The Stay-In Weather Sale: 20% off select books
Used, New, and Out of Print Books - We Buy and Sell - Powell's Books
Cart |
|  my account  |  wish list  |  help   |  800-878-7323
Hello, | Login
MENU
  • Browse
    • New Arrivals
    • Bestsellers
    • Award Winners
    • Signed Preorders
    • Signed Editions
    • Digital Audio Books
    • See All Subjects
  • Used
  • Staff Picks
    • Staff Picks
    • Picks of the Month
    • Book Club Subscriptions
    • 25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Books From the 21st Century
    • 25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Women to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Books to Read Before You Die
  • Gifts + Gift Cards
    • Gift Cards & eGift Cards
    • Powell's Souvenirs
    • Read Rise Resist Gear
    • Journals & Notebooks
    • Games
    • Socks
  • Sell Books
    • Sell Books Online
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Find A Store
McAfee Secure

Don't Miss

  • Looking Forward Sale
  • The Stay-In Weather Sale
  • Kids' Graphic Novels Sale
  • Our 2021 TBR List
  • Books That Got Us Through 2020
  • Save 20% on OBOB Books

Visit Our Stores


Emily B.: Inauguration Reading List: 10 Books for 100 Days (0 comment)
We have put together a reading list based on President-elect Biden's publicized policy goals for his first 100 days in office...
Read More»
  • Rhianna Walton: Powell's Interview: Chang-rae Lee, author of 'My Year Abroad' (0 comment)
  • Jeremy Garber: New Literature in Translation: January 2021 Edition (1 comment)

{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##

Presidential Reading List. Here are the books we've selected - with your help - for President Obama and President-Elect Trump.


Choosing book recommendations for President Obama and President-Elect Trump was harder than we expected. What topics should an incoming and outgoing president read about? What books might be entertaining or suit each president's personal interests? What books do we love and do you love?

Thank you for the hundreds of recommendations you offered for consideration. We received so many thoughtful, heartfelt suggestions that highly influenced our final lists.

After much deliberation and consideration, here are the books we've packaged up for President Obama and President-Elect Trump.

We mailed the book packages on Thursday, January 5.


Recommendations for
President Obama



A Full Life: Reflections at 90

A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety

Jimmy Carter



Recommended by:
Ellen
Indianapolis, IN

"Mr. Carter writes the way he lives. Reading his books creates a calm oasis in this crazy world. And it doesn't hurt to think about legacies."


The Undoing Project

The Undoing Project

Michael Lewis



Recommended by:
Jim
Washington, DC

"The Undoing Project is an excellent case study in how different people think differently. 'Bipartisanship' is a worthy goal — but if both sides have completely different perceptions of the same thing, or have incompatible values and views when it comes to fundamental principles, then where do we go from there? This book holds out some hope."


The Sellout

The Sellout

Paul Beatty



Recommended by:
Shifra
Berkeley, CA

"This wild satirical novel about race might be an interesting read as President Obama transitions to a time when he no longer has a duty to be well-modulated and careful in his speech. The Sellout is almost too painful to be funny, but it would certainly be a refreshing change in tone for someone who carried the heavy burden of trying to satisfy everyone while having little room for his own opinions."


The Empathy Exams: Essays

The Empathy Exams: Essays

Leslie Jamison



Recommended by:
Mae
Sacramento, CA

"These essays detail experiences that many of us must confront and show how we can develop empathy and a deeper appreciation for others. They also speak to several issues related to human rights that President Obama made a priority during his two terms as this nation's president."


Commonwealth

Commonwealth

Ann Patchett



Recommended by:
Britt, Powell's Books
Portland, OR

"I know President Obama to be a fan of great literature, and in my opinion, Commonwealth is the past year’s best book. It’s hearty and lovely and beautiful, which I think he deserves. I want him to collapse into a lounge chair and devour Commonwealth, stopping for a grilled cheese and tomato soup lunch and a walk with his dogs, and then returning to the chair to finish the book and take a long nap."


Born to Run

Born to Run

Bruce Springsteen



Recommended by:
Jeremy, Powell's Books
Portland, OR

"As is made abundantly clear in his disarmingly candid autobiography, Bruce Springsteen’s storytelling prowess is second to none. Much like his songs, the book’s most enduring qualities may well be the inherent fortitude, compassion, and personal strength he champions throughout. That Bruce opened up his world to the reader is gift enough; that he revealed himself to be a human being with faults, foibles, and failures like the rest of us is a reward even greater than that."


Citizen: An Amerian Lyric

Citizen: An American Lyric

Claudia Rankine



Recommended by:
Jeff
Minneapolis, MN

"Now that Barack Obama has shown us what being president looks like, he needs to show us what it looks like to be a citizen."


The Soul of an Octopus

The Soul of an Octopus

Sy Montgomery



Recommended by:
Jill, Powell's Books
Portland, OR

"The Soul of an Octopus is a fascinating, startling, and utterly charming book. Sy Montgomery opens the reader up to a kind of empathy and insight that is radically outside our everyday human experience, which might be a welcome change of pace for President Obama. It is also a book that radiates joyfulness in highlighting our connection with other intelligences on our planet."


My Beer Year

My Beer Year

Lucy Burningham



Recommended by:
John
DeKalb, IL

"President Obama deserves to spend some time drinking a good beer. Maybe an entire year of drinking good beers. Michelle might object if this goes on for over a year, but one year — no one will argue with that."


When Breath Becomes Air

When Breath Becomes Air

Paul Kalanithi



Recommended by:
Katy
Seattle, WA

"I think President Obama would enjoy this beautifully written memoir. Deep and expansive, it leaves the reader contemplating legacy, fairness, and what we can't control."


Recommendations for
President-Elect Trump



Washington: A Life

Washington: A Life

Ron Chernow



Recommended by:
Miriam, Powell's Books
Portland, OR

"This biography examines the conflicts in Washington's life between his desire for privacy and his need for public recognition, his desire to be successful in business and his pull toward public service, and his struggle to reconcile divergent factions and beliefs. His leadership role in navigating the Jefferson-Hamilton rivalry seems particularly relevant today."


Tribe

Tribe

Sebastian Junger



Recommended by:
Caitlin
Wimer, OR

"Compelling and heart-opening, Tribe is important for any and all people to read. The author takes a universal approach to the subject of veterans coming home from war and makes the reader ponder why our society is so disconnected."


The Fire This Time

The Fire This Time

Jesmyn Ward



Recommended by:
Susan
Lewisville, NC

"This is an important anthology of what contemporary African Americans think and feel now. Varied voices offer different takes on the state of Black America."


Boys in the Boat

The Boys in the Boat

Daniel James Brown



Recommended by:
Lora
West Linn, OR

"No excuses, no complaints, no blame. This is a book about true American spirit — man against man, man against nature, man against himself. These guys embodied American ideals in terms of ethics, loyalty, perseverance, and allegiance to each other and to 'Making America Great.'"


Just Mercy

Just Mercy

Bryan Stevenson



Recommended by:
Claire
Beaverton, OR

"Bryan Stevenson clearly and concisely provides an explanation of why the opposite of poverty is not wealth — it’s justice. I think this is an important message for the person who must be president for all Americans."


Team of Rivals

Team of Rivals

Doris Kearns Goodwin



Recommended by:
Tom, Powell's Books
Hillsboro, OR

"Team of Rivals is the basis for the film Lincoln and depicts the workings of the federal government during a time when there were sharp divisions in the country. Doris Kearns Goodwin is on the shortlist of best history writers in the U.S. today."


The Sixth Extinction

The Sixth Extinction

Elizabeth Kolbert



Recommended by:
Diana
Decatur, GA

"I hope this book about climate change and the impact of humans on the world will help hammer home to President-Elect Trump how important it is to look after our environment."


All the Single Ladies

All the Single Ladies

Rebecca Traister



Recommended by:
Annie
Las Vegas, NV

"Single women are one of the fastest-growing voting blocs in the U.S., but they are largely ignored. They have the power to dramatically shift policies in the future, and their life choices and needs are unique. Our current and future leaders must take those needs and choices into consideration when crafting policies."


Shoe Dog

Shoe Dog

Phil Knight



Recommended by:
Karla
Portland, OR

"Shoe Dog, the memoir by Nike founder Phil Knight, is a fun read about building a company from the ground up. It shows what positive things can be done with success."


Before the Fall

Before the Fall

Noah Hawley



Recommended by:
Mary Jo, Powell's Books
Portland, OR

"A literary suspense novel with both a brain and a heart, Before the Fall is a searing examination of the nature of truth. With masterful character development and a well-sculpted plot line, Hawley takes us on a thrill ride of a story while raising vital questions about the role and responsibility of the media today."



  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

  • Help
  • Guarantee
  • My Account
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Security
  • Wish List
  • Partners
  • Contact Us
  • Shipping
  • Sitemap
  • © 2021 POWELLS.COM Terms