Obama Returns With Inspirational Sunday Message To America

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It almost goes without saying that President Barack Obama is a much different leader than the sitting president Donald Trump. Of course, there is the difference in skin color, but the differences run much more deeply than that. Obama is brilliant, as Trump attempts to jump higher on the intelligence measure, which look painful in comparison. There are many other differences.

Obama has always sought out optimism, while POTUS  has been mired in the negative muck of rage and fear. Then, when it came to reading, 44 recommended a substantial list of books. Conversely, 45 seemed to glorify in not reading. That was too strange and from another world to understand.

How fine to have the former president with his annual “Favorite Books of 2019.” Thank you, Obama:

‘As we wind down 2019, I wanted to share with you my annual list of favorites that made the last year a little brighter. We’ll start with books today — movies and music coming soon. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.’

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The 44th president of these United States included “a mix of historic, non-fiction, and some literary novels.” He included books that made us think. For example, he recommended Lost Children Archive, which tells the tragic story of the current migrants. He also had a Sally Rooney novel Normal People. That book was currently in adaptation for a Hulu series. Lest we no forget, there was The Topeka School, which was about white male identity. Wow, what a variety. A longer list is below.

Then, Obama went on to add his favorite “movies and TV shows of 2019.” He pointed out one entitled American Factory, which was  “a film from our own production company, Higher Ground.”

The company name may have originated from the hymn Higher Ground, with this verse in it, according to Lyrics.com:

‘I’m pressing on the upward way New heights I’m gaining every day Still praying as I’m onward bound Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.’

After that Obama made some news with the release of his favorite movies and television shows of 2019:

‘Next up are my favorite movies and TV shows of 2019. Of course, there’s also American Factory, a film from our own production company, Higher Ground, that was recently shortlisted for an Oscar. ‘

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Here are some more of Obama’s favorite books:

  • ‘The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power” by Shoshana Zuboff
  • “The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company” by William Dalrymple
  • “Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee” by Casey Cep
  • “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernardine Evaristo
  • “The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present” by David Treuer
  • “How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy” by Jenny Odell
  • “Lost Children Archive” by Valeria Luiselli
  • “Lot: Stories” by Bryan Washington
  • “Normal People” by Sally Rooney
  • “The Orphan Master’s Son” by Adam Johnson
  • “The Yellow House” by Sarah M. Broom
  • “Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland” by Patrick Radden Keefe
  • “Solitary” by Albert Woodfox
  • “The Topeka School” by Ben Lerner
  • “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion” by Jia Tolentino
  • “Trust Exercise” by Susan Choi
  • “We Live in Water: Stories” by Jess Walter

Obama also listed two “for the sports fans.” Those books are:

  • “A Different Way to Win: Dan Rooney’s Story from the Super Bowl to the Rooney Rule” by Jim Rooney
  • “The Sixth Man” by Andre Iguodala’

Twitter world lit up like a major Christmas tree whose owners were not ready to say goodbye to it. Check out the responses that  followed:

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