Every White House has had its intellectuals, but very few presidents have been intellectuals themselves - Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Woodrow Wilson, the list more or less stops there. Jonathan Raban adamhouseintellectual Change image and share on social
The trouble with ghostwriting is that it raises the issue of whether the president is in a state of diminished responsibility for what he says. Does he actually grasp the implications of the words he speaks? Jonathan Raban diminishghostwritegrasp share on social
It's been so long since a talented writer last occupied the White House; no wonder, then, that American writers have been among the most prominent of all the demographic groups claiming a piece of Barack Obama for themselves. Jonathan Raban americanbarackclaim share on social
The only book by a modern president that bears serious comparison with Obama's 'Dreams From My Father' is Jimmy Carter's short campaign autobiography, 'Why Not the Best?,' published in 1975. Jonathan Raban autobiographybearbook Change image and share on social
Over emphatic negatives always suggest that what is being denied may be what is really being asserted. Jonathan Raban assertdenyemphatic Change image and share on social
Seattle is this curious liberal 'island.' Jonathan Raban curiousislandliberal Change image and share on social
Seattle was built out on pilings over the sea, and at high tide the whole city seemed to come afloat like a ship lifting free from a mud berth and swaying in its chains. Jonathan Raban afloatberthbuild Change image and share on social
Simply as a writer of books I'm thrilled and proud that Seattle should have raised, on a public vote, sufficient money to build a central library, and moreover to rebuild every other library in the city: 28 of them. Jonathan Raban bookbuildcentral share on social
Democrats inhabit the low shores of Puget Sound, mostly on its eastern side, in a ragged trail of port-cities that stretches from Bellingham, close to the Canadian border, through Everett, Seattle, and Tacoma, to Olympia, the state capital, at the southern end of the sound. Jonathan Raban bellinghambordercanadian share on social
Inaugurals conventionally start with a history lesson and finish with a prayer. Jonathan Raban conventionallyfinishhistory Change image and share on social
