(CNN) - The White House has said President Obama plans to play golf and spend time with his family during his week away from Washington.
But it appears the president also wants to get some reading in: a lot of it.
White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters Monday Obama's vacation reading list comprises five books, including tomes from New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and historian David McCullough.
In all, the books on Obama's list total around 2,300 pages - meaning the president would have to read close to 300 pages each day of his week-long vacation to polish off the list.
Should Obama prefer to listen to the books on his iPod, four are available in audio format with a total running time of nearly 40 hours.
Full list according to the White House:
"The Way Home" by George Pelecanos
"Hot, Flat, and Crowded" by Thomas Friedman
"Lush Life" by Richard Price
"Plainsong" by Kent Haruf
"John Adams" by David McCullough
From CNN Politics
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Unlike his predecessor, at least this President can read.
Funny thing about those Ramsussen polls: During the last fiasco of a presidential adminisration, they gave the number of approvals and disapprovals, then broke it down further into "strongly" approve/disapprove. Now they only show the "strongly" category. What's up with that? Kinda seems like Rasmussen doesn't want to tell the whole story.
Interesting selection of reading material, 3 fiction books and 2 non-fiction books.
I sincerely thought he had already read the "Hot, Flat, and Crowded" by Thomas Friedman during his campaign. At least that was my impression after seeing a couple of his speechs on environment, energy, gree-collar jobs and national security. This book should be a must-read for all policy-maker at all levels. Definitively a good choice.
I will not blame him if the other four books just travel in his luggage and return to DC with their crispyly intact pages. I did it myself with fewer options and longer vacations. But if he finds a crack of time, my second recomendation would be "Lush Life" by Richard Price.
Wow, a President who can actually read! Boy, no wonder the rightwingers have their panties in a bunch. There is an 'elitist' city-slicker in office that will out-think them at every turn and foil their attempts to rule the country by fear mongering and demagoguery. The neo-nuggets are shaking in their boots that more and more people might turn off FoxNews and start thinking for themsleves. Ever wonder what Benkjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson would think of FoxNews and the like of Beck and Limbaugh?
This is your lead article on this page? Who cares what he is reading.
CNN is pathectic. How can you call yourself a news organization?
He should try reading the Constitution First!!!!
Maybe he should brush up on the Constitution, he doesn't seem to understand seperation of powers or the fact that the government's role is supposed to be very narrowly defined instead of the sole dictator of all things. Or perhaps he should take a minute and read the legislation he is trying to force on the rest of us. I know it's a vacation and all but when you are president, you sign away four years of your life.
Maybe he should add one more:
"How Bipartisanship Resembles Charlie Brown & The Football."
look at all the conservatives making blanket statements and claiming their opinion is the opinion of "america". HARDLY.
and Rasmussen reports is not a credible source for anything.
Mr President and first family, enjoy your much deserved and EARNED vacation. We are still behind you here and hope your batteries are fully recharged for the fear mongers waiting on the other side of the vineyard. We've got your back, enjoy those books, your family and some fresh sea air. Nice to see Bo with you, I'm sure he'll have a great time too.
Who cares what he is reading, he should be spending, the business people on the Vineyard are struggling.
Really hot news CNN. Your reporting just keeps getting better and better.
Perhaps he should read the Health Care Bill instead. Wow, what world does he live in to be vacationing now.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average (right wing) voter. Winston Churchhill.
Still true today.
he should read the healthcare bill he is trying to ram down our throats
He has been on vacation since he took office... Dems... we are so sick and tired of the blame game... get real, This is your mess and it would be nice if you took one little bit of responsibility instead of it wasn't our fault... Obama is clueless and all his tax cheating lying cronies...Let's see if cnn lets this go through???
Amazing that a president who has only been in office 6 months and is facing horrendous issues both home and abroad- most of which he did not create , but now owns, is expected to have already solved these issues.
The anger and hatred permeated by some of the responses is truly frightening-
None of this anger was evident while Nero (Bush) fiddled and Rome ( US) burned...
Enjoy the vacation President Obama.
But I have to ask CNN... is this really news? Come on!
Soon the Republicans will sing their greatest hit called "elitism" because this President can actually read and reflect!
Impressive list of reading material compared to the former POTUS list of reading material: "run spot run" and "scooby do comics".
Bush read "adams"over 4 years ago...
What was progressive Barrack doing...going to hear the Rev?
I have three university degrees and I cannot read five or six books in only several weeks. Wow, I wish I had enough money now to get a PhD in mathematics from Harvard now!
PRES probably deserves a little break from his BATTLES but he is on point for the Universal Health Care Program, Afganistan and y ou name it! His Poll Numbers are dive bombing and the Democrat Leadership in BOTH Houses are divided on Universal Healthcare etc. Time to "Get their Act Together and Get on the Same Page" if anything is REALLY GOING TO GET DONE.
Take a break/vac Pres with your fam...you all deserve it! The mindless nutbags out here that don't think you deserve one are idiots! They're so busy being negative of change, they don't realize the country is changing in a positive way.
First of all, I voted for Obama and still support him, but 6 months and this is his first vacation? Wasn't the big article the media could come up with last week about the length of Michelle's shorts on their "vacation" to the Grand Canyon? Also, Hawaii earlier in the year to visit family and a vacation to Africa to research their roots. Wish the rest of us in this economy could have the finances to travel like that. Oh yeah, we are the ones paying for their trips.