Obama Hosts New Podcast

Former US President Barack Obama is hosting a new podcast series called A Great Book with Barack Obama, where he will discuss six books that have profoundly shaped his worldview and society. The podcast series will launch on Audible on September 24.

The six books selected by Obama are The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré. Obama has publicly shared his favorite books for years, posting summer reading lists and end-of-year roundups.

The podcast is part of a first-look deal between Audible and Higher Ground, the Obamas’ production company. The podcast will feature six episodes, with Obama discussing one book per episode with a guest. The guests for the podcast have not been announced yet.

Audible and Higher Ground have previously collaborated on several podcasts, including Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast and The Wonder of Stevie. Obama said that great books have always helped him figure out who he is and what he believes. He hopes that listeners will be inspired to discover or rediscover books that change the way they see themselves and the world.

## What to Expect The podcast series marks the sixth project between Audible and the Obamas’ Higher Ground. Obama has long praised the books featured in the podcast, and has even interviewed some of the authors, including Marilynne Robinson, about their work.

## Background Obama has been an avid reader and has shared his favorite books with the public for years. His summer reading lists and end-of-year roundups often feature a mix of recently published books and classic titles. The books selected for the podcast are all considered classics, with the exception of Gilead, which was published in 2004.