Over the course of his 8 years in office, America’s last literate president Barack Obama made a habit of sharing his favorite books, music and movies with the public. Continuing the tradition on Twitter, Obama yesterday shared his year-end reading list, noting:
“As 2020 comes to a close, I wanted to share my annual lists of favorites. I’ll start by sharing my favorite books this year, deliberately omitting what I think is a pretty good book – A Promised Land – by a certain 44th president. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I did.”
From Isabel Wilkerson to Brit Bennett and C Pam Zhang, find Obama’s 2020 picks below.
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
Jack by Marilynne Robinson
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson (also rec’d by Mariah Carey)
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
Luster by Raven Leilani
How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey
Twilight of Democracy by Anne Applebaum
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (also rec’d by Mariah Carey & Noname)
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
Missionaries by Phil Klay