Truth to Power

The NYT recently asked a handful of writers to recommend books to the presidential candidates. The survey results were published in the Book Review this past Sunday. Many of the responses were remarkably astute, but my favorite recommendations, which spoke most directly to each candidate, were made by John Edgar Wideman:

Thanks for an opportunity to school the stars. As required reading for Obama I assign “The Prince” (Machiavelli), a manual detailing strategies for handling situations when turning the other cheek won’t do; for McCain “The Little Prince” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry), a lyrical narrative about loving that’s not taming but loving by letting go; and in the spirit of gender equity, since there is only one female candidate, two books for Clinton — “Black Beauty” (Anna Sewell), a tale from the horse’s mouth about the trials and triumphs of being a dark horse; and any volume by Miss Manners that reminds a reader civility matters, even in presidential campaigns.

Which books would you recommend that the presidential candidates read?