I don't think HBO will be optioning this one.

"How to Beat Trump" is instead a lesson in how to lose miserably and humiliatingly by a guy who was once seen as an expert.

Mark Halperin's first book since his career was upended by allegations of sexual harassment is clearly no "Game Change." "How to Beat Trump" sold just 502 copies in its first week. The numbers were reported Wednesday by NPD BookScan, which tracks around 85% of print sales. Published Oct. 29 by Regan Arts, "How to Beat Trump" compiles comments from such Democratic strategists as Donna Brazile, David Axelrod and James Carville.

Halperin is seen as toxic since the #MeToo stuff. But that just makes you wonder why he took a shot with such a lame cash-in.

Was anyone really wondering what Donna Brazile and James Carville thought about beating Trump? Or even lamer figures like Jennifer Granholm (does anyone actually want to know what Jennifer Granholm thinks about anything?) or political wunderkinds like Kathleen Sebelius and Mike McCurry?

This is a compendium of things you might hear if you were randomly clicking through MSNBC, CNN, and random news shows. It's not what he built his career on, it's got a generic title, and wouldn't tap into either the #resistance readership or anyone else.