Tevi Troy‘s latest article for The Washingtonian questions whether the capital’s movers and shakers actually read the books Watergate veteran Bob Woodward cranks out every couple of years:
It never fails. Every few years, the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward produces a new book, and within days official Washington has analyzed and argued about it. It becomes part of the conversation, its anecdotes shared at parties, its methods and revelations debated. But has anyone actually read it?
Woodward’s books aren’t the only ones to get this treatment, though he may be the only author whose books are all treated this way. And most writers don’t have the guarantee, as he does, of extensive excerpts in the city’s paper of record. (Whether the excerpts are fully read is uncertain, too.)
Woodward’s books are subject to what can be called the Washington Read—not to be confused with the Index Scan: a glance over the credits to see if you’re mentioned. Washington social doyenne Juleanna Glover, host of countless book parties, says she has often seen guests do Index Scans immediately up on picking up the featured book.
The Washington Read is the phenomenon by which, through a form of intellectual osmosis, a book is absorbed into the Washington atmosphere. …
… When Obama’s Wars, Woodward’s latest book, came out, the frenzy to discuss it was great. The Washington Post’s Al Kamen revealed that even Fidel Castro pushed aides for a translation. But not everyone shared Castro’s need to be in the know. According to Kamen, Woodward sent a signed copy to Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who comes off poorly in Woodward’s account. As Kamen described it: “On Friday, Mullen dispatched ‘a senior aide to my house to return the signed copy,’ Woodward told us Tuesday. The aide offered ‘no explanation of why the book was being sent back,’ Woodward said, nor did he ‘claim there were any inaccuracies. The chairman just plans not to read it.'”
Unlike most Washington Readers, at least Mullen was honest.
