Hodder snaps up former number 10 special advisor Kasumu’s The Power of the Outsider

Hodder & Stoughton has signed The Power of the Outsider by Samuel Kasumu, who until his resignation in April 2021 served as special advisor to Boris Johnson on the Civil Society and Communities brief.

Rupert Lancaster, non-fiction publisher, acquired world rights from Adrian Sington at Kruger Crowne, for publication in June 2023.

Kasumu’s work included leading on the cross-government vaccine deployment. While under former prime minister Theresa May he was a member of the Race Disparity Audit Advisory Board.

In The Power of the Outsider, he uses reflections from his experience in government and the stories of other outsiders to explore a concept “of great importance to society”, the publisher says.

Kasumu, who has won numerous awards including Barclays Business Enterprise Award, the CBI’s Young Star of Enterprise Award, and Entrepreneur Champion of the Year, said: “I want my book to demonstrate that outsiders have a unique value if they can seize the opportunity to flourish. It’s a guide for those who want to further explore what it means, and how they can use it to lead to success.

“But my book is not just for those who experience being an outsider. It is also for leaders and others who are keen to better understand colleagues, friends, associates, who may find themselves in such circumstances.

“The world is changing and opening opportunities that have been the preserve of elites. This has meant that there are more people of different backgrounds entering different areas for the first time, often with limited guidance about how to navigate them. As one of those people, I want to share how this has been a journey of discovery for me, and I hope it will be for readers too.”

Lancaster commented: “This is an important and timely book. Samuel’s experience inside and outside government gives him a unique perspective on the issues he’s exploring.”