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Barack Obama Lists Best Books And Movies Of 2019, Goes Viral On Twitter
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Barack Obama Lists Best Books And Movies Of 2019, Goes Viral On Twitter

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With 2019 coming to a close, everyone is listing their entertainment highlights of the year, but one of the most auspicious lists is this one posted by former US President Barack Obama.

Obama started his tradition of writing up yearly summer reading lists in 2009, only missing a couple of years while he was in the White House, but he’s had a bit more time to spend reading in recent years and has even branched out into recommending films as well. His justification for only including the few TV series that he considers “as powerful as movies” tells us that he probably doesn’t have a binge-watching habit, though.

Former US president Barack Obama is seen as an authority figure by many

Image credits: barackobama

So it’s only fitting that his recommendations for books and movies are always very welcome

Image credits: barackobama

Obama started his tradition of writing up yearly summer reading lists in 2009

Image credits: barackobama

The former US President posted his annual book list on Twitter

Image credits: BarackObama

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1. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, SHOSHANA ZUBOFF

2. The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company, WILLIAM DALRYMPLE

3. Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, CASEY CEP

4. Girl, Woman, Other, BERNARDINE EVARISTO

5. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present, DAVID TREUER

6. How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, JENNY ODELL

7. Lost Children Archive, VALERIA LUISELLI

8. Lot: Stories, BRYAN WASHINGTON

9. Normal People, SALLY ROONEY

10. The Orphan Master’s Son, ADAM JOHNSON

11. The Yellow House, SARAH M. BROOM

12. Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE

13. Solitary, ALBERT WOODFO

14. The Topeka School, BEN LERNER

15. Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion, JIA TOLENTINO

16. Trust Exercise, SUSAN CHOI

17.  We Live in Water: Stories, JESS WALTER

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18. A Different Way to Win: Dan Rooney’s Story from the Super Bowl to the Rooney Rule, JIM ROONEY

19. The Sixth Man, ANDFIE IGUODALA

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20. American Spy, LAUREN WILKINSON

21. The Education of an Idealist, SAMANTHA POWER

22. Exhalation, TED CHIANG

23. Finding My Voice, VALERIE JARRETT

24. Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth, SARAH SMARSH

25. How to Read the Air, DINAW MENGESTU

26. Inland, TEA OBREHT

27. Lab Girl, HOPE JAHREN

28. Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, STEPHANIE LAND

29. Men Without Women, HARUKI MURAKAMI

30. The Moment of Lift, MELINDA GATES

31. The Nickel Boys, COLSON WHITEHEAD

32. Pachinko, MIN JIN LEE

33. The Shadow of Sirius, W. S. MERWIN

34.The Shallows, NICHOLAS CARR

Image credits: BarackObama

35.Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For, SUSAN RICE

36. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, ISABEL WILKERSON

37. Wolf Hall, HILARY MANTEL

He added his favorite movies and plans to post a music list in coming days

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Image credits: BarackObama

1 American Factory

2 Amazing Grace

3 Apollo 11

4 Ash Is Purest White

5 Atlantics

6 Birds of Passage

7 Booksmart

8 Diane

The Farewell

10 Ford v Ferrari

11 The Irishman

12 Just Mercy

13 The Last Black Man in San Francisco

14 Little Women

15 Marriage Story

16 Parasite

17 The Souvenir

18 Transit

19 Fleabag: Season 2

20 Unbelievable

21 Watchmen

This year, he added to his already formidable summer reading recommendations with an end-of-year list that suggests enthusiasm to consider a variety of perspectives through the medium of fiction, as well as essays and economic analysis. We’re impressed by his consistent reading schedule, and commenters agree. His movie list, on the other hand, is heavy on drama. Some of the films on his list made Rolling Stone’s top 10 films of the year, and there are quite a few Oscar shortlisted entries as well.

He included a short promotion for American Factory, the first release by the Obamas’ own production label. Barack and Michelle say that they picked up the documentary film, which follows American and Chinese factory workers struggling to adapt to the dynamics of a Chinese glass company’s new American manufacturing location, out of a desire to highlight working-class stories.

Commenters praised the former president’s Twitter presence, which he and his social media representatives strive to keep good-natured, professional and eloquent even as a public figure who no longer holds office.

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Twitter users appreciated the recommendations and gave their best wishes

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kristypuffer avatar
Kristy P
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Regardless of your opinion on Obama, that's a list of his FAVORITE books from this past year. That means he read, probably twice that many (ish). I think that's impressive for anyone!

praga37 avatar
RP
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Barack Obama... the last president who could read !

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still hope the USA will someday (preferably while I'm still alve and the climate/catastrophes/wars didn't damage the life on Earth beyond repair) again elect someone who could read

Load More Replies...
melayahm avatar
Caroline Driver
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We miss him over here too, and he wasn't even our president. A kind, intelligent gentleman, with a lovely, functional family. Our Queen knew what she was doing in the way she treated the Obamas compared with how she treated the Trumps.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We love and miss you and your lovely family, we love watched them the eternally love story, wish you & the family a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!”

santinomarazzo avatar
Santino Marazzo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was very young my mother said to me. If you haven't anything good to say about someone,don't say anything at all.

cruzarts avatar
Steve Cruz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How intriguing that so many of my favorite films this year are also on Obama's list. I would add THE REPORTS ON SARAH AND SALEEM and TEL AVIV ON FIRE -- both highly honored in Israel, both starring the same lead female actor, and both featuring two of the tightest scripts I've experienced in years.

jackiewacky avatar
Jackie Wacky
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lovely, intelligent Barack Obama: what a contrast to what the USA has now 😿

rakuun avatar
Ed
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Instead he hould have read the Constituion. Boom!

phantasteek avatar
ChickyChicky
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps you are being funny, but just in case anyone doesn't know it, Obama was a Constitutional Law professor.

Load More Replies...
dunatyphon avatar
Duna Typhon
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I figured that these comments would be full of idiots fellating their mulatto man-child messiah.

chrisdifonso avatar
Chris DiFonso
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Duna Typhon, you are very (fill in adjective here) for posting your racist comment

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ken_8 avatar
Ken Cheshire
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Sure, he has time these days because he's no longer spending his days trying to destroy our constitution.

phantasteek avatar
emorygriffis avatar
Emory Griffis
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Obama's all time favorite books that are never mentioned: "Rules for Radicals", "How to destroy and divide a nation ", "Treason and Traitors", "Everything is Fraudulent ", "Disbarred for Lying", "Masquerade Marriage and Family", "Hiding My Candy" and "The George Soros Employee Handbook". We now commence with the downvoting from those too weakminded and too easily influenced to realize the Truth regarding the traitor Obama and his crime spree of an Administration. Countdown in one, two, three...

veritech-pilot avatar
vp
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Commence with the under-educated twat who believes he knows the dark truths of this world that others can't see. Keep believing that, you delusional dipshit. Also, that's not how countdowns work. You moron.

Load More Replies...
nmido avatar
BrendaGames
Community Member
4 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Hi Boy, ✅✅ I feel so boring today If u wanna fu︆︆ck ✅✅me tonight just vi︆︆sit my pr︆︆ofile!❤❤ ==>> b︆︆︆it.︆︆︆do/fnibW

kristypuffer avatar
Kristy P
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Regardless of your opinion on Obama, that's a list of his FAVORITE books from this past year. That means he read, probably twice that many (ish). I think that's impressive for anyone!

praga37 avatar
RP
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Barack Obama... the last president who could read !

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still hope the USA will someday (preferably while I'm still alve and the climate/catastrophes/wars didn't damage the life on Earth beyond repair) again elect someone who could read

Load More Replies...
melayahm avatar
Caroline Driver
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We miss him over here too, and he wasn't even our president. A kind, intelligent gentleman, with a lovely, functional family. Our Queen knew what she was doing in the way she treated the Obamas compared with how she treated the Trumps.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We love and miss you and your lovely family, we love watched them the eternally love story, wish you & the family a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!”

santinomarazzo avatar
Santino Marazzo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was very young my mother said to me. If you haven't anything good to say about someone,don't say anything at all.

cruzarts avatar
Steve Cruz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How intriguing that so many of my favorite films this year are also on Obama's list. I would add THE REPORTS ON SARAH AND SALEEM and TEL AVIV ON FIRE -- both highly honored in Israel, both starring the same lead female actor, and both featuring two of the tightest scripts I've experienced in years.

jackiewacky avatar
Jackie Wacky
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lovely, intelligent Barack Obama: what a contrast to what the USA has now 😿

rakuun avatar
Ed
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Instead he hould have read the Constituion. Boom!

phantasteek avatar
ChickyChicky
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps you are being funny, but just in case anyone doesn't know it, Obama was a Constitutional Law professor.

Load More Replies...
dunatyphon avatar
Duna Typhon
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I figured that these comments would be full of idiots fellating their mulatto man-child messiah.

chrisdifonso avatar
Chris DiFonso
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Duna Typhon, you are very (fill in adjective here) for posting your racist comment

Load More Replies...
ken_8 avatar
Ken Cheshire
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Sure, he has time these days because he's no longer spending his days trying to destroy our constitution.

phantasteek avatar
emorygriffis avatar
Emory Griffis
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Obama's all time favorite books that are never mentioned: "Rules for Radicals", "How to destroy and divide a nation ", "Treason and Traitors", "Everything is Fraudulent ", "Disbarred for Lying", "Masquerade Marriage and Family", "Hiding My Candy" and "The George Soros Employee Handbook". We now commence with the downvoting from those too weakminded and too easily influenced to realize the Truth regarding the traitor Obama and his crime spree of an Administration. Countdown in one, two, three...

veritech-pilot avatar
vp
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Commence with the under-educated twat who believes he knows the dark truths of this world that others can't see. Keep believing that, you delusional dipshit. Also, that's not how countdowns work. You moron.

Load More Replies...
nmido avatar
BrendaGames
Community Member
4 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Hi Boy, ✅✅ I feel so boring today If u wanna fu︆︆ck ✅✅me tonight just vi︆︆sit my pr︆︆ofile!❤❤ ==>> b︆︆︆it.︆︆︆do/fnibW

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