Check out President Obama’s favorite films, books, and music of 2025

Explore the stories and art that inspired President Obama this year.

President Obama’s annual favorites list is back for 2025! From page-turning books and blockbuster films to soul-feeding music, explore the stories and creators that captured his attention this year.

President Obama’s favorite books of 2025

  • The Look

    Michelle Obama

  • Paper Girl

    Beth Macy

  • Flashlight

    Susan Choi

  • We the People

    Jill Lepore

  • The Wilderness

    Angela Flournoy

  • There is No Place for Us

    Brian Goldstone

  • North Sun

    Ethan Rutherford

  • 1929

    Andrew Ross Sorkin

  • The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny

    Kiran Desai

  • Dead and Alive

    Zadie Smith

  • What We Can Know

    Ian McEwan

Check out the books I recommended over the summer

President Obama’s favorite films of 2025

  • One Battle After Another

  • Sinners

  • It Was Just an Accident

  • Hamnet

  • Sentimental Value

  • No Other Choice

  • The Secret Agent

  • Train Dreams

  • Jay Kelly

  • Good Fortune

  • Orwell: 2+2=5

President Obama’s favorite music of 2025

  • Nice to Each Other

    Olivia Dean

  • Luther

    Kendrick Lamar & SZA

  • TaTaTa

    Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott

  • JUMP

    Blackpink

  • Faithless

    Bruce Springsteen

  • Pasayadan

    Ganavya

  • 99

    Olamide

  • Pending

    Lil Naay & Myke Towers

  • Sexo, Violencia y, Llantas

    Rosalía

  • Metal

    The Beths

  • Abracadabra

    Lady Gaga

  • just say dat

    Gunna

  • The Giver

    Chappell Roan

  • AURORA

    Mora & De La Rose

  • Silver Lining

    Laufey

  • No More Old Men

    Chance the Rapper & Jamila Woods

  • Bury Me

    Jason Isbell

  • I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again

    Stacey Kent

  • Never Felt Better

    Everything Is Recorded ft. Sampha & Florence Welch

  • Please Don’t Cry

    Kacy Hill

  • Stay

    ROE

  • In the Name of Love

    Victoria Noelle

  • Ancient Light

    I’m With Her

  • Vitamina

    Jombriel, DFZM & Jøtta

  • Float

    Jay Som ft. Jim Adkins

  • Ordinary

    Alex Warren

  • Sycamore Tree

    Khamari

  • NOKIA

    Drake

  • En Privado

    Xavi & Manuel Turizo

  • Not In Surrender

    Obongjayar

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