Barack Obama shares his 12 favorite books from 2017

barack obama reading Yuri Gripas/Reuters
Former President Barack Obama has made it a tradition to share his favorite books from the previous year in a Facebook post.

On New Year's Eve, the 44th president listed 10 titles (and two bonus titles) that he thinks are worth picking up, including short stories, memoirs, and biographies.

Here's the full list.


Set in an alternate reality where teenage girls can effortlessly cause others tremendous pain and suffering, " The Power" imagines what effects this ability might have on society.

The book tackles issues of gender equality, resonating with many readers as a kind of counterpoint to Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," in which women are effectively powerless.


Chernow, a veteran biographer of George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, chronicles Ulysses S. Grant's life in his latest biography.

Chernow captures the 18th US president's tumultuous life, replete with fortunes, falls from grace, humble Midwestern roots, lifelong alcoholism, and extraordinary achievements. It's a portrait of a man whom history has gravely misunderstood.


The Harvard sociologist Matthew Desmond follows eight families on the brink of poverty in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in "Evicted."

The stories seek to refute the stereotype that poverty stems from a deficiency of willpower, work ethic, or intellectual rigor.

Desmond sheds light on the profound economic challenges people in poverty face, as well as how people accustomed to the finer things in life can become poor through no fault of their own.


In the middle of the Great Recession, the US's largest General Motors plant — in Janesville, Wisconsin — shut down.

In " Janesville: An American Story," the reporter Amy Goldstein immerses herself in the town to capture the aftermath of the closure, along with the slow and gradual rebuild that eventually arrived.

Readers meet everyday folks such as teachers, bankers, and politicians to learn how such a change affects the lives of those dependent on one company's success.

Penguin Books

Hamid's novel tells the story of two polar-opposite characters, Nadia and Saeed, who meet and fall in love amid civic unrest in their city.

Tensions begin to escalate, and soon Nadia and Saeed look for a way to escape the turmoil. They catch wind of mysterious "doors" that supposedly have the power to whisk people away to safety.

Published as the world increasingly faces a refugee crisis, " Exit West" uses magical realism in a tale of hope for those who seem to have no way out.


A collection of short stories, " Five-Carat Soul" serves up a wide-ranging set of narrators and voices that describe the adventures of a preteen band, an antique toy dealer with the ultimate score, and the inside of a lion's mind.

Many of the stories poignantly discuss matters of race and class in a way that avoid preaching directly to the reader.


Though it's fewer than 300 pages, " Anything Is Possible" wraps up a handful of people's stories into one cohesive narrative united by themes of loss, rediscovery, and the search for the self.

The collection of chapter-length novellas chronicles the story of a janitor, a daughter, two sisters, and an adult version of one of Strout's former characters.

Each story can be read by itself or as a part of the whole.


Over a few weeks, Cory Taylor, an Australian writer, sat down to write what it was like to be on the verge of death.

Taylor, who had a fatal form of brain cancer, captured her final feelings, the complicated expectations she had of death, her memories of loved ones, and a preferred code of conduct for speaking about dying.

The memoir is at times darkly funny and profoundly moving.


Towles' novel describes the 1922 house arrest of Count Alexander Rostov, who is forced to live in the attic at the Metropol, a luxurious hotel opposite the Kremlin.

From his perch, Rostov witnesses some of Russia's most turbulent decades.

Befitting any novel set in the early 20th century, the story includes a host of tantalizing plot elements, including secret compartments, mysterious vials, special keys, and highly coveted jewelry.


Ward's novel addresses themes of identity, family, and heritage through the eyes of 13-year-old Jojo and his mother, Leonie.

Jojo comes from a mixed-race family, and his parents are not always present in his life. He and his young sister search for a sense of home, intimacy, and belonging wherever they can.

Sometimes that means toughing it out with their mother, who frequently uses drugs. At other times, it means finding refuge in a kindly grandfather.

The resulting story lays bare the struggles of figuring out who you are in a fractured world — one in which voices of the past remain real and present.


The former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar began his rise in the basketball world at UCLA, under the guidance of coach John Wooden. Over the years, the two men became great friends.

Abdul-Jabbar writes that Wooden guided him through being a young athlete and shaped his philosophies on life.

Wooden helped Abdul-Jabbar navigate the civil-rights movement in the 1960s and '70s, served as a sounding board during difficult times, and acted as a fatherly figure when needed.


"Basketball (And Other Things)" may be the ultimate controversy-starter for all things hoops-related.

The reference guide delves into the nitty-gritty of Michael Jordan's dominance, the all-time-best championship series, and a slew of other topics that are likely to rile up even casual basketball fans.

Instead of arguing over the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics for the 1,000th time, fans can turn to this book to create new disagreements for decades to come.

SEE ALSO: 12 books on science Bill Gates thinks everyone should read

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