Taking Obama as well read

I wonder if in some ways that the contents of Obama's bookshelf is designed to smoke screen whatever issue(s) or platform(s) that Obama is or will espouse. One can have a large amount of books on their bookshelf and the assumption becomes that the individual has indeed read those books. It seems that the bookshelf also functions as the proverbial candidate tie that the casual voter uses to make their decision. The fact that Brooks mentions the reading habits of past Presidents. To paraphrase a Postman-like idea, perhaps what is mentioned as being on Obama's shelf and thus important is as not as meaningful as what is not on the shelf or is not mentioned. How authentic is a list of what is on Obama's bookshelf as a presidential candidate? I think if a list of books are being used to identify an individual that list will be carefully tailored and presented.