Former US President Barack Obama has released his annual list of favourite books, films and music as 2025 draws to a close, continuing a tradition he began during his time in the White House.“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 favorite books, movies, and music,” Obama wrote in a post on X, adding that he hoped people would discover something new and also send him their recommendations.The list once again reflects Obama’s wide-ranging taste across cultures and genres. Notably, it also features Indian and Indian-origin creators across music and literature.In music, Obama included “Pasayadan” by Ganavya, an Indian-origin vocalist. The track sits alongside global artists such as Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Lady Gaga, Drake and BLACKPINK, underlining the former president’s continued interest in diverse musical traditions.Indian-origin authors also made their mark on his reading list. Obama named “Rosarita” by acclaimed Indian novelist Anita Desai among his summer book recommendations. Another major highlight was “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny” by Kiran Desai, which featured in his favourite books of the year. Desai’s inclusion places her alongside writers such as Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan and Beth Macy.Obama’s top book picks for the year included “Paper Girl” by Beth Macy, “Flashlight” by Susan Choi and “We the People” by Jill Lepore. He also gave a special mention to “The Look” by former first lady Michelle Obama, writing that he was “obviously biased” while praising her new book.On the film front, Obama’s favourites ranged from “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” to “It Was Just an Accident” and “Hamnet”. Several of these titles are seen as strong awards-season contenders, according to USA Today.His music list featured 30 songs, including tracks by Olivia Dean, Bruce Springsteen, Rosalía, Chappell Roan and Drake. Obama’s yearly list has become a closely followed pop culture moment, often boosting interest in the artists and authors he highlights.
