Presidential Library

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 2:  (AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama holds up a book given to him by author Eric Metaxas, who was the keynote speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast February 2, 2012 in Washington, DC.  Obama also spoke, defending his economic policies in an echo of his recent State of the Union address. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 2: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama holds up a book given to him by author Eric Metaxas, who was the keynote speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast February 2, 2012 in Washington, DC. Obama also spoke, defending his economic policies in an echo of his recent State of the Union address. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images)

I couldn’t resist posting this list of books.  The following list appeared in the November Wired magazine.  It is a list of books that Obama recommends for future leaders.  I love book lists!  BTW the book above is Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

  1. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
    • This is an easy choice.  One of America’s most loved presidents.
  2. Parting Waters: America in the King Years 1954-63 by Taylor Branch
  3. The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro
    • The #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the City Planning & Urban Development category
  4. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
    • The #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the General Sociology of Race Relations category
  5. Andy Grove: The Life and Times of an American by Richard S. Tedlow
  6. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
    • The #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the Biology & Life Sciences category
  7. Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
    • The #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the Business Decision Making category
  8. In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
    • Can’t go wrong with Steinbeck.  One of my all-time favorite writers
  9. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
    • National Book Award Winner
  10. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert
    • The only book on the list that I have read.  My Goodreads review: “Overall, I enjoyed this book however, I thought it was slow and overly technical at times. If you are into the why and how extinction occurs you will enjoy this book. For me the last chapter was the best chapter. The chapter on Wolly Mammoths was also very entertaining.”
    • The #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the Ecology category