The George Bush Book Club

Two months or so ago, US and World report carried a story that suggests that President Bush reads up to two books a week, a rather impressive trait if true. Though considering the fact that I can take up to a month to summon up the attention span to read one thin book, (and I’m not fretting about the world, well ok, I am but I can’t actually do anything about it) two a week does seem to be a rather remarkable feat.

Bruce Reed of Slate reviews the President’s reading habits and unearths some interesting gems regarding the bookish Bush, such as the President and chief advisor Karl Rove are in a reading competition, one which Rove trails badly in at the moment. But then, Rove has had to work on the October surprise which he has promised his fellow Republicans, so he probably had to put down the books once and a while.

Reed wonders aloud if having a President who is so immersed in reading is a beneficial thing for a nation with as many concerns as America has at the moment. He dishes out a healthy bit of skepticism over the claims, and if you consider the amount of briefing papers, meetings with cabinet and military officials, as well as other world leaders and such; it boggles the mind that the man could be such a voracious reader of these printed words.

Perhaps he’s setting himself up for a post presidency career, who knows maybe Oprah’s Book Club needs a new selections manager. At two books a week, the President would be a natural to set the nation’s book reading agenda. Although we suspect that his choices might not be quite the tone or reflect the genres that the Oprah crowd would be looking for.

Many suspect the sudden dedication to the written word is a bid to begin the process of legacy building. With just over two years left in the Bush presidency it’s time to leave the nation with a lasting impression of their 43rd President.

From mangled syntax to fanatic of the printed text, it’s an accomplishment that would make Professor Higgins quite proud!