Minor is published by Mondadori;
the proceeds the Duke of Sussex will pay to some British charities.
Spare's superlative sales figures are made all the more impressive when you consider the fact that it was released five days early in Spain.
This meant that most of the revelations contained within - including details of Harry's drug use and a falling out with his older brother, Prince William - made worldwide headlines before the book officially hit shelves on January 10th.
However, it's entirely possible that these details actually drove more people to buy Spare.
The Duke of Sussex promoted the book ahead of its release by giving interviews on ITV, The Late Show With StephenColbert, 60 Minutes and Good Morning America.
Spare launched in the United States with a print run of two million, and a second print run was planned to meet the huge demand.
Despite having a cover price of $36 in the US and £28 in the UK, many retailers sell it for up to 50% off.
"As far as we know, the only books that have sold more on their first day are those starring the other Harry (Potter)," said Larry Finlay, managing director of Transworld Penguin Random House.
Spare was written with American novelist and journalist JR Moehringer, who also wrote memoirs for tennis legend Andre Agassi and billionaire Phil Knight.
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