Barack Obama Explores the Literature That Shaped His Life in New Podcast

Barack Obama is returning to the microphone for a project unlike anything he has previously hosted. Instead of focusing on elections, presidential history or the political battles that have defined much of his public life, Obama is turning toward literature and the books that influenced his thinking before and after his years in the White House.

His new Audible Original, A Great Book with Barack Obama, will consist of six episodes beginning on 24 September. Produced by Higher Ground in partnership with Audible, the series marks the first time Obama will serve as the primary solo host of a podcast, placing his personal literary influences at the center of each conversation.

Obama presented the project as an examination of the enduring influence of literature at a time when sustained reading can be difficult. «At a time when fewer people are able to sit down with a book, it’s important to remember the joy and power that can come from reading. And some books don’t just tell a story — they change the way we see the world.»

The six books were selected because of their influence on Obama’s understanding of subjects including family, faith, race, politics and America. Rather than simply recommending titles, Obama will revisit what made each work personally significant and examine how literature can influence identity, challenge existing perspectives and help readers understand experiences beyond their own.

Two selections confront questions of race and Black American identity. James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time examines race and religion in America, while Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon explores ancestry, identity and community. Both belong to the group of books Obama says affected him as a young man and contributed to the development of his worldview.

Marilynne Robinson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Gilead brings spirituality, family and generational legacy into the series, while Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses explores coming of age, romance and loss against the changing American West. Together, the selections demonstrate the range of personal experiences and philosophical questions Obama intends to explore through the podcast.

Obama’s remaining choices move into political power and institutional loyalty. Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men follows ambition, idealism and corruption through American political fiction, while John le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy enters the world of Cold War espionage, where questions of betrayal and loyalty become central to the story.

Each standalone episode will pair Obama with a different guest to discuss one of the six works and its continuing relevance. «I invited some friends to explore why these books resonate, how they can shape our understanding of ourselves and each other, and why literature matters now more than ever,» Obama explained when announcing the project.

The podcast continues Higher Ground’s relationship with Audible, established through a multiyear agreement in 2022. Their collaborations have included Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast and Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise, a historical audio series featuring contributors including Obama and Malcolm Gladwell. The new production shifts the emphasis toward Obama’s own experiences as a reader.

Obama has previously appeared extensively in audio productions, including Renegades: Born in the USA alongside Bruce Springsteen, but A Great Book gives him a different role. As the central host, he will guide six conversations around books he personally selected, using individual works as starting points for broader discussions about culture, identity, politics, faith and human experience.

The project ultimately goes beyond another collection of Obama’s reading recommendations by asking why certain books can remain influential decades after someone first encounters them. «I hope you’ll check it out starting September 24 on Audible and discover or rediscover books that stay with you long after you read them.» A Great Book with Barack Obama premieres exclusively on Audible on 24 September.