richard brookhiser was the recipient of the national humanities medal in 2,008. for more information visit the others website at richard brookhiser.com. this summer booktv is asking, what are you reading? >> congressman from the 11th district of virginia, i'm here to talk about books. i myself am a very avid reader, i read on average a least a book a week and sometimes too. most of my consumption is history and biography. i have a stack of books on one side of the bed i have read in the last. i've got another stack on the other side of the bed that is to be read in the coming years. and i am particularly fond of american history and have read in number of biographies in the last year, read a wonderful book by joseph whalen, the last crusade. john quincy adams career in the house of representatives and in many ways historians i think very few have ever written about that time exclusively in john quincy adams career. he spent 17 years here at the house after serving president and had a distinguished career, was an outspoken opponent of slavery, and in many ways wit