Former President Obama is trading the Oval Office for a recording studio, launching a literary podcast that will explore the books that have shaped his thinking and the nation's cultural fabric. The series, titled "A Great Book," was unveiled Monday by Audible and Higher Ground Productions, the media company he co-founded with Michelle Obama.
In a six-episode run beginning September 24, Obama will sit down with "six luminaries" to discuss works that "have profoundly shaped his worldview and our society," according to a news release. The announcement arrives as the former president continues to expand his post-presidential media footprint, a move that aligns with his long-standing advocacy for reading and education.
"At a time when fewer people are able to sit down with a book, it's important to remember the joy and power that can come from reading," Obama wrote in a post on X, the social media platform, on Monday. "And some books don't just tell a story—they change the way we see the world."
The selected titles reflect Obama's eclectic literary tastes: James Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time," Marilynne Robinson's "Gilead," Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon," and Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses." Each episode will pair Obama with a guest to unpack the themes and relevance of these works.
"I invited some friends to explore why these books resonate, how they can shape our understanding of ourselves and each other, and why literature matters now more than ever," Obama said in the release.
The project builds on a broader partnership between Audible and Higher Ground Productions, which signed a "worldwide, multi-project, multi-year first look" deal in 2022. That agreement was designed to "tell meaningful and entertaining stories that elevate diverse voices and experiences," a mission that has already yielded documentaries and scripted series.
Obama, 65, has been a voracious reader for decades. Since 2009, he has released an annual summer reading list, a tradition that has become a cultural touchstone for book lovers and a signal of emerging literary trends. The podcast extends that engagement, offering a more intimate forum for discussing the ideas that animate his public life.
The move also underscores the former president's continued influence in Democratic politics and media. Earlier this year, Obama headlined a fundraiser for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, part of his ongoing efforts to shape the party's electoral strategy. His podcast venture, however, is explicitly nonpartisan, focusing on literature rather than policy.
Still, the choice of authors—Baldwin, Morrison, and Robinson, each of whom grappled with race, identity, and American democracy—may resonate politically. In a polarized era, Obama's emphasis on shared reading experiences could be seen as an appeal to common ground, a theme he has championed since his 2004 convention speech.
The podcast arrives as Audible continues to invest in high-profile audio originals, competing with other platforms for celebrity-hosted content. For Obama, it's another chapter in a post-presidency that has included memoirs, documentaries, and now, a platform for literary conversation.
