Book Sellers Gush for Bill Clinton, 'Our Greatest Gift'?

Bill Clinton must love the smell of historical rehabilitation in the morning. His new book is prompting gushy copy from the nation’s largest book-selling chains. I get the E-mails. This week’s E-mail from Borders has a splashy color picture of Clinton shaking hands with colorful natives of Africa under the headline "Our greatest gift." Giving of ourselves is our greatest gift? Or Bill Clinton is? The copy is also syrupy:

From a personality who’s larger than life comes a portrait of actions that speak louder than words. Bill Clinton’s Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World is an inspired and inspiring look at individuals and organizations making a difference every day through charity work. Clinton may have been a polarizing figure who certainly gave us a lot to talk about, but here he offers portraits of efforts anyone can celebrate while giving us plenty to think about.

Can you feel the love in those words? Borders also offers print and audio excerpts of the book in its ad, an audio interview with Clinton, as well as a gallery of Clinton images (it’s only two pictures). I also couldn’t help but notice the message from Barnes & Noble sent. Next to a large headline that says "Clinton’s call to action," Barnes & Noble has a large picture of Clinton walking hand in hand with children in an Asian setting, I think, with this promotional copy:

In his inspiring new book, Bill Clinton reveals the extraordinary and innovative efforts now being made by companies, organizations, and individuals to help others and save lives down the street and around the world. By sharing his own experiences as well as those of other "givers" that include celebrities along with unknown heroes, our former president demonstrates how gifts of time, skills, things, and ideas are as important and effective as donating money. Whether it's saving lives in Africa, cleaning up a California beach, or promoting decent working conditions, Giving tells readers what they can do to help, and shows how activism and service can be powerful agents of change.

A liberal might say "maybe they did the same for The Reagan Diaries." This might be just the hottest book right now, and not displaying a liberal tilt. But the argument is dashed a bit by the book being promoted by B&N just underneath: Alan Alda’s new memoir, "yet another great performance — candid, wise, and as questioning as it is incisive." Clinton and Alda were promoted in the headline, so I probably clicked on it faster than the "daily spam" slowness I usually display.