Abroad in Japan · Thursday, September 10, 2026
Chris Broad expressed significant anxiety about his book's potential to reach the Sunday Times bestseller list. He emphasized that the first two weeks post-launch, including pre-orders, are critical for achieving this goal.
“I was worried it might not make the top ten in the Sunday Times bestsellers. It did, it turns out.”
“So really, bundling a lot of things into a very short space of time here. Podcast launches on YouTube, book launches.”
“This isn't supporting the podcast. This is supporting Chris's attempt to become a top ten bestseller.”
“Sunday Times bestseller. It's going to happen. We'll find out in a week. It's going to be quite, I'm genuinely, like, nervous because I really want that. There's, I'm not going to write another book again, let's face it, unless it's like, 100 things you shouldn't do in Japan.”
“But, uh, if it sells well, they might be back. I'm on the same publisher. There's, uh, Penguin, then there's Transworld. And I, they publish, you know, your favorites. Like, Prince Harry, Burke, yeah, Richard Dawkins' books. And then a Branish Japan.”
“But, uh, yeah, it's kind of nerve-wracking because only one shot at the Sunday Times bestseller title. It's, uh, it's the first two weeks of when a book is launched. And then all the pre-orders. So if I haven't got it, I'm fucked. I'll never be a bestseller and my dream is dead in the water. And I have to write another book.”