Obama offers his summer reading suggestions
Former US president Barack Obama has shared his 2025 summer reading recommendations, continuing his annual practice of highlighting books he has recently enjoyed. The varied selection spans fiction, history, politics, crime and horror, offering readers a broad set of contemporary and non-fiction titles.
– *Mark Twain* by Ron Chernow — a biography of the influential American writer and commentator. – *The Book of Records* by Madeleine Thien — a fable about migration, memory and shared humanity. – *Abundance* by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson — proposals for reforming government. – *King of Ashes* by S.A. Cosby — a crime novel about family, ambition and corruption in the US South. – *Rosarita* by Anita Desai — a novella centred on a woman uncovering her mother’s past. – *The Buffalo Hunter Hunter* by Stephen Graham Jones — historical horror examining violence against Native American peoples. – *A Marriage at Sea* by Sophie Elmhirst — the true story of a couple surviving a crisis at sea. – *Audition* by Katie Kitamura — a novel about concealed identities and self-perception. – *Who is Government?* by Michael Lewis — a look at public servants’ work. – *The Sirens’ Call* by Chris Hayes — an examination of social media, attention and democracy.
In short
- Obama recommended ten books for summer reading.
- The list combines fiction, history, politics and horror.
- Several choices address government, society and identity.
Explained simply
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States who left office in 2017, releases a list of his favourite books each summer. This annual practice has become a closely watched cultural moment, with readers, publishers and commentators paying attention to what a prominent former leader is reading. When influential public figures recommend books, their endorsements can significantly influence which titles people choose to read and increase the prominence of those works.
Obama's summer reading lists typically span multiple genres and subjects, from biography and literary fiction to history and works examining contemporary issues. The selections reflect diverse voices and intellectual interests, giving readers a sense of the breadth of topics that engage a prominent American public figure. By sharing these recommendations publicly, Obama participates in broader conversations about literature and ideas whilst potentially introducing readers to authors and perspectives they might not otherwise discover.