HarperBusiness announces five-book deal with United Media for Dilbert creator, Scott Adams

Business Wire, Oct 24, 1996

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 1996--HarperBusiness, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, has announced an eight-figure, five-book agreement with United Media for Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip and author of two hardcover business books, The Dilbert Principle and Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook, which will appear in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions respectively on the New York Times Nonfiction Bestseller list of Nov. 3.

His first hardcover, The Dilbert Principle (HarperBusiness; May 8, 1996; $22.00) was released in March and currently has over 1.3 million copies in print after 27 consecutive weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, 11 in the No. 1 position. Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook (HarperBusiness; Oct. 30, 1996; $16.00) went on sale two weeks ago, with over 550,000 copies currently in print, and climbing.

The five books covered in the new agreement will be about the workplace and will be published over the next five years. The agreement makes HarperBusiness the exclusive publisher of original books by Scott Adams.

"Dilbert is one of the most successful comic strips we've ever had," notes Doug Stern, president and CEO of United Media, which syndicates the strip to over 1,200 newspapers worldwide through United Feature Syndicate. "People spend so much of their lives at the office, but no one else is addressing this important aspect of the modern experience."

"Scott is amazing," adds Adrian Zackheim, publishing director of HarperBusiness. "He just seems to get it so right, day after day, in his Dilbert strip -- screamingly funny, and yet entirely true-to-life, as if he were eavesdropping on workplaces all over America. There's a good reason that he's being celebrated as the nation's number one business commentator."

"In a world of rapid change and cutthroat competition, we mustn't forget the importance of humor," says Jack McKeown, president and publisher, HarperCollins Adult Trade Group. "As far as I'm concerned, all of us in business need a dose of Dilbert every day to preserve our sanity."

"I'm grateful to HarperBusiness and United Media for the confidence they've shown for my work and the support they've given me," concludes Adams, "not counting that awkward silence after I said I've used up all my good ideas."

CONTACT: HarperBusiness, New York

Lisa Berkowitz, 212/207-7682

E-mail: lisa.berkowitz@harpercollins.com