Hillary Clinton 2016: Is the New Book Deal the First Step?

It seems that everyone is writing a book these days. Thursday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton too singed a deal with publisher Simon & Schulster to write a book. The book will be released in 2014 and will focus on Clinton's time as Secretary of State. Clinton's new book will talk about major trends that are shaping the 21st century, namely, "trends in economics, energy and climate change, democracy and human rights, the critical role of women and girls, technology and innovation, health and human development, and more."

Outside of a direct view into several fascinating years the book will provide, many are taking a different interpretation of the book's announcement. Specifically, some are speculating that this book represents the first sign of a Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential run. But if this is a sign, Clinton joins a long list of potential hopefuls signaling the presidential ambitions by way of print

First up is the Republican Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker. He is writing a book called Unintimidated: A Governor's Story and a Nation's Challenge. It is perhaps the most unsubtle book title since former presidential candidate Mitt Romney's book No Apology: The Case for American Greatness. Walker, a Tea Party favorite and favored son of the Koch brothers, will write about the insider's perspective on the battles he fought against unions and the failed attempt to recall him from the governor's mansion. Unintimidated has no release information date as of yet.

In March, ten years to the day of the invasion of Iraq, Condoleezza Rice, President George W. Bush's former national security advisors and secretary of state, announced that she was writing a book to be released in 2015. According to the publisher, Henry Holt, the book will be "an examination of democracy at home and abroad." Other 2016 hopefuls who have released books include Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) who penned and released An American Son: A Memoir in June of 2012 and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush who released Immigration Wars: Forging an American Solution in March of 2013.

Releasing a book has become a standard move for those running for president. A book, whether written by the candidate or a ghostwriter with the candidate's assistance, allows a more personal view of the candidate to be viewed by the voting public. This was the case with President Barack Obama's bestselling memoir, Dreams from My Father, which although first published in 1995 before Obama had any notion of running for president, was republished in 2004 and served as a personal look into the then Senator of Illinois' life. Other books of this kind include former North Carolina Senator John Edwards' Four Trials and Rubio's An American Son.

A book can also be a vision of the candidate's policy, allowing them to set the terms in which they will debate. Notable book of the kind are Romney's No Apology, Obama's The Audacity of Hope, and John Edwards' Ending Poverty in America: How to Restore the American Dream.

It is still early for the much more than speculation about who is running in 2016 to emerge. Perhaps, the best way to get concrete information will be to look at the new releases in your bookstore.