What Is Stephen Harper Reading?: Yann Martel's Recommended Reading for a Prime Minister and Book Lovers of All Stripes

By Yann Martel

“I know you’re very busy, Mr. Harper. We’re all busy. But every person has a space next to where they sleep, whether a patch of pavement or a fine bedside table. In that space, at night, a book can glow. And in those moments of docile wakefulness, when we begin to let go of the day, then is the perfect time to pick up a book and be someone else, somewhere else, for a few minutes, a few pages, before we fall asleep.”

From the author of Life of Pi comes a literary correspondence—recommendations to Canada’s Prime Minister of great short books that will inspire and delight book lovers and book club readers across our nation.

Every two weeks since April 16th, 2007, Yann Martel has mailed Stephen Harper a book along with a letter. These insightful, provocative letters detailing what he hopes the Prime Minister may take from the books—by such writers as Jane Austen, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Stephen Galloway—are collected here together. The one-sided correspondence (Mr. Harper’s office has only replied once) becomes a meditation on reading and writing and the necessity to allow ourselves to expand stillness in our lives, even if we’re not head of government.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9780307398680

Yann Martel

YANN MARTEL was born in Spain in 1963 of Canadian parents. Life of Pi won the 2002 Man Booker Prize (among other honors) and was adapted to the screen in the Oscar-winning film by Ang Lee. Martel is also the author of the novels The High Mountains of Portugal, Beatrice and Virgil, and Self, the collection of stories The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, and a collection of letters to the prime minister of Canada, What Is Stephen Harper Reading?. He lives in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Reviews for What Is Stephen Harper Reading?

[dianemb_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book, by the author of the very popular "Life of Pi", was a list of books Mr. Martel thought Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper should read. Mr. Martel has sent at least one book every two weeks to Mr. Harper along with a letter explaining why he chose the book. These letters form the basis of the book. It is interesting to note that not once has Mr. Harper replied to any of the letters. However, if he has read them, he will know how Mr. Martel stands on many of the issues of the day including and especially funding for the arts. Very enjoyable book which has added many more books to my "to be read" list.

[djfiander · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a record of the first two years of Yann Martel's project of recommending books to Prime Minister Stephen Harper for leisure reading and personal growth.Every two weeks, from April 16, 2007 through to May 11, 2009, Martel selected a book for Harper, wrote a brief letter discussing the book and its author, and mailed them to the Prime Minister. For the most part, there is no clear relationship between the book selected and what is going on with the PM, or Canada in general, with a few exceptions (for example, a set of Christmas books for the Harper family in 2007; and one or two letters in which Martel speaks about his concerns regarding changes in government funding policies, such as the letter he sent to accompany Shakespeare's Julius Caesar).As a collection of bibliographical essays, this is not the sort of book that most readers would read from cover to cover (although I did). It is a wonderful collection of personal essays from a celebrated, and very gifted, Canadian author on books that he thinks are worthwhile to read. Dip into it to find out what he thinks of the books that you have read and why he thinks the Prime Minister would benefit from them, and look for authors that you've heard of but haven't read.

[cecilturtle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Books have often been used as a political tool, but in this initiative, Martel achieves several things: demonstrating the importance of reading, sending a wonderful homage to books and their authors, using books to make a political point about current events, showing that books reflect the reader's mind, reminding that books are one of the many ways humans express their humanity. I loved the variety of genres and authors that Martel introduces and despite being an avid reader, I discovered many titles and authors. A quick, wonderful, personal view on reading and the power of books.

[juliana_t_10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved reading through Yann Martel's letters to Harper. I enjoyed the recommended titles, but also the rationale for the project. It was interesting how the tone of the letters changed over time --they became increasingly critical of Harper's politics --and more personal. It seems the less we know Harper, the better we know Yann Martel.