April 29, 2009
Posted: April 29th, 2009 04:14 PM ET

From
President Obama is reading the acclaimed 2008 novel 'Netherland.'
President Obama is reading the acclaimed 2008 novel 'Netherland.'

WASHINGTON (CNN) – What's President Obama reading these days?

In an interview for the upcoming issue of the New York Times magazine, the president said he's grown tired of briefing books and has been spending his evenings with Joseph O'Neill's 2008 novel "Netherland."

The acclaimed book, published last May, tells the story of Hans van den Broek, a Dutch financial analyst living in lower Manhattan who grows increasingly alienated from his wife following the September 11 attacks. During their separation, the main character spends a summer alone in New York and strikes up a friendship with a wily Trinidadian businessman named Chuck, who helps Hans re-discover his childhood love of cricket.

Reviewers likened the book to the Great Gatsby after its release. It won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2009.

Filed under: President Obama


Julie Burgeson   April 29th, 2009 8:28 pm ET

Find a Tea Party near you on July 4th. If we don't step up and take a stand we will be a socialized country. How sad for our gandchhildren who depend on us.

Nadine Bock, wake up   April 29th, 2009 8:25 pm ET

Nadine Bock, I think it is you who is in a coma.

Perhaps it was all that hot air Glen Beck was spouting? In any case, you have been brainwashed by the hannity propaganda network and have lost your common sense – shame, really.

WAKE UP!

Mary   April 29th, 2009 8:16 pm ET

Nadine Bock....President Obama is certainly proving that it is certainly all about him. From his ridiculous comments of : "guess what, we won" whenever anyone questions or opposes his views, to the selfish demand of having his own blackberry. All this on the tail of economic distress and murdering in almost every country. And what is the deal with his dog? Good grief! It's only a matter of time before all of us realize what a dud he really is. Come on America. Wake up already!

Please clarify why President Obama is a dud. Please, give us some specific examples of why he is a dud. And, please make sure that these examples are verifiable.

hopefully better than our last 8 year old pres   April 29th, 2009 8:14 pm ET

who liked his books on tape, not paper

Mick   April 29th, 2009 7:59 pm ET

Ahh the bitterness. I can almost hear the voice of the emperor from star wars...

Proud to be an American   April 29th, 2009 7:34 pm ET

What's wrong with reading the teleprompter? It's a convenience that he rightfully takes advantage of, as he should. Every president has used a teleprompter or reads from note cards. Trying giving an unprepared speech yourself and see how well it goes.

Get a grip people all you haters. It's been 100 days...so what? What have you done in 100 days to help make this a better country? Stop complaining and start doing something to make a difference in our country. Love it or leave it! It's a free country and the president can read whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

victor from long island   April 29th, 2009 6:15 pm ET

teleprompter

Paul from Kissimmee   April 29th, 2009 5:59 pm ET

I think he's secretly reading the book that Chavez gave him.

Eva, VA   April 29th, 2009 5:59 pm ET

Okay – there it goes up the Amazon.com ranks!

Alex   April 29th, 2009 5:48 pm ET

Maybe he should check out the book Chavez gave him... Or David Ray Griffin's "9/11 Contradictions"...

No More Incumbents   April 29th, 2009 5:46 pm ET

Hopefully Economics 101........

Schneider (I) - CA   April 29th, 2009 5:39 pm ET

I'm sure that he's read most of them, again, with a great appreciation for the press, for the media – specifically, he's read all of them, any of them that have been in front of him over all these years. I'm sure he has a vast variety of sources where he gets his news.

Jimbo46   April 29th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela gifted President Obama with the book "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent", written by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano. I would like to know if Obama has read it and what he thinks of the issues raised by this scholarly work.

Bob in Pa   April 29th, 2009 5:35 pm ET

How about the US Tax Code, or maybe the 2010 Budget. Who cares what he's reading for pleasure.

Agirl   April 29th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

He actually reads something that's not on his teleprompter? Imagine that.

Anonymous   April 29th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

Obama is not for the American people; he's all about himself.

lois   April 29th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

He has grown tired of briefing books. Uh-oh.

truth is liberal sort of   April 29th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

I can't believe he already finished Chaves' book..

debinaz   April 29th, 2009 5:20 pm ET

a telepromter? thats all he ever reads......for a man that is so well educated one would think he could memorize some of his speachs..

seebofubar   April 29th, 2009 5:20 pm ET

I hope he's reading "How to Interview For a New Job" cause there's no way he's going to keep this one long.

Brandon   April 29th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

Watch – soon the right wing nuts will flood this comment section with "WHY ISN'T HE DOING HIS JOB?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!1111". It's what they do. I would dare suggest that they would rather their first black president have no hobbies whatsoever, and just be working all of the time...you know, like a slave?

Old attitudes die hard, I guess.

The Film Professor   April 29th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

It is incredibly refreshing to again have a President who likes to read.

virginia nielsen   April 29th, 2009 5:17 pm ET

We know that he reads a lot !!! Good for us and for our country !!! What a difference !!! A President with a high intellectual level and that works all day , every day for us, the AMERICAN PEOPLE !!!

No Incumbents 2010   April 29th, 2009 5:13 pm ET

The Communist Manifesto and all the popularity polls.

Chris   April 29th, 2009 5:07 pm ET

OK cool!! Now back to the briefings...LOL....

dave   April 29th, 2009 5:01 pm ET

When will Rush tell me what to think about this

HouseDiva   April 29th, 2009 4:58 pm ET

it's a nice change to have a president who actually reads. I am also glad that president Obama's response wasn't "all of them" when asked what does he read....you betcha! ;)

Steve   April 29th, 2009 4:52 pm ET

Answer: the teleprompter

just another "arrogant" American   April 29th, 2009 4:52 pm ET

The Communist Manifesto, by Karl Marx, I'm sure. Oh yeah, and that book Hugo Chavez gave him. Now Obama will have some quotes to use when he apologizes for America's evil ways.

Open Your 3rd Eye   April 29th, 2009 4:51 pm ET

Um, who cares?

Yea, Obama is the man.

But really, who gives a D.

Noonie   April 29th, 2009 4:51 pm ET

Wow, a president who actually knows how to read??! What a nice change.

Gene   April 29th, 2009 4:51 pm ET

Better than any endorsement from Oprah.. you know that book is going to hit #1 on Amazon now :)

Jackie in Dallas   April 29th, 2009 4:49 pm ET

What a welcome relief that we have a President who not only CAN read, but likes to read.

President Obama, if I may make a suggestion, I've read two books that are fascinating, by the same author. One is the "Speed of Dark" (a story of what it is like to be an autistic adult), and the other is "Remnant Population" (a story of what it is like to be an older survivor) - both by Elizabeth Moon. "Dark," in particular, makes it clear what living with autism is like. Ms Moon has an autistic son, and writes from family experience. Both books have won awards, and I truly think you could enjoy both.

Sweet Cee   April 29th, 2009 4:48 pm ET

I am buying that book on my way home.

AndyL   April 29th, 2009 4:48 pm ET

What's he reading? That's easy, the tele-prompter

James R   April 29th, 2009 4:43 pm ET

His polls.

Marc in Virginia   April 29th, 2009 4:41 pm ET

I guess he finished reading The Communist Manifesto.

Nadine Bock   April 29th, 2009 4:39 pm ET

President Obama is certainly proving that it is certainly all about him. From his ridiculous comments of : "guess what, we won" whenever anyone questions or opposes his views, to the selfish demand of having his own blackberry. All this on the tail of economic distress and murdering in almost every country. And what is the deal with his dog? Good grief! It's only a matter of time before all of us realize what a dud he really is. Come on America. Wake up already!

Obama Victim   April 29th, 2009 4:37 pm ET

Communist Manifesto??

Tim   April 29th, 2009 4:36 pm ET

That's easy, the teleprompter.

Ocho Rios   April 29th, 2009 4:35 pm ET

When does he find time to read....look at the economy .....this is crazy..
Love you Mr. President! ha ha ha

Patriot Guy   April 29th, 2009 4:31 pm ET

A TELEPROMPTER, OF COURSE!! :-)

Paul   April 29th, 2009 4:31 pm ET

Teleprompters – when they are working. Otherwise – stammering.

Supergirllondon@twitter   April 29th, 2009 4:27 pm ET

I'm impressed he has the time to reading books

Jay   April 29th, 2009 4:25 pm ET

He's reading the teleprompter, word for word...even when it's wrong.

Doug, New Jersey   April 29th, 2009 4:24 pm ET

Well we all know his favorite reading material and the one that he is using to define his presidency and the nation he wants the USA to be. It says Marx on the cover and it ain't about the 80's singer Richard!!!

How people can believe that change can be based off of a book written in the 1850's shows how gulible and brainwashed libs really are.

Robin   April 29th, 2009 4:21 pm ET

Mein Kampf?

Mississippi Mike   April 29th, 2009 4:18 pm ET

Great! So our president is already tired of doing the job he campaigned four years to get. Not only has he done a lousy job in his first 100 days, he's already tired of it. Really encouraging.

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