Former US president Barack Obama is set to launch a new podcast series, A Great Book with Barack Obama, on Audible, where he will discuss six books that have “profoundly shaped his worldview and our society”. The series will premiere on September 24 and features works by Toni Morrison, John le Carré, James Baldwin, Cormac McCarthy, Marilynne Robinson, and Robert Penn Warren.
Six episodes, six influential titles
The podcast, produced by Amazon-owned Audible in collaboration with the Obamas’ production company Higher Ground, will consist of six episodes. In each episode, Obama will discuss one of his chosen books with a guest, though the guest list has yet to be announced. The selected titles include Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, and All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren.
Obama explained his motivation for the series, stating: “Great books have always helped me figure out who I am and what I believe. The six books featured in this series have stayed with me throughout my life, and each one has something to teach us about the human experience.” He added, “For this podcast, I invited some friends to explore why they resonate, how they can shape our understanding of ourselves and each other, and why literature matters now more than ever.”
A history of sharing favorite reads
Obama has a long history of publicly sharing his reading preferences, regularly posting summer reading lists and end-of-year roundups. His most recent summer list, published in late July, includes Kin by Tayari Jones, Vigil by George Saunders, The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout, Transcription by Ben Lerner, and Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead. Unlike these recent picks, all but one of the podcast selections were published in the 20th century; the exception is Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, which came out in 2004.
Obama’s connection with Robinson is notable; they struck up a correspondence after he invited her to dinner at the White House, and in 2012 he awarded her the National Humanities Medal. The podcast aims to inspire listeners to discover or rediscover books that can change their perspectives, as Obama noted: “I hope listeners will be inspired to discover or rediscover books that change the way they see themselves and the world.”
