Barack Obama's Latest Reading List Makes Us Miss Him Even More

Updated on 7/17/2018 at 7:20 PM

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Remember the days when we had a voracious reader in the White House? Yeah, us too. Every once in a blue moon, former president Barack Obama likes to share his current book list with the world, giving us a taste of the good ol' days and inspiring additions to our "to-read" shelf in one fell swoop. On July 13, Obama shared a new collection of reads inspired by an upcoming trip to Africa, giving his personal take on each book for other readers to enjoy.

Of course, reading Obama's beautiful words about the African continent (and breathtaking written works inspired by it) just makes us miss him even more. Ahead, check out which books the well-read president recommends to expand your experience of Africa's literary tradition; his blurbs about each book will convince you in no time flat!

Read Obama's post about the books he chose

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

"A true classic of world literature, this novel paints a picture of traditional society wrestling with the arrival of foreign influence, from Christian missionaries to British colonialism. A masterpiece that has inspired generations of writers in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world."
— Obama

Buy it now: Things Fall Apart ($10)

Things Fall Apart

From

$10

A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi wa Thiong’o

"A chronicle of the events leading up to Kenya's independence, and a compelling story of how the transformative events of history weigh on individual lives and relationships."
— Obama

Buy it now: A Grain of Wheat ($13)

A Grain of Wheat

From

$13

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

"Mandela's life was one of the epic stories of the 20th century. This definitive memoir traces the arc of his life from a small village, to his years as a revolutionary, to his long imprisonment, and ultimately his ascension to unifying President, leader, and global icon. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand history — and then go out and change it."
— Obama

Buy it now: Long Walk to Freedom ($12)

Long Walk to Freedom

From

$12

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

"From one of the world's great contemporary writers comes the story of two Nigerians making their way in the US and the UK, raising universal questions of race and belonging, the overseas experience for the African diaspora, and the search for identity and a home."
— Obama

Buy it now: Americanah ($11)

Americanah

From

$11

The Return by Hisham Matar

"A beautifully written memoir that skillfully balances a graceful guide through Libya's recent history with the author's dogged quest to find his father who disappeared in Gaddafi's prisons."
— Obama

Buy it now: The Return ($25)

The Return

From

$25

The World as It Is by Ben Rhodes

"It's true, Ben does not have African blood running through his veins. But few others so closely see the world through my eyes like he can. Ben's one of the few who've been with me since that first presidential campaign. His memoir is one of the smartest reflections I've seen as to how we approached foreign policy, and one of the most compelling stories I've seen about what it's actually like to serve the American people for eight years in the White House."
— Obama

Buy it now: The World as it Is ($14)

The World as it Is

From

$14