Former President Barack Obama has again shared a summer reading list.
Obama, continuing a long tradition, posted a list of books he read this summer on Instagram, writing, “Reading has always been an important part of my journey, which is why I couldn’t be more excited that we’ll have a new branch of the Chicago Public Library at the Obama Presidential Center when it opens next year. For now, I figured I’d share some of the books I’ve read recently, along with some notes about why I liked them — and why you might, too.”
Obama listed Ron Chernow’s biography Mark Twain as one of his picks, calling it “a comprehensive biography of one of the most important writers and social commentators in American history.”
He recommended Madeleine Thien’s The Book of Records (“a beautiful fable”) and Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s Abundance (“a must-read for progressives”). He also had kind words for King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby, which Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, is adapting as a television series.
Obama called Anita Desai’s Rosarita “beautiful,” and praised Stephen Graham Jones’ The Buffalo Hunter Hunter as “a mash-up of history and horror that explores the brutal legacy of conquest against Native American peoples.”
Rounding out Obama’s list were Sophia Elmhirst’s A Marriage at Sea, Katie Kitamura’s Audition, Michael Lewis’ Who Is Government?, and Chris Hayes’ The Sirens’ Call.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
