Barack Obama this year unveiled his long-awaited annual list of his favorite books, songs and movies, with one of his movie picks being a Cinderella-style love story about a topless dancer.
On Friday, he excitedly took to all his social media profiles to announce what stood out to him among the new releases in 2024.
“I always look forward to sharing my annual list of favorite books, movies and music,” the former president wrote.
“Today I’m going to start by sharing some books that have stayed with me long after I read them.
“Try them this holiday season, preferably at an independent bookstore or library!”
His literature selection did not contain many light-hearted titles. Rather, the majority of his picks addressed the biggest issues of our time, including the mental health crisis facing Generation Z and a moving story about the struggles immigrants and their children face.
Obama has developed his multi-genre taste by sharing his favorite songs, including big hits like Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” and Billie Eilish’s “LUNCH,” along with more under-the-radar country bops like Johnny Blue Skies’ “Scooter Blues” and ” Ramblin’ by the Red Clay Strays.
Obama’s favorite films include the megahit “Dune: Part Two” starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Austin Butler, plus a romantic drama from India called “All We Imagine as Light.”
Perhaps Obama’s boldest suggestion is “Anora,” an independent film that tells the story of a Brooklyn stripper named Anora who falls in love with and marries a Russian oligarch. Drama unfolds when his family tries to have the marriage annulled once they discover Anora’s shady past.
The film captured audiences’ attention and wowed critics, with a 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Former President Barack Obama revealed his favorite books, songs and movies of the year
One of his favorite films was “Anora,” an independent film that tells the story of a Brooklyn stripper
Anora, the stripper in the film, falls in love with and marries a Russian oligarch. Drama unfolds as his family tries to have the marriage annulled once they discover Anora’s shady past (pictured: a shower sex scene between the two lovers)
Obama didn’t rank any of his selections, just listed them in no particular order. The only exception to this was Jonathan Haidt’s self-help book called ‘The Anxious Generation’.
On his Medium page, Obama said the novel was his “masterpiece.”
The latest book from Haidt, a renowned social psychologist who often speaks out on lofty topics, examines how the socialization of young children has radically changed in recent decades, and for the worse.
Haidt said that in the 1980s, parents offered “game-based” activities, something that was replaced by “phone-based” activities in the 2010s.
This shift has led to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison and perfectionism, Haidt writes. He calls on parents, teachers, schools, technology companies and governments to take action.
Obama also recommended “Patriot,” a posthumous autobiography by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in February while serving a 19-year sentence in a brutal prison.
It is widely believed that Navalny met his end by poisoning at the behest of Vladimir Putin, although this has never been confirmed.
Navalny began writing the book after he was almost poisoned in August 2020, and it chronicles his entire life from his early years to his rise to become the most credible threat to the Kremlin’s status quo.
Obama’s most notable book recommendations included Jonathan Haidt’s self-help book “The Anxious Generation” and the autobiography of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Beyoncé and Billie Eilish were the two most mainstream artists on Obama’s playlist
Another page-turner according to Obama was “Someone Like Us,” a twisting story that follows Mamush, the son of Ethiopian immigrants to the U.S., as he deals with an unexpected death in his family and difficult childhood memories that he would rather bury than bury . confront.
On the musical front, Kendrick Lamar’s energetic song “squabble up” created hype for Obama and countless other songs that were hugely popular on social media this year.
These TikTok-powered hits included Central Cee and Lil Baby’s “Band4band,” Hozier’s “Too Sweet,” Tommy Richman’s “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” and Artemas’ “i like the way you kiss me.”
Obama even jammed to two Spanish songs this year, with Colombian singer KAROL G’s ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’ and FloyyMenor and Cris Mj’s ‘Gata Only’ on his list.
Obama’s favorite movies, like his favorite music, were also quite varied this year.
Karol G, a Colombian singer, was also on Obama’s playlist this year with her hit single ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’
One of Obama’s favorite films was the megahit “Dune: Part Two,” starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Austin Butler
Timothée Chalamet Transforms the Role of Bob Dylan in ‘A Complete Unknown,’ the Second Chalamet Film on Obama’s List
Obama praised “A Complete Unknown,” the second Chalamet film on his list. The biographical music drama follows a young Bob Dylan, played by Chalamet, in the 1960s, just as he was coming up.
Obama turned back the clock with his recommendation of “The Promised Land,” which is set in 18th century Denmark and follows a retired military officer Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) who is summoned by the king to establish a homestead in an arid area of the country. country.
Kahlen is thrown into a problem that quickly turns violent when a feudal lord rejects his claim to the land.
Obama also gave a nod to the mystery thriller “Conclave,” which stars Ralph Fiennes as a papal conclave charged with choosing the next pope.
The film has earned six Golden Globe nominations and is expected to be in the running for Best Picture at the Oscars next year.