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Barack Obama shares 2024 favorites: Sally Rooney, 'Dune: Part Two' make the list

Clare Mulroy ,  Jay Stahl   Paste BN
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Forty-four is naming his 2024 favorites.

Former President Barack Obama unveiled his annual list of pop culture picks Friday.

"I always look forward to sharing my annual list of favorite books, movies, and music," Obama said in an Instagram post.

This year, Obama's book selections include the buzzy new Sally Rooney novel, Booker Prize winner "Orbital" by Samantha Harvey and "The Anxious Generation," an investigation into the impact of smartphones and social media on youth mental health. The 10 titles "have stuck with me long after I finished reading them," he wrote on his Instagram.

Obama's favorite movies include blockbuster sci-fi sequel "Dune: Part Two," starring Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, coming of age comedy "Dìdi 弟弟" and Sundance Film Festival documentary "Sugarcane," which was shortlisted for an Oscar nomination for documentary feature film on Tuesday.

Here's the complete list Obama's picks this year: 

Barack Obama's favorite books of 2024

  • "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt
  • "Intermezzo" by Sally Rooney
  • "Patriot" by Alexei Navalny
  • "Orbital" by Samantha Harvey
  • "The Anthropologists" by Ayşegül Savaş
  • "Stolen Pride" by Arlie Russell Hochschild
  • "In Ascension" by Martin MacInnes
  • "Growth" by Daniel Susskind
  • "Someone Like Us" by Dinaw Mengestu
  • "The Work of Art" by Adam Moss

Barack Obama's favorite movies of 2024

  • "All We Imagine As Light"
  • "Conclave"
  • "The Piano Lesson"
  • "The Promised Land"
  • "Dune: Part Two"
  • "Anora"
  • "Dìdi 弟弟"
  • "Sugarcane"
  • "A Complete Unknown"

Barack Obama's favorite music of 2024

  • "Squabble Up," Kendrick Lamar
  • "Lunch," Billie Eilish
  • "Yayo," Rema
  • "Jump," Tyla, Gunna and Skillibeng
  • "BAND4BAND," Central Cee and Lil Baby
  • "God Gave Me Feet For Dancing," Ezra Collective and Yazmin Lacey
  • "Ramblin'," The Red Clay Strays
  • "Favourite," Fontaines D.C.
  • "Active," Asake and Travis Scott
  • "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," Shaboozey
  • "Is It Worth It," Rae Khalil
  • "Texas Hold 'Em," Beyoncé
  • "Kehlani," Jordan Adetunji
  • "I like the way you kiss me," Artemas
  • "Scooter Blues," Johnny Blue Skies
  • "Too Sweet," Hozier
  • "Peaceful Place," Leon Bridges
  • "Million Dollar Baby," Tommy Richman
  • "Right Back to It," Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman
  • "Stargazing," Myles Smith
  • "That's How I'm Feeling," Jack White
  • "Gold Coast," Moses Sumney
  • "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido," Karol G
  • "Gata Only," FloyyMenor and Cris MJ

(This story was updated to add new information.)

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