Barack Obama is not just the first black man to become President, he is the most literary writer to become President. Other Presidents have written books, usually after leaving office and even then with the help of a “real writer” to shape the narrative and smooth out wrinkles in the prose. But Obama became a writer before he ever became a politician–way back when he was in law school.

Obama exhibits the habits of a writer. He keeps a notebook; he keeps a journal. He files away memorable events and hopes they will become anecdotes to illustrate a point in an argument, or represent a moment in time. As a writing teacher, one of my greatest pleasures is watching my students undergo this transformative process.