Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, has published his annual summer reading and music lists on Medium. The post includes eleven book recommendations and a playlist of more than 40 songs, which he described as tracks he has been listening to this summer.

The reading list

Obama's 2026 summer reading list includes 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 and Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead.

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In the post, Obama invited readers to share their own recommendations and encouraged those in Chicago to visit the new Chicago Public Library branch at the Obama Presidential Center, where some of his favourite titles are on display.

The summer playlist

Obama also shared a playlist of the songs he has been listening to this summer, available on Spotify. He opened the list with "Song of Good Hope" by Glen Hansard, noting that the Irish musician had died this week and that he and Michelle Obama were thinking of Hansard's family.

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The wider playlist spans decades and genres, featuring artists including Doechii and SZA,

Noah Kahan, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Strokes,

Kelela, Charley Crockett, Vince Staples, Mumford & Sons with Hozier, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, The Police, David Bowie, A Tribe Called Quest featuring Trugoy The Dove, The Beatles, Coldplay, Marvin Gaye,

Nina Simone,

Neil Young, Drake, Johnny Cash, Sam & Dave, Buena Vista Social Club, Anderson .Paak and Sonny Rollins, among others.

As with the reading list, Obama asked readers to suggest further songs in the comments.

Source: Barack Obama, Medium

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