“I can’t remember all the books I read, but I do read a lot of books. And from that, I’m able to gain a better appreciation of where we’re going.”

- George W. Bush on why he reads “a lot” of books.

I found a discussion about this topic from a link through Top Ten Conservative Idiots (my new favorite site to visit each week) that discussed Bush’s summer reading. They rightfully point out that the volume of books Bush claims to have read doesn’t quite coincide with the persona he projects (and, in fact, is mathematically impossible given his busy schedule, unless he were reading in his sleep).

I’d argue that he does a lot of skimming. I know the feeling. I’ve done it myself from time to time. It happens when you set a rather lofty goal for your personal reading and attempt to juggle back and forth between multiple books quickly in order to meet it. It results in lazy reading in which your eyes work on autopilot, covering every page but not really digesting what you’ve read. Sure, you get the gist of the material, but only the surface impact, anything remotely complex becomes indiscernible.

The difference, I’d imagine, between Bush and myself on this issue is that I typically re-read the portions I feel I’ve skimmed. But this isn’t the first time this administration has been accused of glossing over complicated issues, and certainly a great philosophical work like Albert Camus’ (pronounced Ka-moo, Mr. Bush. Like what the cow goes) The Stranger requires a bit more concentration.

I’d ask for a ten-page essay concerning what he has learned from Camus’ famous novella, but I doubt he’d write it himself. Thankfully one only need look toward Bush’s foreign policy to determine whether or not he grasped its existential philosophy. Thinking back, I can see why his aides suggested this one to him, er, at least, suggested that he claim he read it. Yes, on the surface it concerns a man who kills a stranger (fittingly, an Arab) in cold blood, doing so impassively, seemingly feeling no remorse afterwards. But as many have pointed out the book delves a bit deeper, questioning religion among other things. And, if I may beat a dead horse here and once again mention how unusual it is that Bush is reading a book with atheistic flourishes written by a Frenchman, then so be it. It demands attention if only to draw out this curious narrative this administration attempts to create surrounding Bush’s personal life.

For those interested in exactly what Bush read this summer, you can view the list here. As for the other 60 or so books supposedly read by him this year, let’s just hope that Sartre’s Being and Nothingness does not appear among them. I fear that one might just cause his head to explode.