Former President Barack Obama is set to debut a new podcast next month, titled "A Great Book With Barack Obama," which will delve into six influential books that have shaped his thinking. The series aims to reintroduce Americans to the practice of reading, highlighting its power to shape perspectives.
"At a time when fewer people are able to sit down with a book, it’s important to remember the joy and power that can come from reading," Obama stated on social media. "And some books don’t just tell a story — they change the way we see the world."
The six-episode podcast will focus on works that have influenced Obama's views on faith, politics, and race in America. Among the featured books are James Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time," Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon," Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses," Marilynne Robinson's "Gilead," Robert Penn Warren's "All the King's Men," and John le Carré's "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."
Obama explained that he has invited guests to discuss the resonance of these books, how they contribute to understanding oneself and others, and the enduring importance of literature. He noted his personal connection to some of the authors, having awarded Morrison the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 and describing her as a "good friend."
"A Great Book With Barack Obama" is a collaboration between Audible and Higher Ground, the production company founded by the former president and his wife, Michelle Obama. This venture follows other media projects from Higher Ground, including "Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast," which ran for 11 episodes between March 2023 and February 2024, and the summer series "Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise," co-hosted by Obama and author Malcolm Gladwell.
Since leaving the White House in January 2017, Obama has continued to engage with literature and culture, regularly sharing summer reading lists and year-end roundups of his favorite books, movies, and music. Higher Ground's past productions also include the documentary "American Factory" and the film "Leave the World Behind."