Everything I Needed To Know About Writing A Bestseller I Learned From Barack Obama

On Tuesday I flew to Detroit and back, and on both flights the person sitting next to me had an unopened copy of Dreams From My Father sitting in their laps. I noticed the book in particular because I, too, had a copy of the very same book hidden in my bag. Unlike my seatmates I'm sort of embarrassed to be seen reading the book in public, especially ont he subway, because I feel like I might as well just weat a sign that says "I Am A White Girl Who Wants to Understand the Black Experience". I feel like as a memoirist I should get an exemption - I should be able to unabashedly read any memoir of my choosing in public. That aside, it occured to me that in order for my next book to be a bestseller all I need to do is follow Obama's example. So... here's my to do list:

1. Edit Harvard Law Review

2. Make impressive keynote speech at next Democratic convention

3. Become multiracial (note to self: in this case Jewish does not count)

4. Have dead parent I never knew

5. Get dead parent to be from third world nation

6. Wear more suits

7. Launch "Schank in '08" presidential campaign