Barack Obama
44th President of the United States
Barack Obama published reading lists throughout his presidency and after, and they became the closest thing publishing has to a national book club. His non-fiction picks lean toward the sweep of history and institutions, plus memoirs of self-invention. These are his picks from the index.
3 books Barack recommends
In Barack's order. Each note is our paraphrase of why they rate it, drawn from their public lists and interviews, not a quote.
Sapiens
Why Barack rates itObama recommended Harari's history of the species in 2016, praising the way it pulls the camera all the way back from daily politics.
Intermediate~9hRead the breakdown →Also picked by Bill Gates, Naval Ravikant and Mark Zuckerberg
Why Nations Fail
Why Barack rates itHe picked up Acemoglu and Robinson's book on a 2012 holiday, in the middle of national arguments about inequality and why institutions matter.
Advanced~11hRead the breakdown →Also picked by Mark Zuckerberg
Educated
Why Barack rates itWestover's memoir made his 2018 favourites list: a story about how far education can carry someone, and what it costs.
Beginner~7hRead the breakdown →Also picked by Bill Gates
More shelves to borrow
Other readers, other shelves.
The relentless interviewer , tactics, negotiation, and Stoic fundamentals distilled from hundreds of deep dives.
The world's most famous investor, who credits one book with shaping everything he did with money.
Buffett's partner and the great evangelist of mental models drawn from every discipline.