Former President Barack Obama’s favorite book of 2018 should not come as a shock.
Obama picked Becoming, a memoir his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, released last month.
The 44th president on Friday issued his annual list of top books and songs.
“As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. 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,” Obama said in a Facebook post published Friday.
Of the 29 books highlighted, he said his wife’s work was “obviously my favorite!”
The former first lady said writing the book allowed her to look at how she became who she is today.
“Writing BECOMING has been a deeply personal experience. I talk about my roots and how a girl from the South Side found her voice. I hope my journey inspires readers to find the courage to become whoever they aspire to be. I can’t wait to share my story,” Obama wrote in a tweet in February.
Becoming topped NPD BookScan list as the best-selling book of the year. Crown Publishing said 2 million copies were sold within the first 15 days of its release in November.
Obama also included a book by his former deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, who released The World As It Is. The book is a memoir of the Obama White House and the foreign policy work Rhodes was involved in.
His top movies of the year included “Black Panther,” “Shoplifters,” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”
He also cited 22 songs and one album as his favorites from 2018, including tracks by Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, J. Cole, Janelle Monae, Chance the Rapper, and Kurt Vile.
