From Holden:
We all remember the president’s impressive summer reading list.
According to the White House, one of three books Bush chose to read on his five-week vacation is “Salt: A World History” by Mark Kurlansky, who chronicled the rise and fall of what once was considered the world’s most strategic commodity.
The other two books he reportedly brought to Crawford are “Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar” by Edvard Radzinsky and “The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History” by John M. Barry.
Bush, a former oil company chief, has not said why he picked Kurlansky’s 484-page saga. “The president enjoys reading and learning about history,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Looks like someone forgot to share the list with the president.
The previous Saturday, after Mr. Bush went on another 17-mile bike ride with a group of male reporters and photographers, he outlined his plans for the rest of his day:
“I’m going to have lunch with Secretary of State Rice, talk a little business; Mrs. Bush, talk a little business; we’ve got a friend from South Texas here, named Katharine Armstrong; take a little nap. I’m reading an Elmore Leonard book right now, knock off a little Elmore Leonard this afternoon; go fishing with my man, Barney; a light dinner and head to the ballgame. I get to bed about 9:30 p.m., wake up about 5 a.m. So it’s a perfect day.”