Barack Obama's Summer Reading List 2024

Here I discuss the 14 books on Obama's 2024 Summer Reading List. Are you keen to read any of this fiction and nonfiction? Click ‘Show More’ for info & links.

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Books discussed & purchase links:

James by Percival Everett

There's Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraquib

Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer

Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Beautiful Days by Zach Williams

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Memory Piece by Lisa Ko

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

When the Clock Broke by John Ganz

Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves

The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

My full reviews of some of these books:

James by Percival Everett

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:48 James
3:41 There's Always This Year
5:12 Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here
6:16 Reading Genesis
7:13 Headshot
9:03 The God of the Woods
10:00 Beautiful Days
10:37 Martyr
12:01 Memory Piece
12:52 The Ministry of Time
14:11 When the Clock Broke
15:09 Of Boys and Men
16:17 The Wide Wide Sea
17:05 Help Wanted
18:04 Conclusion

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Get in touch

[ericgeneric]

I always love Obama's book and music lists! I've only read James and Martyr!, but they were both excellent. Several other books on his list are in my TBR list.

[pamwhite]

Several are in my TBR list. I actually just recently finished the Jonathan Blitzer book about Central America and the border crisis and would highly recommend.

[tammyripp]

I am so happy Help Wanted was on his list. It's a great book that doesn't seem to be getting the attention it deserves - in the United States or internationally. Highly recommend it!

[readandre-read]

I've read and greatly enjoyed James and The God of the Woods. Several more of these sound very interesting. Barack Obama's lists are always solid!

[LaRosaReads]

I appreciate the way you broke down President Obama’s summer book list!

[hayleystenger]

I am not a basketball fan, but I will read anything by Hanif Abdurraquib. I love his writing. I find he is a very generous author.

[booksandbags]

I loved James, but I was underwhelmed by The Ministry of Time. So many on this list are on my TBR. It’s fun to see his list each year.

[NovelFindsByKassi]

I'm actually pretty impressed with his list this year. His picks have always been a sort of hit or miss for me with me liking about half of them and not liking the other half but all of these are either really solid books I've already read or books that sound interesting. : )

[tracinha]

I’ve read God of the Woods and despite its length it reads really fast! It’s got short chapters and the pacing does a great job of keeping you engaged. Don’t be put off too much by the size ❤

[Bessie-On-Wheels]

I am reading The God Of The Woods at the moment and loving it

[fj]

I think perceval has a new book

Can't wait for you to review it!

[bianquita]

Obama and/or his people have good taste. I couldn't get into Martyr!, it was OK but not as awe inducing as I expected. I read James, The God of the Woods, and had a few others on my TBR. I'm surprised his music list doesn't include Chappelle Roan!

[jamesduggan]

Two of those are on my newest tbr. I don't read much new fiction but I can't ignore all the buzz around James and The Ministry of Time. I did see that one of the authors uses the name Robinson, so I wonder is she related to former First Lady Michelle Obama? I believe it was on the Bible's Book of Genesis, which I read fairly often. On the one hand it really is necessary to accept some of it on faith while on the other hand too much of it is only truly believable on a metaphoric level. So possibly I'll make an effort to read that one too. Thx - enjoyed. (btw: I believe LeBron James grew up near Cleveland, Ohio, where he lived when drafted into the NBA at 17. My understanding is that James continues to give back to the community generously).

[jacquelinemcmenamin]

The God of the Woods was the best book I read in July.It’s not as good as her book
The Unseen World
but a good read. Both have now been optioned to be adapted to film.

[TimeTravelReads]

The Ministry of Time sounds interesting.

[marciaalbaum]

eric please read bear. it was the best book I read all years and no one is talking about it

[virginiaanderson]

Obama - reading list??? Never heard of it and not interested -