Here Are Some of Former President Obama’s Favorite Books From 2019

The annual list of former President Barack Obama’s favorite books has been released and includes a variety of names.

“This has become a fun little tradition for me, and I hope it is for you, too,” Obama wrote on his Facebook. “Because while each of us has plenty that keeps us busy—work and family life, social and volunteer commitments—outlets like literature and art can enhance our day-to-day experiences.”

One of the top choices for last year was “The Sixth Man,” a memoir by NBA player Andre Iguodala.

“I’ve been getting a lot of questions from the new generation, the rookies coming in,” Iguodala said on Influencers. “They always ask me about how business works. How do you carry yourself as a professional on a court? And I feel like it was just a perfect time to get that message to them, as well as the generation after, and still be able to have some room left.”

Other influencers that made it onto Obama’s list were “The Education of an Idealist” by Samantha Power, “Finding My Voice” by Valerie Jarrett, and “Tough Love: My Story of Things Worth Fighting For” by Susan Rice.

“Part of what I tried to accomplish in my book is to encourage people to find their voices and recognize the power that each voice has, beginning with voting for example,” Jarrett told Adam Serwer of “Influencers with Andy Serwer,” a weekly interview series with leaders in business, politics, and entertainment.

“I was so disheartened in the last presidential election to see that 43% of eligible voters didn’t even participate. And I think everybody has a responsibility to participate. Because if we don’t, I assure you the special interest groups will go in there and fight for the status quo,” said Jarrett.

Jarrett was the senior advisor and assistant to Obama for intergovernmental relations and public liaison.

“My takeaway is that everybody needs to get involved,” she said. “And the midterm elections were heartening. I was delighted to see so many additional women elected to Congress. I think that it’s important that people who elect us represent the rich diversity of our country, and I think they’re breathing a breath of fresh air and shaking things up a little bit.”

“I’m really heartbroken to think that in a country such as ours — this great, great country — that we have this epidemic of gun violence,” she added. “Over 3,000 people die every single year. Two-thirds of them take their own lives. What are we going to do to change that?”