For some reason, the president’s reading habits — every<\/i> president’s reading habits — seem to generate considerable media interest. Apparently, it’s a peek into the president’s personality, coupled with insight into what might help influence his perspective.<\/p>\n
But in order for these reading lists to be valuable, we have to believe the books are actually being read. In Bush’s case<\/a>, I’m not so sure.<\/p>\n President George W. Bush faced major security challenges on three fronts on Sunday as he prepared to return to Washington after a 10-day working vacation at his ranch.<\/p>\n Bush puts down his summer reading — including Albert Camus’ “The Stranger,” and two books on Civil War President Abraham Lincoln — in favor of presidential briefing books.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Reading about Lincoln isn’t much of a stretch. Bush very well may consider himself something of a Lincoln-esque figure, fighting a costly war while enduring intense political criticism.<\/p>\n But Camus? I’m having a much tougher time buying this one. He is not, in other words, the kind of guy who reads Camus on vacation, in between brush-clearing and bike-rides in which he’ll shout “air assault!<\/a>” to his companions.<\/p>\n
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\nWe all like to joke about Bush’s limited intellectual prowess, but I think it’s safe to say even staunch Bush allies would concede that the president is not exactly “book smart.” According to his own carefully-crafted narrative, Bush is driven by instinct. By the president’s own admission, he doesn’t read newspapers and he won’t pore over briefing books; Bush will instead hire a loyal team he can rely on to distill information and offer him choices, which he will make based on his gut.<\/p>\n