As a novelist, I'm always interested in what people are reading. The more talk about books, the better. So it comes as a welcome surprise to learn that, of late, the political world has also taken an interest in all things literary. First came George Bush's reading list, which purported to include Albert Camus' classic tale of alienation, The Stranger.
Next, when asked the question, "What one thing would you take with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?" Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Rudolph Giuliani, and John McCain all answered with some variation of "a good book."
The world's most prolific bookseller herself, Oprah Winfrey, appeared on Larry King this week and reiterated her support for Barack Obama, whose own memoir, The Audacity of Hope, remains high on the non-fiction best seller list.
And, lastly, on the question of great books, we have Mitt Romney. Asked what his favorite book was, he cited Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's Battlefield Earth. With a straight face, mind you.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I read a Hubbard book once. Interesting theory.
Probably my favorite book was Piet Hein's "Grooks," written during WWII but just as salient when I found it in the 1970s.
Steve Bonomo at 7:10PM on May 3rd 2007
2. Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. It tells of the relationship of an Italian seaman and a Greek daughter of a physician, during the German and Italian occupation of the Greek islands during WWII. (When Germany and Italy were allies.) You can't imagine a more tender-hearted poignant but at the same time powerful story of war than this. My son - a Navy vet, an MBA from Warton, and a Goldman Sachs personal-person - when he tells me he's gone back to read this again - I know he's in emotional trouble - but will work it out. Ths lovely saga can be the salvation of all of us - at least I believe so! Please respond. Margo
Margo at 9:18PM on May 3rd 2007
3. Margo,
Thanks for commenting. I'm going to have to pick that one up. Best wishes.
david knowles at 9:24PM on May 3rd 2007
4. Mitt romney is a satanic mormon!
Tori at 11:45PM on May 4th 2007
5. Mr. Romney has the right to practice any religion he prefers. The USA respects freedom of religion.
it also shows he respects the rights for other people to think different and isn't closed to learning about other thinking. to me it illustrates he is open minded. not like what we have now.
daniel f. pastorius at 1:46AM on May 9th 2007
6. Things that make you go hummmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!
Kimberly at 9:47AM on May 5th 2007
7. Actually, Battlefield Earth is a well written scifi novel. Hubbard was a good author although not as far as the scientology crud goes. I read somewhere he wrote if you wanted to become rich, start a religion so he did. Quite a novel approach to wealth back then but it still works today. Look at pat robertson, jerry falwell and others, TV religion made them all very rich and they are all crazy as hell.
Kevin at 12:36PM on May 5th 2007
8. Romney looks like real Presidental material. I was ,most impressed with his articulation, presence and no nonsense approach to the questions asked. Hope he is the GOP person selected. He is the only one that can beat any Dem they put up...
Sid at 5:24PM on May 5th 2007
9. FDR favority book for American fighting soldiers of WWII. Fight for what you believe, wage a good war for freedom and personal liberty.
THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON
January 25, 1941
To the Armed Forces:
As Commander-in-Chief I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States. Throughout the centuries men of many faith and divers origins have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration. It is a fountain of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspiration of the human soul.
Very sincerely yours. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Alan Klaus at 1:13PM on May 7th 2007
10. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein is my "desert island" book. Having read and reread it repeated since my initial introduction in high school, I find it an amazingly erudite commentary on sexuality, religion, and human nature. I reccomend it to all, especially those with closed minds that need opening.
jo at 9:32PM on May 8th 2007
11. Hubbard's science fiction is excellent reading, Romney should be criticized for liking it. These newspeople obviously are clueless about science fiction so they've tried to make something silly out of nothing. What they should focus on though is the kookiness of Romney's Mormonism, because anyone who can fall for that load of crapola isn't playing with a full deck.
Randy Kohl at 5:35AM on May 11th 2007
12. Oops, I meant to say that Romney SHOULDN'T be criticized for enjoying good science fiction.
randy kohl at 9:34PM on May 12th 2007