Judging People By Their Books

Slate recently wrote an article that analyzed what President Obama was reading on his vacation. His choices:

THE WAY HOME by George Pelecanos
LUSH LIFE by Richard Price
HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED by Tom Friedman
JOHN ADAMS by David McCullough
PLAINSONG by Kent Haruf

Besides being geographically diverse, I don't know how much this says about the President. Slate basically says it's boring, and I must say, I don't disagree. None of these, except HOT, FLAT AND CROWDED would have been on my list of summer reading.

So it got me thinking - what does one's choice of reading say to others about them? Many people use book covers to disguise their reading material, and I don't think it's so much about shame, but about not letting people have a certain impression about them.

Then there are those who flaunt what they are reading - whether it's the newest Dave Eggers, political thriller, or sexy erotica, there are those who like others to know what they are reading and take a particular perspective from it.

I was recently told by a neighbor that I didn't seem the "bookworm type." I wasn't sure how to take that, as I showed her my wall o' books. Then, she couldn't believe I had such a wide variety of books.

And I wondered some more - does that make me look indecisive? Or does that make it look like I enjoy learning? Or like I have ADD or even possibly kleptomania? What does my book collection say about me?

So what do you think this reading material says about the President? What about your choices in books - what does it say about you? Do you judge people by what they are reading?

Nicole