President Obama, vacationing this week at Martha’s Vineyard, has taken along five books: a Washington-based crime novel by George Pelecanos, Manhattan-based fiction by Richard Price, a Colorado prairie drama by Kent Haruf, David McCullough’s biography of John Adams, and Thomas Friedman’s book on the environment. Here’s Slate’s take on how to interpret (or overinterpret) the list.
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8 Responses to Obama’s Vacation Reading
billyminch - August 25, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Interesting literary fact
mjk5862 - August 25, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Rome Burns while Obama reads…
lelajoscelyn - August 25, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Obama deserves a break from all of the ridiculous abuse that has been heaped on his healthcare plan.
robertkoch - August 25, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Our President’s August vacation reading shows taste and balance–two fiction, two non-fiction. Only questionable choice is McCullough’s hefty Adams bio. That tome is winter material.
stmartins - August 25, 2009 at 5:58 pm
The Adams book is okay, although dull. But Lush Life, by Richard Price is a real surprise. It reveals him to be one of the best writers we have. No kidding. I say this as one who liked The Wire, but who is usually very disappointed in mysteries. Price’s sense of language is impressive, and his ear for the urban way of talking, thinking, and feeling–very impressive. This is a remarkable novel.
chrisr - August 26, 2009 at 7:32 am
From the president who campaigned in 57 states, maybe he should read some geography aand history. Whoever thinks he is actually reading any book probably has the same gullibility as those who voted for him. I would bet he has read less than 10 books in his entire life, if that many.
jms948 - August 26, 2009 at 9:59 am
The only book that this fraud should be reading right now is THE CONSTITUTION.Maybe we can pay off one of his flunkies to program it into his teleprompter…jms—H.R.I.M.
mjk5862 - August 26, 2009 at 3:53 pm
With all these books being read he probably won’t have time to meet with Cindy Sheehan.