Former President Bush’s wise words aren’t as precious as those of some other previous presidents.

Bill Clinton raked in $15 million for his post-White House tome, but Mr. Bush is only earning a relatively scant $7 million for his forthcoming memoir, tentatively titled Decision Points, which will be published by Crown Press. Of course, that’s still more than President Obama will rake in for his latest literary projects.

Financial disclosure records reveal that the president has signed a $500,000 licensing deal to adapt his book, Dreams From My Father, for young adults. The president has also signed a deal to write another nonfiction book after he leaves office, but there are no details on whether he’s discussed money. In total, The New York Times reports that the president’s book career — which includes Dreams and his famous The Audacity of Hope — has brought him more than $8 million in advances, royalties and other deals.

Bush will have to catch up a bit, huh? Or, of course, he could combine his earnings with wife Laura; some suggest her book deal could be worth at least $8 million.

But any way you cut it, former presidents get rich in the book biz. Maybe we should run for office …