Barack Obama’s Reading List

Barack Obamas' Reading List
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Wondering what kind of books are on Barack Obama’s Reading List? Find out all you need to know as you read through this.

Reading is important simply because gaining knowledge from books you read broadens your scope of thinking.

Lots of successful people such as business owners, leaders, managers and so on attribute their success to their reading habit.

Ex-US President Barack Obama is a man of great achievements.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his outstanding efforts to enhance international diplomacy and cooperation between people.

He also ended the 2008 recession in America and ruled America for eight years.

Barack Obama’s successes can be attributed to his insatiable habit of reading fiction and non-fiction books.

Although he is a great lover of fictional books, here are 8 non-fiction books from his reading list you shouldn’t miss reading.

Barack Obama’s Reading List

Becoming by MICHELLE OBAMA

About the Author

Michelle Obama is a lawyer, a university administrator, writer and was the first African-American first lady.

Apart from writing books, she’s also a powerful advocate for women and girls around the world.

She made great impact on the lives of so many people during her time as the First Lady.

About the Book

This book captures the life experience of Michelle Obama.

She was able to rise above the challenges of life and succeed no matter the odds against her.

Becoming, the bestselling book of 2018 is divided into three sections; Becoming Me, Becoming Us and Becoming More.

In each section, she recounts how she progresses from one point of her life to another and how she overcomes obstacles that come up at each point.

The book is filled with words of wisdom and principles that shaped her into who she is today.

Michelle through this book on Barack Obama’s Reading List encourages you to confidently work towards achieving your dreams.

If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.’’― Michelle Obama, Becoming

Book Review

This book appeals to a large number of people one of whom is Barack Obama.

This is as a result of how the author genuinely describes her roots and provides an insight on how to rise above your limitations and succeed in your life’s endeavors.

Still wondering how this auto-biography will help you overcome challenges as a business owner, leader or in your personal life as a whole?

Well, reading this book will provide you with the motivation you need to overcome those challenges and continually strive for progress.

Michelle through this book encourages you to dream big and work hard towards achieving those dreams.

It doesn’t matter if you are a woman or a man.

This book should be on your reading list if you aim to achieve success.

Be you a working mother, a new business owner, an employee or a leader.

This book could inspire you in ways you cannot imagine.

Click on the image of the book to get a copy of this book on Amazon.

The Broken Ladder (How Inequality Affects The Way We Think, Live and Die) by KEITH PAYNE

About the Author

Keith Payne apart from being an author is a professor of psychology and neuroscience.

He also contributed greatly to his country during his time in the Australian army.

As a result of this, he acquired so many Medals and National Honors.

He was given the Victoria Cross which is  “the highest decoration for gallantry “in the presence of the enemy” awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.

This award was given to him for his actions during the Vietnam War.

He is the last living Australian recipient of the original “Imperial” Victoria Cross”.

About the Book

The Broken Ladder was written out years of scientific and psychological research.

It deals with the various ways inequality affects our overall performance as members of our society.

In this book, Keith talks about inequality amongst people in society, including the rich and the poor, as well as co-workers.

Keith illustrates with real-life illustrations, the effects of inequality and the measures that could be taken to remedy its effects on the people.

Keith’s thoughts in this book;

Because we habitually make social comparisons to the people we encounter in everyday contexts, another way to manage the effects of inequality is to change those contexts.

So in addition to changing your comparisons, you can choose your situations wisely.”

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

This is a book that will change your perspective towards key areas of your life.

It will also inspire you to channel negative situations towards obtaining positive results in your chosen sphere.

Book Review

This is a resourceful book.

Basically, if you’re curious about why people behave the way they do, you should be interested in this book.

Ex-President Barack Obama describes this book as;

A persuasive and highly readable account.” —President Barack Obama

Although this book is filled with lots of scientific and economic terms it’s still easy to read.

Gaining knowledge from this book will change the way you think, live and handle your work/career, leadership, business and life’s situation in general.

Keith Payne is an excellent writer and a man of great accomplishments’.

in this book, he has dealt with serious issues affecting the development of a country.

Little wonder this book is on Barack Obama’s Reading List.

Click on the image of the book above to a copy of this book on Amazon.

Factfulness by HANS ROSLING

About the Author

Hans Rosling is a Swedish physician, an academic, a public speaker and a writer.

He worked hard in bringing development to the health sector of African countries like Tanzania and Mozambique.

He was also a co-founder and chairman to the Gapminder, a foundation that provides facts and statistics to ensure sustainable global development.

Rosling positively affected the development of many lives across the globe through his statistical research and analysis.

He also delivered speeches at many TED conferences and his works are still relevant in solving problems of global development.

About the Book

In this book, Rosling discusses based on proven facts why we have a wrong perception about the world.

He also identifies what prevents us from seeing things the way they really are.

In this book on Barack Obama’s Reading List, he mentions that certain factors negatively affect our perception of the world.

Rosling writes,

We need to learn to control our drama intake.

Uncontrolled, our appetite for the dramatic goes too far, prevents us from seeing the world as it is, and leads us terribly astray.”

Rosling employs a statistical approach in addressing issues that have caused the world at large to be underdeveloped as well as issues impacting our personal lives.

Book Review

This  book on Barack Obama’s Reading List is very enlightening

It has proven to be useful to many readers such as leaders, business owners and so on.

Check out the reviews given by these two great world leaders.

One of the most important books I’ve ever read—an indispensable guide to thinking clearly about the world.” —Bill Gates

“A hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases.” —Barack Obama

Each chapter of this book opens up your mind to things you were wrong about.

It also provides you with an opportunity to re-brand your thought pattern and get ready to succeed in your world.

In any line of business, knowledge of important facts is vital to ensure the right strategy for success is employed.

Get your facts right through this book.

Click on the image of the book above to get a copy of this book on Amazon.

Thinking Fast and Slow by DANIEL KAHNEMAN

About the Author

Daniel Kahneman is an Israeli-American psychologist, economist, and writer.

He’s popular for his works on the psychology of judgment and decision-making as well as behavioral economics.

He was awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences which he shared with Vernon L. Smith.

Kahneman is well known for his research works which have greatly influenced the world’s economic decisions.

In 2011, he received the Talcott Parsons Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In 2013, he was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.

About the Book

In this book, Kahneman asserts that we are structured to think intuitively and analytically.

This book also gives insight into the various causes of error in judgment and decision-making process that we encounter in our daily lives and endeavors.

Kahneman employs real-life situations and mathematical illustrations to explain the decision-making process of humans.

He also explains why we often jump to conclusions too quickly and make biased decisions which often leads to error in judgment.

Book Review     

Thinking Fast and Slow is a great book that deals with the technicality of the human decision-making process.

It also captures how our decisions are influenced by factors beyond our knowledge.

Thinking Fast and Slow on Barack Obama’s Reading List is a must-have for all who aim to be great decision-makers in their chosen sphere.

Most businesses and organizations have been shut down as a result of bad judgment and decision making.

Gathering enough information from this book can help prevent you from making bad decisions.

Learn how to analyze and handle situations rationally through the contents of this book.

Click on the image of the book above to get a copy of this book from Amazon.

Long Walk To Freedom by NELSON MANDELA

About the Author

Nelson Mandela during his lifetime recorded so many success stories.

In May 1994, he became the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Mandela was also famous for his struggle to end the apartheid system in South Africa.

He was also a recipient of the 1993 Nobel peace prize. Mandela spent his life bringing revolutionary changes to South Africa and impacting the world at large.

About the Book

Long walk to freedom is an autobiography and it captures the early childhood of Mandela, his incarceration and the challenges he encounters at specific stages of his life.

It contains accounts of his struggle through school to become a lawyer and his struggle to end racial discrimination in his country.

It also captures the events that led to his being the First Black President of South Africa.

Mandela in this book tells us that the road to success is not an easy one.

To truly be successful you need courage, persistence, and perseverance.

Book Review

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography that recounts the heroic deeds of a man who fought against all odds to become great.

It has received a lot of recommendations because of its ability to inspire courage and resilience in a person.

This book on Barack Obama’s Reading List is very motivational.

It motivates you to develop a never-give-up mindset which is necessary for anyone who aims to achieve greatness in life.

Nelson Mandela was famous around the world for his struggle to end inequality among people, especially in South Africa.

He was also active in bringing revolutionary changes across the globe.

All these achievements were built upon the core values of courage, perseverance, commitment, and optimism.

These are traits worthy of emulation.

Get to know more about his journey to greatness.

Learn some valuable principles you can apply to business, work, and life in general to achieve success.

Click on the image of the book above to get a copy of this book from Amazon.

Self Reliance by RALPH WALDO EMERSON

About the Author

Ralph Waldo is an American, an essayist, a poet, and a philosopher.

His writings greatly influenced the lives of so many.

Emerson was the founder and co-editor of “THE DIAL” a magazine that dealt with the issues of philosophy, politics, and literature.

He greatly influenced the literary style and vision in the American Romantic era.

Writers such as Fred Nietzsche and Walt Whitman were influenced by his works and philosophy of life.

About the Book

Self-Reliance is regarded as one of the best essays of Emerson.

The book majorly deals with

  • the importance of self-reliance,
  • self-reliance and the individual and
  • self-reliance and society.

In this book, Emerson portrays self-reliance as a virtue every individual should possess.

It also deals with an individual’s confidence in his/her abilities.

Emerson also tells us in this book to be honest in our dealings with one another.

He also expresses his thoughts that we all possess a unique ability to do things.

In this book on Barack Obama’s Reading List, Emerson encourages us to believe in our abilities.

Book Review

This book is an awesome, inspiring and insightful book that challenges you to disregard self-doubt and embrace the benefits of self-reliance.

For anyone who is success inclined, this book is a must-read because it motivates you to overcome doubts.

It also challenges you to overcome the fear of what people might say concerning that decision or step you are taking.

This book is a life-changer.

It is what you need to redirect your thoughts towards self-reliance and confidence in your abilities.

Barack Obama in an interview with the New York Times in 2008 describes it as “one of the most influential forever favorites”.

As a leader in your organization, a business owner or whatever position you find yourself as you progress in life, you’ll need to take certain big decisions.

To do this successfully you need to be confident in your abilities.

Learn and develop the virtue of self-reliance from Emerson’s book.

Click on the image of the book above to get a copy of this book on Amazon.

Team of Rivals by DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN

About the Author

Doris Goodwin is an American Author.

She is famous for her biographies about world leaders some of whom are Presidents.

Some of her biographies are about Johnson Lyndon and Eleanor Roosevelt.

She is a recipient of so many Awards and National Honors one of which is the 1995 Pulitzer prize in history.

About the Book

Team of Rivals is an interesting book about Abraham Lincoln and how he became one of the greatest Presidents the world has ever known.

In this book, Goodwin talks about Lincoln’s struggle from his Childhood years to his battle to the presidency.

She tells us about his strong-willed nature and his excellent leadership qualities.

She also tells us about his amazing political strategies which enabled his success in leadership.

It talks about how Lincoln was able to pull together a strong team of political rivals for the purpose of achieving his goals as a leader.

Book Review 

This book gives you insight into good leadership values.

It has received recommendations from leaders such as Bill Gates, Barack Obama and a host of other influential people.

Although it contains a lot of historical details, it still remains a valuable book for most leaders presently.

Leadership and business involve interaction with people of different values and opinions.

Without the ability to bring people together towards achieving a particular goal, success will be highly impossible to achieve.

Want to be successful in handling those business negotiations or pulling together a strong team of smart and ambitious people to achieve your organization’s goals?

You can get the insight you need on the right strategies to apply when dealing with competitors, business associates or team members.

Learn from the exemplary life of Abraham Lincoln in the book Team of Rivals on Barack Obama’s Reading List.

Click on this image of the book above to get a copy of this book from Amazon.

The Moment of Lift by MELINDA GATES

About the Author  

Melinda Gates is the wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates and a co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

She is also a philanthropist who seeks to improve the living conditions of developing countries in Africa in areas of education, health, and environmental hygiene.

About the Book    

This book focuses on the importance of women empowerment.

Melinda Gates gives an account of the incredible people she encounters in the process of traveling around the globe and making the world a better place.

Moment of Lift also captures how the author was able to cope with being a career woman, a wife, and a mother and impacting the world at large.

She gives also recounts how some people served as a source of inspiration enabling her to become what she is today.

It is a book that will give you an insight into the importance of courage and believing in yourself and your abilities while achieving your dreams.

Book Review

This book is an inspiring book written by an extraordinary woman.

It provides an awareness of the outstanding things women can achieve if the right opportunities are made available to them.

All over the world, women are achieving great things.

These achievements don’t come easily as they have to struggle to find their feet in an environment that seeks to deny them of these rights.

To truly succeed under these circumstances, you’ll need the courage to carry on.

Get that inspiration you need to courageously work towards achieving your dreams from this book.

You can learn from the experiences of one of the world’s extraordinary women of great impact.

Click on the Image of the book above to get a copy of this book on Amazon.

Final Words  on Barack Obama’s Reading List

Developing a reading habit is not an easy task.

It will require a lot of practice and persistence.

There are no shortcuts to success.

Successful people put in a lot of hard work into their career and personal development.

They read books on various topics such as self- development, leadership among others.

Reading any of these books on Barack Obama’s reading list will enhance your self-development.

Remember it’s not about getting to know the books.

It’s about taking action.

Get one or more of these books today and start applying the principles to succeed in life.