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. I hope you find something new to enjoy — and please send any recommendations for me to check out!
Favorite Books of 2025
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Paper Girl — Beth Macy
Flashlight — Susan Choi
We the People — Jill Lepore
The Wilderness — Angela Flournoy
There is No Place for Us — Brian Goldstone
North Sun — Ethan Rutherford
1929 — Andrew Ross Sorkin
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny — Kiran Desai
Dead and Alive — Zadie Smith
What We Can Know — Ian McEwan
And obviously I’m biased, The Look by Michelle Obama
Here’s a reminder of the books I recommended over the summer:
Mark Twain — Ron Chernow
The Book of Records — Madeleine Thien
King of Ashes — S.A. Cosby
Rosarita — Anita Desai
Audition — Katie Kitamura
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter — Stephen Graham Jones
Abundance — Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson
A Marriage at Sea — Sophie Elmhirst
Who is Government? — Michael Lewis
The Sirens’ Call — Chris Hayes
Favorite Movies of 2025
Press enter or click to view image in full size
One Battle After Another
Sinners
It Was Just an Accident
Hamnet
Sentimental Value
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent
Train Dreams
Jay Kelly
Good Fortune
Orwell: 2+2=5
Favorite Music of 2025
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Nice to Each Other — Olivia Dean
Luther — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
TaTaTa — Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott
JUMP — BLACKPINK
Faithless — Bruce Springsteen
Pasayadan — Ganavya
99 — Olamidé ft. Daecolm, Seyi Vibez, Asake, & Young Jonn
Pending — Lil Naay & Myke Towers
Sexo, Violencia y Llantas — Rosalía
Metal — The Beths
Abracadabra — Lady Gaga
just say dat — Gunna
The Giver — Chappell Roan
Aurora — Mora & De La Rose
Silver Lining — Laufey
No More Old Men — Chance the Rapper & Jamila Woods
Bury Me — Jason Isbell
I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again — Stacey Kent
Never Felt Better — Everything is Recorded ft. Sampha & Florence Welch
