Here is Barack Obama's top books for 2023

In a Friday announcement on X, formerly Twitter, former president Barack Obama unveiled his favourite books of the year, continuing the tradition of sharing his annual highlights in literature, film, and music.

Obama kicked off his post by saying, “As I usually do during this time of year, I wanted to share my favourite books, movies, and music of 2023.”

The former president's reading list featured notable titles such as "The Covenant of Water" by Abraham Verghese, "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory" by Tim Alberta, and "The Vaster Wilds" by Lauren Groff.

Encouraging his audience to dive into these selections, Obama urged, “If you’re looking for a new book over the holidays, give one of them a try. And if you can, shop at an independent bookstore or check them out at your local library.”

Renowned for his genuine interest in the media he recommends, Obama has consistently emphasised that his annual lists showcase content he truly enjoys. 

In a previous interview with comedian Hasan Minhaj, he dispelled misconceptions about his music selection, stating, “So the fact that my lists are pretty incredible, people seem to think, ‘Wow, he must have had some 20-year-old intern who was figuring out, you know, this latest cut.’ No, man — it’s on my iPad right now.”

While maintaining authenticity, Obama admitted to receiving music suggestions, sharing, “So typically, at the end of the year, folks will be like, ‘Man, you need to listen to this. This is good.’”