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Americans Read Over President's Shoulder

Obama's vacation book list drives leaps in Amazon sales rankings

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 27, 2009 1:46 PM CDT
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(Newser) – President Obama’s poll numbers are faltering, but his summer reading choices are getting rave reviews, Politico reports. A survey of the Amazon.com standings of the five books the White House announced he would take with him on his Martha’s Vineyard vacation show a drastic improvement in sales. If you’re doubtful about joining Obama’s Book Club, look at these numbers and follow the pack:

  • George Pelecanos, The Way Home: Ranked 33,349 on Amazon Monday, when the announcement came out. The next day: No. 328.
  • Richard Price, The Lush Life: Up from 74,289 to 10,295.
  • Thomas Friedman, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: 231 to 41.
  • David McCullough, John Adams: 14,301 to 7,067.
  • Kent Haruf, Plainsong: 8,155 to 189.
Take that, Oprah.

Passers-by walk past a store-front display featuring memorabilia and books on President Barack Obama in the downtown section of Oak Bluffs, Mass., on the island of Martha's Vineyard.
Passers-by walk past a store-front display featuring memorabilia and books on President Barack Obama in the downtown section of Oak Bluffs, Mass., on the island of Martha's Vineyard.   (AP Photo)
President Barack Obama looks at the book titled The Open Veins of Latin America by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano, after Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez handed it to him.
President Barack Obama looks at the book titled "The Open Veins of Latin America" by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano, after Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez handed it to him.   (AP Photo)
Author David McCullough talks with reporters before the HBO premiere of John Adams.
Author David McCullough talks with reporters before the HBO premiere of "John Adams."   (AP Photo)
President-elect Barack Obama, carrying the book Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer by Fred Kaplan, leaves the home of friend Penny Pritzker after having dinner in Chicago, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008.
President-elect Barack Obama, carrying the book "Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer" by Fred Kaplan, leaves the home of friend Penny Pritzker after having dinner in Chicago, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Then-senator Barack Obama listens during a breakfast with John Updike, Amy Sedaris, and Marie Arana at BookExpo America 2006 in Washington.
Then-senator Barack Obama listens during a breakfast with John Updike, Amy Sedaris, and Marie Arana at BookExpo America 2006 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)
President Barack Obama on the Vineyard.
President Barack Obama on the Vineyard.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
sully4411
Aug 28, 2009 1:06 AM CDT
@QueenAlli - thats a pretty ridiculous thing to say. IM pretty sure that he has not read Atlas Shrugged, because I have no idea what that book is, and thus Obama has not read it. Sorry, but your just not right this time
QueenAlli
Aug 27, 2009 11:48 AM CDT
@northeast: i'm pretty sure he's read atlas shrugged. he's a nerd and he went to prestigious schools, i'm sure one of them required it or he read it on his own. our prez is very well read.
northeast
Aug 27, 2009 9:34 AM CDT
He should read Atlas Shrugged.....except if he did that, he wouldn't have time to read any of the others. That book is enormous.

 
literature • publishing • reading • vacation • Thomas Friedman • book • Amazon.com • John Adams • President Obama • Martha's Vineyard • David McCullough • George Pelecanos • Richard Price • Kent Haruf

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