President Obama’s Summer Favorites

Find your next five-star read by checking out President Obama’s 2026 summer reading list.

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President Obama’s 2026 Summer Reading List

Spanning genres, President Obama’s summer reads include moving stories from diverse voices, non-fiction titles grappling with life in 2026, and reflections on what connects us all.

  • Kin

    by Tayari Jones

  • The Things We Never Say

    by Elizabeth Strout

  • A World Appears

    by Michael Pollan

  • Whistler

    by Ann Patchett

  • This Land is Your Land

    by Beverly Gage

  • Vigil

    by George Saunders

  • One Sun Only

    by Camille Bordas

  • Seek Immediate Shelter

    by Vincent Yu

  • Data Empire

    by Roopika Risam

  • Transcription

    by Ben Lerner

  • Cool Machine

    by Colson Whitehead

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Chicago Public Library

Stop by the Chicago Public Library branch at the Obama Presidential Center, or your local library, to check out some of President Obama’s favorite books.
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Words that move us

Explore a curated selection of books and media celebrating the leaders and ideas shaping our world, featuring selections from President Obama’s iconic reading lists and essential titles from global visionaries.
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President Obama’s favorites

Want to see more of President Obama’s favorite songs and books? Check out his favorites from 2025!
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