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Barack Obama Lists His Favorite Books & Songs of 2017 Including Jay-Z, SZA, and More

Posted on December 31st, 2017
by
Staff Editor


Year-end music lists are always something to look forward to during the holiday season. This year Barack Obama has continued his annual tradition of naming his favorite songs and books of 2017, with a list that includes SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, and more.

“During my presidency, I started a tradition of sharing my reading lists and playlists,” Obama wrote on his Facebook page Sunday. “It was a nice way to reflect on the works that resonated with me and lift up authors and artists from around the world. With some extra time on my hands this year to catch up, I wanted to share the books and music that I enjoyed most.”

The former president’s list was filled with a diverse and unique array of genres from “Butterfly Effect” by Travis Scott to “Born in the U.S.A” by Bruce Springsteen. It’s obvious that he has amazing taste. If you’re looking to read more in 2018 and don’t know where to start, he’s also got you covered with a list of his favorite choices of the year.

Check out Obama’s entire list of his favorite 2017 songs and books below:

Mi Gente by J Balvin & Willy William
Havana by Camila Cabello (feat. Young Thug)
Blessed by Daniel Caesar
The Joke by Brandi Carlile
First World Problems by Chance The Rapper (feat. Daniel Caesar)
Rise Up by Andra Day
Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled (feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller)
Family Feud by Jay-Z (feat. Beyoncé)
Humble by Kendrick Lamar
La Dame et Ses Valises by Les Amazones d’Afrique (feat. Nneka)
Unforgettable by French Montana (feat. Swae Lee)
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness by The National
Chanel by Frank Ocean
Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man
Butterfly Effect by Travis Scott
Matter of Time by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Little Bit by Mavis Staples
Millionaire by Chris Stapleton
Sign of the Times by Harry Styles
Broken Clocks by SZA
Ordinary Love (Extraordinary Mix) by U2
*Bonus: Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen (not out yet, but the blues version in his Broadway show is the best!)

The Power by Naomi Alderman
Grant by Ron Chernow
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Janesville: An American Story by Amy Goldstein
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Five-Carat Soul by James McBride
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
Dying: A Memoir by Cory Taylor
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
*Bonus for hoops fans: Coach Wooden and Me by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Basketball (and Other Things) by Shea Serrano

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