Welcome!

We are endeavoring to continue Will Powers's excellent project: reading a biography of every U.S. president, paired with a novel that the president himself may have read. The biography should be read first, in case a specific book is mentioned; if not, the novel should be contemporary. (Patrick Coleman has offered to suggest books if need be.)

Many of us were inspired when Will told us of his project but hesitant to follow his lead with such a commitment of reading time. This community effort offers an easier start, one we can feel much more confident about fufilling - and we suspect Will would have approved of the community nature as well.

Each of us who choose to join will be assigned a president, then read a biography and a book he would have read. A year from now we will convene in person at a location to be named to have a party, remember Will, and talk about what we have learned. Readers will contribute a one-page report on the president and the book. In the spirit of Will’s squeeze-o-type/inflate-o-type abilities, the font and leading are left to the reader.

This space in the ether is for us to post comments, questions, suggestions, and have a central location to exchange thoughts and ideas.

Please post a comment here if you'd like to participate, with your top three presidential reading choices. Please remember to be expansive in your choices; everyone can't have Lincoln. Chester Arthur needs a reader too! Karl Strauber will sort out who gets whom and a list will be posted. Yes, trading is legal, bribery encouraged.

Please join us! We need 44 people, so pass this invitation on to those who love Will and also American History!