Culture December 31, 2018

Barack Obama shares his favorite books, music and movies of 2018

WATCH: Michelle Obama through the years

If you're looking for something to read, listen to or watch heading into the new year, Barack Obama has shared his list of his favorite books, songs and movies of 2018.

"As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists,” Obama wrote on Facebook Friday. “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. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors, artists, and storytellers -- some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before."

(MORE: Michelle Obama says her brother is still their mother's favorite, shares her post-White House bucket list)

The first book on the former president's list comes as no surprise: it's former first lady Michelle Obama's candid memoir, "Becoming," which quickly became the bestselling book of 2018.

The former president noted, "Obviously my favorite!"

(MORE: Michelle Obama speaks out on historic midterms and whether Hillary Clinton should run in 2020)

Among his favorite artists of the year, singer/songwriter Ashley McBryde made Obama's list alongside tracks by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Prince, Mavis Staples, Anderson East and jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson.

Obama also seemingly spent a lot of time in movie theaters this year -- or at least, watching flicks at home. His list of favorite films of 2018 includes "Black Panther," "BlacKkKlansman," and "If Beale Street Could Talk."

Clad in a Santa cap and carrying a bag full of presents, Obama visits DC children's hospital
Mark Makela/Getty Images
Former President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally for Senator Bob Casey and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Sept. 21, 2018 in Philadelphia.
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Get all of his picks below.

Here are Obama’s favorite movies of 2018:

Annihilation

Black Panther

BlacKkKlansman

Blindspotting

Burning

The Death of Stalin

Eighth Grade

If Beale Street Could Talk

Leave No Trace

Minding the Gap

The Rider

Roma

Shoplifters

Support the Girls

Won’t You Be My Neighbor

Here are Obama’s favorite books of 2018:

Becoming by Michelle Obama

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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

Educated by Tara Westover

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner

A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi wa Thiong’o

A House for Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History by Mitch Landrieu

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

The New Geography of Jobs by Enrico Moretti

The Return by Hisham Matar

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje

Why Liberalism Failed by Patrick Deneen

The World As It Is by Ben Rhodes

American Prison by Shane Bauer

Arthur Ashe: A Life by Raymond Arsenault

Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday

Feel Free by Zadie Smith

Florida by Lauren Groff

Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight

Immigrant, Montana by Amitava Kumar

The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson

Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark

There There by Tommy Orange

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Here are Obama's favorite songs of 2018:

Apes••t by The Carters

Bad Bad News by Leon Bridges

Could’ve Been by H.E.R. (feat. Bryson Tiller)

Disco Yes by Tom Misch (feat. Poppy Ajudha)

Ekombe by Jupiter & Okwess

Every Time I Hear That Song by Brandi Carlile

Girl Goin’ Nowhere by Ashley McBryde

Historia De Un Amor by Tonina (feat. Javier Limón and Tali Rubinstein)

I Like It by Cardi B (feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin)

Kevin’s Heart by J. Cole

King For A Day by Anderson East

Love Lies by Khalid & Normani

Make Me Feel by Janelle Monáe

Mary Don’t You Weep (Piano & A Microphone 1983 Version) by Prince

My Own Thing by Chance the Rapper (feat. Joey Purp)

Need a Little Time by Courtney Barnett

Nina Cried Power by Hozier (feat. Mavis Staples)

Nterini by Fatoumata Diawara

One Trick Ponies by Kurt Vile

Turnin’ Me Up by BJ the Chicago Kid

Wait by the River by Lord Huron

Wow Freestyle by Jay Rock (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

The Great American Songbook by Nancy Wilson