Miramax Books
An American book-publishing imprint established by Miramax founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein, initially focused on film-related publishing and later known for celebrity memoirs, literary fiction, and major commercial series.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Miramax Books was an American publishing operation associated with Miramax and created by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the founders of Miramax Films. The imprint was conceived initially as a way to extend Miramax’s entertainment activities into books, including movie tie-ins, but its publishing program quickly broadened into celebrity memoirs, political and public-affairs titles, literary fiction, and commercial nonfiction. Jonathan Burnham was appointed president and editor-in-chief in December 1998. He planned a list of approximately 10 to 15 books per year, with publication beginning in 2000. From 2000 through 2002, the operation functioned within Miramax’s Talk Media division under the name Talk Miramax Books. Tina Brown, who chaired Talk Media, helped recruit prominent authors, including historian Simon Schama and novelist Martin Amis. The imprint’s early list demonstrated an ambition to compete for high-profile general-interest books rather than remain limited to entertainment tie-ins. The publishing program gained visibility through memoirs and autobiographical works by prominent public figures. Its authors and subjects included Farah Pahlavi, David Boies, Madeleine Albright, Rudy Giuliani, Tim Russert, and Queen Noor of Jordan. Giuliani reportedly received a $3 million advance for his autobiography before the September 11, 2001 attacks, illustrating the scale of the imprint’s investment in headline-making nonfiction. By April 2002, Talk Miramax had published 30 books, five of which had reached national bestseller lists. The division generated $10 million in revenue in 2001 and was reported as profitable. After Tina Brown departed Talk Media in 2002, the publishing unit reverted to the Miramax Books name. Its list combined nonfiction bestsellers with literary and commercial fiction. Notable titles included Martin Amis’s Experience, Helen DeWitt’s The Last Samurai, Jerri Nielsen’s Ice Bound, Madeleine Albright’s Madam Secretary, Tim Russert’s Big Russ and Me, and Plum Sykes’s Bergdorf Blondes. In 2004, Miramax Books won the auction for Rick Riordan’s manuscript The Lightning Thief. The book became the first volume of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, and the imprint subsequently published the first three books in that series. The imprint’s corporate arrangements changed after Bob and Harvey Weinstein left Disney in 2005. Although Miramax Films remained with Disney until its later sale, the Weinsteins retained partial ownership of Miramax Books under a joint operating agreement scheduled to run through September 30, 2007. Rob Weisbach oversaw both Miramax Books and Weinstein Books, while Disney executives Robert Miller and Deborah Dugan participated in acquiring new titles. The Weinsteins retained a financial interest in books scheduled for publication between April 2005 and September 2007. Available reference material does not establish a definitive later operating status, successor structure, or current publishing activity for Miramax Books.
History
Miramax Books emerged from the expansion of Miramax’s entertainment business into publishing. Founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the operation was initially intended to publish movie tie-ins, but it developed into a broader general-interest imprint. Jonathan Burnham joined as president and editor-in-chief in December 1998 and planned a publishing program of roughly 10 to 15 fiction and nonfiction titles annually, beginning in 2000. Between 2000 and 2002, the imprint operated as Talk Miramax Books within Miramax’s Talk Media division. Tina Brown, the chair of Talk Media, helped attract prominent writers and public figures, including Simon Schama and Martin Amis. The list included literary fiction, memoirs, political books, and other high-profile nonfiction. The imprint’s authors and subjects included Farah Pahlavi, David Boies, Madeleine Albright, Rudy Giuliani, Tim Russert, and Queen Noor of Jordan. The division achieved notable early commercial results. By April 2002, it had published 30 books, five of which had reached national bestseller lists. It was reported to have generated $10 million in revenue during 2001 and to have been profitable. After Brown left Talk Media in 2002, the imprint reverted to the Miramax Books name. Miramax Books continued to pursue both literary recognition and major commercial opportunities. Its notable titles included Martin Amis’s Experience, Helen DeWitt’s The Last Samurai, Jerri Nielsen’s Ice Bound, Rudy Giuliani’s Leadership, Queen Noor’s Leap of Faith, Madeleine Albright’s Madam Secretary, Plum Sykes’s Bergdorf Blondes, and Tim Russert’s Big Russ and Me. In 2004, it won the auction for Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief. The book launched the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, of which Miramax Books published the first three volumes. The ownership and management framework changed when the Weinsteins departed Disney in 2005. Unlike Miramax Films, which remained under Disney for several more years, Miramax Books continued under a joint operating agreement in which the Weinsteins retained partial ownership through September 30, 2007. Rob Weisbach oversaw Miramax Books and Weinstein Books, while Disney executives Robert Miller and Deborah Dugan helped acquire new titles. The Weinsteins maintained a financial interest in books scheduled for publication between April 2005 and September 2007. The available reference does not provide a confirmed account of the imprint’s later operations, closure, sale, or successor arrangements.
- 2005
Ownership arrangement changes after Weinstein departure
[1]The Weinsteins left Disney but retained partial ownership of Miramax Books under a joint operating agreement scheduled through September 2007.
- 2004
Acquisition of The Lightning Thief
[1]Miramax Books won the auction for Rick Riordan’s manuscript The Lightning Thief, later the first Percy Jackson & the Olympians novel.
- 2002
Name changes back to Miramax Books
[1]After Tina Brown’s departure from Talk Media, the publishing division reverted to the Miramax Books name.
- 2000
Publishing begins under Talk Miramax Books
[1]The imprint began its planned publishing program and operated within Talk Media as Talk Miramax Books.
- 1998
Jonathan Burnham appointed to lead the imprint
[1]Jonathan Burnham was appointed president and editor-in-chief in December and developed a plan for a fiction and nonfiction publishing list beginning in 2000.
Products and positioning
A high-profile general-interest publishing imprint that used Miramax’s entertainment-industry profile to acquire prominent memoirs, public-affairs titles, literary fiction, and commercially ambitious book projects.
Memoir and autobiography · 2000
Celebrity and public-figure memoirs
A central part of the list consisted of memoirs and autobiographical books by prominent political, cultural, and public figures. Examples included works associated with Farah Pahlavi, Rudy Giuliani, Queen Noor of Jordan, Madeleine Albright, and Tim Russert. These books used the imprint’s ability to generate entertainment and mainstream media attention around recognizable authors and subjects.
Fiction · 2000
Literary fiction
Miramax Books published literary fiction alongside its nonfiction program. Notable examples included Martin Amis’s Experience and Helen DeWitt’s The Last Samurai, demonstrating that the imprint sought both critical credibility and commercially visible titles rather than concentrating exclusively on celebrity publishing.
Young adult fantasy · 2005
The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief was the manuscript Miramax Books acquired through an auction in 2004. It became the first volume in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series and marked the imprint’s entry into a major youth-oriented fantasy franchise. Miramax Books published the first three books in the series.
General nonfiction · 2000
Commercial nonfiction
The imprint’s broader nonfiction list included political books, professional memoirs, survival narratives, and inspirational works. Representative titles included Jerri Nielsen’s Ice Bound, Rudy Giuliani’s Leadership, Madeleine Albright’s Madam Secretary, and Tim Russert’s Big Russ and Me.
Brand decisions
2005
Continue operations under a joint arrangement after the Weinstein departureStrategyBackground
Bob and Harvey Weinstein left Disney while Miramax Films remained under Disney ownership.
Action taken
The Weinsteins retained partial ownership of Miramax Books under a joint operating agreement scheduled to end on September 30, 2007; Rob Weisbach oversaw Miramax Books and Weinstein Books.
Aftermath
Disney executives Robert Miller and Deborah Dugan participated in acquiring new titles, while the Weinsteins retained a financial interest in books scheduled for publication through the agreement period.
2004
Acquire The Lightning ThiefProduct launchBackground
Miramax Books competed in an auction for Rick Riordan’s manuscript.
Action taken
The imprint won the manuscript auction and published the first three books in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series.
Aftermath
The acquisition added a major young-adult fantasy property to the imprint’s catalog.
2002
Return from Talk Miramax Books to Miramax BooksStrategyBackground
The publishing operation had been housed within Talk Media while Tina Brown served as its chair.
Action taken
After Brown left Talk Media, the imprint resumed the Miramax Books name.
Aftermath
The operation continued publishing under the Miramax identity and pursued additional high-profile acquisitions.
1998
Build a focused fiction and nonfiction publishing listStrategyBackground
Miramax Books was being developed as an extension of Miramax’s entertainment activities, initially including movie tie-ins but with plans for a broader book program.
Action taken
Jonathan Burnham planned to publish approximately 10 to 15 books per year beginning in 2000.
Aftermath
The imprint expanded into celebrity memoirs, public-affairs books, literary fiction, and commercial nonfiction.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/miramax-books · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled