The Rolling Stone magazine writer that took down General Stanley McChrystal a few weeks ago has been rewarded with a significant book deal.
One source says Michael Hastings will get seven figures for his "unprecedented behind-the-scenes account of America's longest war."
According to Forbes, publishing house Little, Brown will release the following statement later on Tuesday:
A forthcoming UNTITLED book by renowned journalist Michael Hastings, author of the Rolling Stone article "The Runaway General" which revealed shocking truths about General McChrystal and the war in Afghanistan, that promises an unprecedented behind-the-scenes account of America's longest war, to Geoff Shandler, Editor in Chief, Little, Brown and Company, by Scott Moyers at the Wylie Agency.
The book will offer an unfiltered look at the war, and the soldiers, diplomats and politicians who are waging it. Based on exclusive reporting in Afghanistan, Europe, the Middle East and Washington, D.C., this landmark work of journalism will elucidate as never before our deeply troubling war in vivid, unforgettable detail.
Little, Brown Publisher Michael Pietsch says, "In his brilliant article Michael Hastings has already given us the clearest of insights into the disaster of America's war in Afghanistan. He is a writer of extraordinary talent and his book will take us deeper and further into the war and its major architects, at a time when we need that clarity desperately."
Mediaite is reporting, "Rumor has it the book went for seven figures, which is a rather serious chunk of change in this publishing environment."
Indeed. This seems pricey for at least two reasons.
First, Hastings may have given what he had to Rolling Stone making it possible his book is just an elaboration of what he's already published.
Maybe more importantly, how's he going to get any new information given his questionable journalistic standards involving telling folks things are off the record when they are apparently not?
Regardless, it will be interesting to see whether he offers any new revelations that bring down anyone else.
Exit question: is seven figures now the going rate for destroying a hero's career?
