In 2008, Karl Rove wrote a piece for the Wall Street Journal about his competition with then President George W. Bush to see who could read more books in a year. Rove—a loyal customer at Austin indie bookseller BookPeople—claimed victory in each of the three final years of Bush’s presidency, but both are prolific readers. Rove reports that he read a total of 250 books between 2006 and 2008, while Bush finished close to 200.

Regardless of your sentiments on the Bush administration, 200 books in three years is impressive. Throughout history, books have helped inspire people to become involved in politics as elected officials, community leaders or social activists. Whether it’s a classic novel, a historical biography or a collection of poems, literature can alter perspectives and spark civic action.

With the New Hampshire state primary approaching on Tuesday, Sept. 14, The Wire called on some prominent local figures to weigh in on the books that helped inspire them to become politically active in various capacities. Their testimony serves as a reminder of the power and importance of reading—and voting.

Dan Belforti:
“Libertarianism: A Primer” by David Boaz, 1997
Although presently immersed in the current political discourse through the bi-weekly public affairs political talk radio show “Left, Right & Correct,” I had never voted until the age of 27. My interests often become obsessions, as happened with my investing hobby, which led me from a career in engineering to owning an investment advisory company. My extensive public policy research has included a variety of authors (including frequent call-in guest David Boaz) and many other sources, which led me to conclude from various perspectives that the correct answer is Libertarianism. Although there are a number of different variations of the political philosophy, the common thread of respect for and protection of individual rights is incorporated into all policy positions. Fair, rational and correct are three words not typically associated with the laws written by Congress in Washington, D.C. Although the current and corrupt “winner take all” plurality voting system essentially eliminates minority representation in Congress, the political philosophy lives on. Hopefully libertarianism is embraced by a majority before the “Republicrats” in Washington destroy our founding fathers’ brilliant vision for the United States of America.
Dan Belforti is a former Libertarian candidate for Congress, owner of Belforti Investments of Portsmouth, and host of the WSCA Portsmouth Community Radio show “Left, Right & Correct.”

Catherine Cheney:
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, 1960
Atticus and his family endure so much to do what is right. His knowledge, quick thinking and conscientiousness demonstrate what it takes to represent someone. He is honest and genuine; there is only Obligation and Truth. His loss on Tom’s behalf is almost unbearable. It is in this love for good for which the black community present stands in respect. He made a difference that day. It is that he questions himself and perseveres through “what it takes” to serve that inspire me. It shows up again and again in the book, from Boo to Tom to even the Mockingbird. The opposite is shown, as well, in the juror that wanted to acquit Tom but caved to the pressure of the other jurors. The parallels to politics are uncanny.
Catherine Cheney is a Dover City Councilor and a Republican candidate for the Strafford County Commission.

Burt Cohen:
“Fire in the Lake” by Frances FitzGerald, 1972
Probably not too many readers are familiar with Frances FitzGerald’s “Fire in the Lake.” Published in 1972, the book made it totally clear why a U.S. victory in Vietnam was impossible. FitzGerald delves into the culture of Vietnam, of which our war makers had zero understanding. The very identity of the people of Vietnam includes a reverence of their ancestors. They are deeply rooted in their culture, and the idea of capitulating to foreign invaders was out of the question. Totally outside the realm of possibility. No matter how much force was employed, we could never beat them. The people the U.S. was fighting were indigenous, of the people. The simplistic Cold War language we imposed had no relation to reality. From that book I learned, 1) Imperialism is stupid and wasteful; 2) Other cultures deserve respect; and, 3) when seeking to communicate with people, to be effective you must speak their language.
Burt Cohen is a former Democratic state senator and host of “The Burt Cohen Show” on WSCA Portsmouth Community Radio.

Thomas Ferrini:
“Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius, 1964 (Penguin Classics edition)
The “Meditations” of Marcus Aurelius have helped me put in perspective the unpredictable dramas that politics can generate. The logical analysis of how one relates to people and the world in a political context is nowhere better outlined than in this work. It gives one perspective. It is also far more hopeful than Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” which I read at age 16 for the first time. “The Prince” contains lessons on the utilization of power, but it is far more cynical than “Meditations.” Both have helped me understand politics. “Slavery by Another Name” by Douglas Blackmon and “King Leopold’s Ghost” by Adam Hochschild have provided me with an excellent perspective about how slave or forced labor has been the underpinning of major economic systems. The case study in “Slavery” demonstrates how free and forced labor of African Americans was legal in the U.S. until the mid 1960s. “King Leopold” explains the milieu in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” which gets at the same premise of free and forced labor as part of an economic system. It has inspired me to look at economic and political systems worldwide very closely. Finally, Gen. Romeo Dallaire’s “Shake Hands with The Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda” explained in detail what the international community and superpowers can and, more importantly, cannot or will not do in the face of genocide. It has given me a better understanding of Darfur, Bosnia and other such catastrophes. By trying to understand these difficult models, I hope I have a better understanding of some international political issues like racism and ethnic strife.
Thomas Ferrini is the mayor of Portsmouth and an attorney with a law firm in Dover.

Steve Fowle:
“The Tyranny of Printers” by Jeffrey L. Pasley, 2002
As the editor of a newspaper that scoffs at modern notions of “objectivity,” I read Jeffrey L. Pasley’s “The Tyranny of Printers” with wonder and relief. After 20 years spent publishing one of the least objective newspapers in the country, not only did I find scholarly justification for my wicked ways, I found the inspiration to go forth and keep sinning against alleged “rules” that protect nothing but the status quo. Pasley relates how our present political system was born in 18th century newspaper offices. Perhaps the key to unlocking today’s gridlock is somewhere in our own cluttered office.
Steve Fowle is the owner, editor and publisher of The New Hampshire Gazette, which bears the title of the nation’s oldest newspaper.

Steve Marchand:
“The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1984” by Bill James, 1984
I’ve loved politics as far back as I can remember, but a book I read as a teenager that stoked my love for national-level politics was Paul Taylor’s “See How They Run,” a behind-the-scenes account of the 1988 presidential race. It remains one of the best books of its type ever written, and it motivated me greatly to get involved in the 1992 presidential primary season, where I turned 18 just before Primary Day.
The book from my youth that most influenced my thinking about governing—and, really, life—was, oddly, “The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1984.” I was 10 years old, a baseball nut, and my parents picked up this dense book full of regression analysis, complex algebraic formulas, and controversial conclusions. Nobody in the last 30 years has done more to challenge conventional wisdom in their field in this country than Bill James has for baseball, and the game (and its fans) are better off for it. I’ve reread that book dozens of times and still have it today. He taught me, at a very young age, to start with a question, assume nothing, and let it take you to the answer—and not the other way around. If our partisan politicians would think the same way today, America would be far better off for doing so—and that is my goal in public policy in the future.
Steve Marchand is the former mayor of Portsmouth and current managing director of The Marchand Group, a political consulting firm.

Macy Morse:
“Report of the County Chairman” by James A. Michener, 1961
James Michener realized from the start of the Kennedy campaign that to be chairman of the Bucks County Democratic Committee—a county saturated with self-assured, life-long Republicans—he would need more stamina and help than he had. Michener accepted the challenge and, for the first time ever, a Democrat, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, took Bucks County. I was fascinated and challenged by Michener’s task of organizing volunteers, raising money, working with the press. I said “yes” a year later when asked to organize Ward 3 in Nashua for John King’s candidacy for governor. King, a Democrat, won Ward 3, long known as a Republican stronghold.
Macy Morse is a Seacoast resident and long-time political activist who has been arrested several times for acts of civil disobedience.

Lenore Patton:
“Notes on the State of Virginia” by Thomas Jefferson, 1781
I’ve been interested in politics and government as far back as I can remember. I think the original inspiration came from listening to conversations of my parents and other family members. The books that most inspired me and led me to become an activist were the writings of Thomas Jefferson, especially “Notes on the State of Virginia” and his correspondence with John Adams. My fate was sealed on a trip to Washington, when I read Jefferson’s words on the walls of his memorial.
Lenore Patton is chair of the Rockingham County Democrats and frequently hosts candidates at her Hampton home.

Andrew Smith:
“Rationalism in Politics” by Michael Oakeshott, 1962
The book that perhaps most informs my political thinking is “Rationalism in Politics” by Michael Oakeshott. This collection of essays provides a powerful reminder of how irrational politics typically is, how unimportant it is in the daily lives of most citizens, and how little the fundamentals of government and politics change. It also hammers home to the reader the futility of thinking that there is an ultimate “end” toward which our societies are heading. Not especially uplifting, but a bracing slap of reality to the face of the reader who looks to salvation through government.
Andrew Smith is an associate professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire and director of the UNH Survey Center.

Jim Splaine:
“Profiles in Courage” by John F. Kennedy, 1955
My answer would be “Profiles in Courage” by John F. Kennedy in 1955. Not that I would ever live up to the standards of those “profiles” in the book. The message of “one person making a difference” in something was important to me at a younger age when I first got involved in politics and government. It doesn’t take someone of unusual ability or talent to make a difference on important things—nor of extraordinary “courage.” It just takes a desire to do something and speak out against injustice or wrongdoing. In a way, most of us do that every day—with our friendships, in our workplaces, our families, and our community.
Jim Splaine is a Democratic state representative from Portsmouth. He is not running for reelection in 2010.