President Obama At Stanford

I was at @Stanford with the @ObamaFoundation to talk about the rise of disinformation around the world and the threat it poses to democracy. We all have a role to play here, so let’s get to work. pic.twitter.com/IO6oi5CdQs

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 22, 2022

The Coolest Year-End Lists

Also on Instagram

As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing the tradition of sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to reflect on the year through the books, movies, and music that I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. I hope you enjoy it: https://t.co/qz6TCMKnkL

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 28, 2018

Thanks for putting “make me feel” on your “fav songs of 2018” list ! And since we’re talking “best of the year” lists , once again, you still hold da #1 spot for best president @barackobama 📷 courtesy of the @obamafoundation pic.twitter.com/Tvmzu2QYd9

— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) December 28, 2018

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Thank you Mr President.

— Daveed Diggs (@DaveedDiggs) December 28, 2018

YES! I could not be more proud to have made this list! @BarackObama and @MichelleObama are the epitome of grace. So much of what we were trying to say on this album is displayed abundantly by the love and hope their family continues to show for our country. 🇺🇸😂🤟 pic.twitter.com/tdhvR1OtKU

— Brandi Carlile (@brandicarlile) December 28, 2018

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It appears that @BarackObama has impeccable musical taste. Quite the honor... pic.twitter.com/LrJnUNOlVa

— Anderson East (@Andersoneast) December 28, 2018

This is amazing? Thank you @BarackObama https://t.co/cyN0KBLnRm

— Hozier (@Hozier) December 28, 2018

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Look mama I made it! 😩
Thank you, @BarackObama. https://t.co/9TTLHmuJPO pic.twitter.com/uvdK588EM2

— H.E.R. (@HERMusicx) December 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/RafaelCasal/status/1078733308689698816

Read On

https://twitter.com/tayari/status/1031193953830428673

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President Barack Obama

One of my favorite parts of summer is deciding what to read when things slow down just a bit, whether it’s on a vacation with family or just a quiet afternoon. This summer I’ve been absorbed by new novels, revisited an old classic, and reaffirmed my faith in our ability to move forward together when we seek the truth. Here’s what I’ve been reading:

Tara Westover’s Educated is a remarkable memoir of a young woman raised in a survivalist family in Idaho who strives for education while still showing great understanding and love for the world she leaves behind.

Set after WWII, Warlight by Michael Ondaatje is a meditation on the lingering effects of war on family.

With the recent passing of V.S. Naipaul, I reread A House for Mr Biswas, the Nobel Prize winner’s first great novel about growing up in Trinidad and the challenge of post-colonial identity.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is a moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.

Factfulness by Hans Rosling, an outstanding international public health expert, is a hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases.

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I always love @BarackObama's reading lists — & this is an especially great one pic.twitter.com/qMaJu9s2pR

— Tina Jordan (@TinaJordanNYT) August 19, 2018

The Joy Of Reading

This week, I’m traveling to Africa for the first time since I left office – a continent of wonderful diversity, thriving culture, and remarkable stories. As I prepare for this trip, I wanted to share a list of books that I’d recommend for summer reading: https://t.co/W4Jc0N23iy

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 13, 2018

Summer Reading List

Obama shares list of his recently-read books https://t.co/2xEEfHacTk pic.twitter.com/RwMIjmSzJv

— The Hill (@thehill) June 16, 2018

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Barack Obama

I’m often asked what I’m reading, watching, and listening to, so I thought I might share a short list from time to time. There’s so much good writing and art and variety of thought out there these days that this is by no means comprehensive – like many of you, I’ll miss “The Americans” – but here’s what I’ve been reading lately. It’s admittedly a slightly heavier list than what I’ll be reading over the summer:

Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging, by Alex Wagner
I once wrote a book on my own search for identity, so I was curious to see what Alex, daughter of a Burmese mother and Iowan Irish-Catholic father – and a friend of mine – discovered during her own. What she came up with is a thoughtful, beautiful meditation on what makes us who we are – the search for harmony between our own individual identities and the values and ideals that bind us together as Americans.

More here

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Thank you to @BarackObama for giving my book the most incredible co-sign a Futureface could dream of: pic.twitter.com/vaJmljfxTD

— alexwagner (@alexwagner) June 16, 2018

Wise Words

Obama calls out Facebook and Google, and says it's hard to know how long democracy can survive the current political climate https://t.co/nLwsiU1uqL pic.twitter.com/LNjB3VAoxu

— Insider Business (@BusinessInsider) February 27, 2018

A Well Rounded President

Barack Obama names Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, U2, SZA, Harry Styles and more to his 2017 favorite songs list https://t.co/m11eF3Ewp3

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) December 31, 2017

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President Barack Obama

During my presidency, I started a tradition of sharing my reading lists and playlists. It was a nice way to reflect on the works that resonated with me and lift up authors and artists from around the world. With some extra time on my hands this year to catch up, I wanted to share the books and music that I enjoyed most. From songs that got me moving to stories that inspired me, here’s my 2017 list — I hope you enjoy it and have a happy and healthy New Year.

The best books I read in 2017:
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Grant by Ron Chernow
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Janesville: An American Story by Amy Goldstein
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Five-Carat Soul by James McBride
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
Dying: A Memoir by Cory Taylor
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
*Bonus for hoops fans: Coach Wooden and Me by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Basketball (and Other Things) by Shea Serrano

My favorite songs of 2017:
Mi Gente by J Balvin & Willy William
Havana by Camila Cabello (feat. Young Thug)
Blessed by Daniel Caesar
The Joke by Brandi Carlile
First World Problems by Chance The Rapper (feat. Daniel Caesar)
Rise Up by Andra Day
Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled (feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller)
Family Feud by Jay-Z (feat. Beyoncé)
Humble by Kendrick Lamar
La Dame et Ses Valises by Les Amazones d’Afrique (feat. Nneka)
Unforgettable by French Montana (feat. Swae Lee)
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness by The National
Chanel by Frank Ocean
Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man
Butterfly Effect by Travis Scott
Matter of Time by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Little Bit by Mavis Staples
Millionaire by Chris Stapleton
Sign of the Times by Harry Styles
Broken Clocks by SZA
Ordinary Love (Extraordinary Mix) by U2
*Bonus: Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen (not out yet, but the blues version in his Broadway show is the best!)

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https://twitter.com/portugaltheman/status/947574218077687808

https://twitter.com/portugaltheman/status/947557900356018176

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I️ CANT BELIEVE OBAMA SAID HAVANA WAS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE SONGS OF THE YEAR I️ AM REALLY CRUYING OH MY GOD DONT LOOKA T ME

— camila (@Camila_Cabello) December 31, 2017

I️ CANNOT BELIEVE THIS OH MY GOD https://t.co/j8vOMNWOnm

— camila (@Camila_Cabello) December 31, 2017

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https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/947546958457131014

https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/947548817058082817

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https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/947552559631360000

https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/947559205262778368

DREAMers Are Americans

To target hopeful young strivers who grew up here is wrong, because they’ve done nothing wrong. My statement: https://t.co/TCxZdld7L4

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 5, 2017

Chat Away

‘Bigger Than Politics’

Health care has always been about something bigger than politics: it's about the character of our country. https://t.co/UqLO14Hef7

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 22, 2017