From 'Paper Girl' to 'Sinners' and 'Faithless': What Barack Obama loved reading, watching and listening to in 2025

As the year 2025 inches closer to an end, former President of the United States Barack Obama shared a list of favourite books he read, music he listened to and movies he watched this year.

The American leader is known to be an avid reader and made it a custom of sharing his reading list at the end of every year. “As 2025 comes to a close, I’m continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favourite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy — and please send any recommendations for me to check out!” Obama wrote in a post on X.

His wife and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “The Look” also made it to the list followed by many pop-culture enthusiasts. “And obviously I’m biased,” he wrote before naming his wife’s new book chronicling her own style evolution since her tenure as First Lady.

The List

Here’s a look at the list of books, movies and music suggested by the former President:

Barack Obama’s favourite books of 2025

• “The Paper Girl” by Beth Macy

• “Flashlight” by Susan Choi

• “We the People” by Jill Lepore

• “The Wilderness” by Angela Flournoy

• “There Is No Place for Us” by Brian Goldstone

• “North Sun” by Ethan Rutherford

• “1929” by Andrew Ross Sorkin

• “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny” by Kiran Desai

• “Dead and Alive” by Zadie Smith

• “What We Can Know” by Ian McEwan

• “Mark Twain” by Ron Chernow

• “The Book of Records” by Madeleine Thien

• “King of Ashes” by S.A. Cosby

• “Rosarita” by Anita Desai

• “Audition” by Katie Kitamura

• “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones

• “Abundance” by Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson

• “A Marriage at Sea” by Sophie Elmhirst

• “Who Is Government?” by Michael Lewis

• “The Sirens’ Call” by Chris Hayes

Favourite moves of 2025

• “One Battle After Another”

• “Sinners”

• “It Was Just an Accident”

• “Hamnet”

• “Sentimental Value”

• “No Other Choice”

• “The Secret Agent”

• “Train Dreams”

• “Jay Kelly”

• “Good Fortune”

• “Orwell: 2+2=5”

Favourite music of 2025

• “Nice to Each Other” by Olivia Dean

• “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga

• “Never Felt Better” by Everything is Recorded ft. Sampha & Florence Welch

• “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar & SZA

• “Just Say Dat” by Gunna

• “In the Name of Love” by Victoria Noelle

• “Tatata” by Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott

• “The Giver” by Chappell Roan"

• Ancient Light" by I’m With Her

• “Jump” by BLACKPINK

• “Aurora” by Mora & De La Rose

• “Vitamina” by Jombriel, DFZM & Jøtta

• “Faithless” by Bruce Springsteen

• “Silver Lining” by Laufey

• “Float” by Jay Som ft. Jim Adkins

• “Pasayadan” by Ganavya

• “No More Old Men” by Chance the Rapper & Jamila Woods

• “Ordinary” by Alex Warren

• “99” by Olamidé ft. Daecolm, Seyi Vibez, Asake, & Young Jonn

• “Bury Me” by Jason Isbell

• “Sycamore Tree” by Khamari"Pending" by Lil Naay & Myke Towers

• “I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again” by Stacey Kent

• “Nokia” by Drake

• “Sexo, Violencia y Llantas” by Rosalía

• “Please Don’t Cry” by Kacy Hill

• “En Privado” by Xavi & Manuel Turizo

• “Metal” by The Beths

• “Stay” by ROE

• “Not in Surrender” by Obongjayar