How much does Barack Obama read? Book Recommendations by the President
Originally published: Ninth Books — Barack Obama’s Most Recommended Books
Who is Barack Obama?
Barack Obama is most recognized for serving as the nation’s 44th and first African-American president from 2009 to 2017.
Barack Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he served as the first African-American president of the student-run Harvard Law Review, before being elected president.
Later, he practiced civil rights law and instructed legal theory at the University of Chicago.
He began his political career as a senator for Illinois. He served from 1997 to 2004, when he was elected to represent Illinois in the Senate. He and Joe Biden, his running mate, defeated John McCain and Sarah Palin in the race for the White House in 2008, and they did it again in 2012 when they faced Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
In the course of his two terms in office, he signed the Paris Agreement, passed the Affordable Care Act, ended the war in Iraq, killed Osama bin Laden, legalized same-sex unions, and allowed American citizens to travel to Cuba.
As one of the greatest American presidents in history, Barack Obama is highly respected.
How much does Barack Obama read?
Barack Obama used to read for approximately an hour at night in what Michelle Obama referred to as his “Hole” while he was president.
Before then, he regularly read, occasionally reading several novels at once. It’s probably safe to assume that Barack Obama enjoys reading a lot.
What is Barack Obama’s favorite book genre?
When it comes to reading books, Barack Obama doesn’t appear to have a particular favorite genre. His favorite literature may be found in many different forms. Some are fiction works, while others are self-help, sports, history, biographies, etc.
The dude simply adores reading.
Book One: Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
What is Song of Solomon about?
Toni Morrison’s third book, Song of Solomon, was written in 1977. It centers on an African-American guy named Macon “Milkman” Dead III who resides in Michigan. His life is chronicled throughout the book from infancy to maturity.
The struggle for identity, notably African-American identity, is a central topic in Song of Solomon. According to Toni Morrison, a person’s identity is largely determined by their connections to their community and ancestry.
The book also seeks to explore how African Americans interact with white Americans, both as a community and as individuals.
Throughout the course of the book, Milkman is the main character, and we follow him as he tries to become self-sufficient, realize himself, and discover his identity.
Morrison’s Song of Solomon earned the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction in 1978.
Why does Barack Obama recommend Song of Solomon?
Barack Obama endorsed Song of Solomon in August of 2019 after author Toni Morrison passed away around the same time, calling her a “national treasure.”
He had this to say about her, “Toni Morrison’s prose brings us that kind of moral and emotional intensity that few writers ever attempt. From ‘Song of Solomon’ to ‘Beloved,’ Toni reaches us deeply, using a tone that is lyrical, precise, distinct, and inclusive. She believes that language ‘arcs toward the place where meaning might lie.’ The rest of us are lucky to be following along for the ride. I remember reading ‘Song of Solomon’ when I was a kid and not just trying to figure out how to write, but also how to be and how to think.”
In fact, Song of Solomon has been endorsed by Barack Obama in a number of interviews. He is cited as stating in another as follows:“I think Toni Morrison’s writings, particularly ‘Song of Solomon,’ is a book I think of when I imagine people going through hardship. That it’s not just pain, but there’s joy and glory and mystery.”
Obama himself was a favorite of author Toni Morrison. She phoned him and went to his inauguration in 2009, and also called him “the man for this time.”
Book Two: Normal People by Sally Rooney
What is Normal People about?
The novel Normal People by Sally Rooney, who has several best-selling books to her credit, eventually became a Hulu Original Series. Connell and Marianne, two young people who grew up in a small town yet couldn’t be more unlike, are the subjects of the novel.
Connell is well-liked and gregarious, but Marianne is alone and introverted. It’s difficult, but the dialogue between these two may change your life.
While they both attend Trinity College in Dublin, their respective responsibilities are reversed. Now that Marianne has a social life, Connell is bashful. Over the years, they drift apart and then reconnect, supporting each other through good times and bad.
The goal of the book Normal Individuals is to impart enchantment, friendship, and love between two people who find it impossible to remain apart.
In May 2019, Normal People won Book of the Year at the British Book Awards.
Why does Barack Obama recommend Normal People?
In 2019, Barack Obama suggested Normal People.
He stated, in the post where he suggested the book, “Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing my annual list of favorites — books, films, and music — with all of you. This has become a fun little tradition for me, and I hope it is for you, too. Because while each of us has plenty that keeps us busy-work and family life, social and volunteer commitments-outlets like literature and art can enhance our day-to-day experiences. They’re the fabric that helps make up a life-the album that lifts us up after a long day, the dog-eared paperback we grab off the shelf to give to a friend, the movie that makes us think and feel in a new way, works that simply help us escape for a bit. To start, here are the books that made the last year a little brighter for me. Most of them came out in 2019, but a few were older ones that were new to me this year. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.”
Book Three: Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
What is Men Without Women about?
A well-known Japanese novelist named Haruki Murakami is the creator of a number of well-read publications, most of which are really spooky books and short tales that leave you feeling uneasy.
The same applies to Men Without Women. Men Without Women features the same comedy and melancholy that Haruki Murakami utilizes in all of his previous and subsequent works.
The book contains seven distinct stories, each of which focuses on the life of a lone man. These men have all experienced the loss of a significant other. Men recount their tales, including lovesick physicians, students, ex-boyfriends, actresses, bartenders, and more.
It was translated into English in 2017 and all of the tales are set in Japan.
Why does Barack Obama recommend Men Without Women?
Barack Obama once more suggested Men Without Women in 2019.
What he had to say about it is as follows: “Haruki Murakami’s Men Without Women examines what happens to characters without important women in their lives; it’ll move you and confuse you and sometimes leave you with more questions than answers.”
Barack Obama Book Plug: A Promised Land
Throughout his life, Barack Obama has authored a number of books, including his first, the well-known Dreams Dreams From My Father, which was released in 1995.
A Promised Land, Obama’s just released, exquisitely written memoir on his tenure as president. Obama recounts his journey from being a young guy seeking his identity to becoming president.
He takes you from his Iowa caucus win to the moment he became the first African American president in history.
Barack Obama aims to transport the reader to the White House, Moscow, Cairo, and Beijing as well as inside his thoughts on a variety of topics, including the formation of his cabinet, averting a financial catastrophe, Afghanistan, and the killing of Osama bin Laden.
In his campaign for and as president of the United States of America, Barack Obama tries to be open and honest about all of his experiences, no matter how trying.
Barack Obama: Book Recommendation List
Barack Obama, a voracious reader, former lawyer, and president of the United States, offers some of the greatest advice. The following is a list of books that Barack Obama recommends:
- Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
- Normal People by Sally Rooney
- Men Without Women by by Haruki Murakami
- A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Originally published: Ninth Books — Barack Obama’s Most Recommended Books
