According to this article in the Globe and Mail, Yann Martel, author of the Booker Prize-winning fantastical novel Life of Pi has spent the last two years sending books to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Martel met Harper in March of 2007 for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Canada Council for the Arts, and was struck by Harper’s coldness and perceived indifference to the Arts. Martel became curious about him, wondering what made him tick. He decided that every two weeks he would send the Prime Minister a book of his own choosing that he thought would benefit Harper.
You can see more at Martel’s web site whatisstephenharperreading.ca but the first book sent was The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy. Some of the other choices have included Animal Farm by George Orwell, Candide by Voltaire, Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Drown by Junot Diaz, The Good Earthby Pearl S. Buck, and many, many more - 57 so far and counting.
What to say about all this? Firstly, Yann Martel and I appear to have very similar taste in books. Secondly, hey Yann Martel - I can be busy and enigmatic and indifferent…if I snub you, will you start sending me books? I promise to have my staff (read: one of my friends) respond.
I hope Martel can make a difference to this Prime Minister. I also hope for world peace, a cure for all diseases, and to discover life beyond earth.