Books Recommended by Barack Obama
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Truth Decay
An Initial Exploration of the Diminishing Role of Facts and Analysis in American Public Life
Michael D. Rich
Source: "A look at how a selective sorting of facts and evidence isn’t just dishonest, but self-defeating to a society that has always worked best when reasoned debate and practical problem-solving thrive." - Barack Obama
1 recommenderThe Moment of Lift
How Empowering Women Changes the World
Melinda Gates
Source: "Melinda tells the stories of the inspiring people she’s met through her work all over the world, digs into the data, and powerfully illustrates issues that need our attention." - Barack Obama
In the Shadow of Statues
A White Southerner Confronts History
Mitch Landrieu
Source: "An ultimately optimistic take from someone who believes the South will rise again not by reasserting the past, but by transcending it." - Barack Obama
1 recommenderThe New Geography of Jobs
Enrico Moretti
Source: "Still a timely and smart discussion of how different cities and regions have made a changing economy work for them." - Barack Obama
1 recommenderSpeed & Scale
An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now
John Doerr
Source: "If you care about climate change, [this book] offers concrete steps that we can all take to make a difference." - Barack Obama
2 recommendersFactfulness
Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World - and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Hans Rosling
Source: "A hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases." - Barack Obama
Why Liberalism Failed
Patrick J. Deneen
Source: "Offers cogent insights into the loss of meaning and community that many in the West feel." - Barack Obama
2 recommendersAn American Marriage
A Novel
Tayari Jones
Source: "A moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple." - Barack Obama
Educated
A Memoir
Tara Westover
Source: "A remarkable memoir of a young woman raised in a survivalist family in Idaho." - Barack Obama
A House for Mr Biswas
A Novel
V. S. Naipaul
Source: "Great novel about growing up in Trinidad and the challenge of post-colonial identity." - Barack Obama
1 recommenderWarlight
A Novel
Michael Ondaatje
Source: "A meditation on the lingering effects of war on family." - Barack Obama
1 recommenderThe Word Collector
Peter H. Reynolds
Source: "A fun book that vividly illustrates the transformative power of words." - Barack Obama
2 recommendersFutureface
A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging
Alex Wagner
Source: "A thoughtful, beautiful meditation on what makes us who we are." - Barack Obama
1 recommenderSelf Reliance
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Source: On the "favorite books" section of Barack Obama's Facebook profile.
2 recommendersGilead
Gilead, Book 1
Marilynne Robinson
Source: On the "favorite books" section of Barack Obama's Facebook profile.
1 recommenderAbraham Lincoln
Selected Speeches and Writings
Abraham Lincoln
Source: On the "favorite books" section of Barack Obama's Facebook profile.
1 recommenderThe Oxford Shakespeare
The Complete Works
William Shakespeare
Source: On the "favorite books" section of Barack Obama's Facebook profile.
Moby Dick
Herman Melville
Source: On the "favorite books" section of Barack Obama's Facebook profile.
Song of Solomon
Toni Morrison
Source: On the "favorite books" section of Barack Obama's Facebook profile.
FAQ
Did Barack Obama recommend all these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Barack Obama must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know Barack Obama mentioned these books?
Every suggestion made by Barack Obama is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Barack Obama actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Barack Obama, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
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