`Wells of Deep Wisdom'

Thanks to Dave Lull for passing along a link to a feature in Sunday’s New York Times Book Review in which the editors ask 20 writers to name books they would recommend to the presidential candidates. Most of the answers are predictably smug, stupid and pretentious but I enjoyed Garry Wills’ response:

“Politicians rarely read whole books (their attention moves from this person they need to the next), so I commend, to each of the busy finalists of this year, an essay by Samuel Johnson. The essays are wells of deep wisdom.

“For McCain: The Rambler No. 11, on anger in old age.

“For Obama: The Rambler No. 196, on the illusions of young hope.

“For Clinton: The Rambler No. 79, on demonizing one’s opponents.

“They can profit from such wisdom — as can we all.”