It's the most wonderful time of the year, folks — and by that we mean it's time for Barack Obama's annual best-of lists [1], obviously. As each year concludes, the former president shares his entertainment recommendations from the previous 12 months, and he kicked off the tradition on Wednesday by revealing the books that "left a lasting impression" in 2021. His selects include powerful memoirs by woman authors like Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart [2] and Nadia Owusu's Aftershocks, in addition to fictional reads like Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land [3] and well-researched nonfictions like Clint Smith's New York Times best-seller How the Word Is Passed.
While sharing his picks on Instagram, Obama wrote, "Over the next few days, I'll share my annual list of favourite books, music, and movies. Art always sustains and nourishes the soul. But for me, music and storytelling felt especially urgent during this pandemic year—a way to connect even when we were cooped up." He added, "Since these are works I have actually listened to, watched, or read, I'm sure I've missed some worthy stuff," then encouraging his followers to chime in with any favourites he omitted.
Ahead, take a look at Obama's top books for 2021, which includes his previously released summer reading list [4] on the second slide, and be sure to check back here throughout the week to see which songs and films earned 44's coveted seal of approval.
