Barack Obama Lists His Favorite Books, Movies And Songs Of 2018

Source: White House / Flickr

With everyone releasing their Best Of lists for 2018, leave to to Barack Obama to throw his two cents in by listing his favorite movies, songs and books of the year. Among the names picked? Wife Michelle Obama‘s Becoming (but because obviously!), songs from H.E.R. and Bryson Tiller, Barry Jenkins‘ If Beale Street Could Talk, Ryan Coogler‘s Black Panther and more.

“As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists, Obama wrote in the caption of his list on Instagram. “It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books, movies, and music that I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors, artists, and storytellers – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before.”

Check out the list of favorite songs, books and movies below.

Barack Obama’s Favorite Songs Of 2018

Source: Beyonce.com / Courtesy of Beyonce.com

“Apes**t,” by The Carters

“Bad Bad News,” by Leon Bridges

“Could’ve Been,” by H.E.R. (feat. Bryson Tiller)

“Disco Yes,” by Tom Misch (feat. Poppy Ajudha)

“Ekombe” by Jupiter & Okwess

“Every Time I Hear That Song,” by Brandi Carlile

“Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” by Ashley McBryde

“Historia De Un Amor,” by Tonina (feat. Javier Limón and Tali Rubinstein)

“I Like It,” by Cardi B (feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin)

“Kevin’s Heart,” by J. Cole

“King For A Day,” by Anderson East

“Love Lies,” by Khalid & Normani

“Make Me Feel,” by Janelle Monáe

“Mary Don’t You Weep (Piano & A Microphone 1983 Version),” by Prince

“My Own Thing” by Chance the Rapper (feat. Joey Purp)

“Need a Little Time” by Courtney Barnett

“Nina Cried Power,” by Hozier (feat. Mavis Staples)

“Nterini,” by Fatoumata Diawara

“One Trick Ponies,” by Kurt Vile

“Turnin’ Me Up,” by BJ the Chicago Kid

“Wait by the River,” by Lord Huron

“Wow Freestyle,” by Jay Rock (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Source: Marvel Studios / Marvel Studios

Annihilation

Black Panther

BlacKkKlansman

Blindspotting

Burning

The Death of Stalin

Eighth Grade

If Beale Street Could Talk

Leave No Trace

Minding the Gap

The Rider

Roma

Shoplifters

Support the Girls

Won’t You Be My Neighbor

Source: Live Nation / Live Nation

Becoming by Michelle Obama

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Broken Ladder: How Inequality Affects the Way We Think, Live, and Die by Keith Payne

Educated by Tara Westover

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner

A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi wa Thiong’o

A House for Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History by Mitch Landrieu

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

The New Geography of Jobs by Enrico Moretti

The Return by Hisham Matar

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje

Why Liberalism Failed by Patrick Deneen

The World As It Is by Ben Rhodes

American Prison by Shane Bauer

Arthur Ashe: A Life by Raymond Arsenault

Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday

Feel Free by Zadie Smith

Florida by Lauren Groff

Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight

Immigrant, Montana by Amitava Kumar

The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson

Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark

There There by Tommy Orange

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan