As the year comes to an end, former US President Barack Obama has shared his 2025 selections of books, movies, and music, continuing a practice he started while in office.
Through social media, he offered a curated look at the works that resonated with him, giving fans a window into his personal cultural journey.
“I'm continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies and music,” Obama wrote. “I hope you find something new to enjoy—and please send any recommendations for me to check out!”
His book list this year spans a wide spectrum, from contemporary fiction to nonfiction and personal favorites.
Included are Paper Girl by Beth Macy, Flashlight by Susan Choi, We the People by Jill Lepore, The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy, North Sun by Ethan Rutherford, and 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin. Obama also explored works such as The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai, Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith, What We Can Know by Ian McEwan, and There Is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone.
Among his picks, he highlighted The Look by Michelle Obama. “And obviously I’m biased; The Look by Michelle Obama,” he said.
Other notable books on the list include summer recommendations like Mark Twain by Ron Chernow, The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien, King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby, and Audition by Katie Kitamura.
Obama also featured Rosarita by Anita Desai, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst, Who Is Government? by Michael Lewis, and The Siren’s Call by Chris Hayes. His selections reflect a commitment to reading widely, from emerging voices to established literary figures.
Obama’s film choices for 2025 display a diverse taste in storytelling and cinematic craft. He singled out One Battle After Another, Sinners, It Was Just an Accident, Hamnet, Sentimental Value, and No Other Choice, alongside The Secret Agent, Train Dreams, Jay Kelly, Orwell: 2+ 2 =5, and Good Fortune. The list highlights films that combine compelling narratives with artistic expression.
Music also featured heavily in his roundup, spanning genres and regions.
Favorites include Olivia Dean’s Nice to Each Other, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Luther, Burna Boy featuring Travis Scott’s Tatata, and Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra.
Hip-hop selections included Gunna’s Just Say Dat, while Chappell Roan’s The Giver and Everything is Recorded featuring Sampha and Florence Welch’s Never Felt Better offered experimental sounds.
International artists like Ganavya (Pasayadan), Olamidé with Daecolm, Seyi Vibez, Asake, and Young Jonn (99), Rosalía (Sexo, Violencia y Llantas), and Jason Isbell were included, along with Lil Naay & Myke Towers, Stacey Kent, Kacy Hill, Roe, Alex Warren, Khamari, Drake, Xavi & Manuel Turizo, and Obongjayar.
Obama’s year-end lists have become a cultural reference point, inspiring readers, viewers, and listeners to explore new ideas and experiences. “I just love seeing the ways that art and stories can connect us,” he has said in the past, a sentiment reflected in the variety and depth of his 2025 picks.
From books that provoke thought to films and music that entertain, Obama’s selections invite audiences to expand their horizons as the year ends.
