Barack Obama names Turkish author Aysegul Savas in 2024 book list
Turkish author Aysegul Savas gains global spotlight as Barack Obama lists her novel among 2024 favorites, December 20, 2024. (Created with Canva)
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has once again shared his annual list of favorite books, films and music on social media.
Among the books that caught his attention in 2024 is “The Anthropologists,” the third novel by Turkish author Aysegul Savas. This inclusion has drawn international attention, as Savas is not yet widely known in her home country.
Obama announced his list on Dec. 20 and described the books as those that stayed with him long after reading.
I always look forward to sharing my annual list of favorite books, movies, and music. Today I’ll start by sharing some of the books that have stuck with me long after I finished reading them. Check them out this holiday season, preferably at an independent bookstore or library!
Barack Obama wrote
His list features various works, including Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo” and Alexei Navalny’s “Patriot,” alongside Savas’ “The Anthropologists.”
Turkish author Aysegul Savas’ global recognition grows
Aysegul Savas is a Turkish author who writes exclusively in English. She spent her early years in cities like Adana, Ankara and Istanbul before moving abroad with her family during childhood.
Savas studied anthropology at Middlebury College in Vermont and completed a master’s degree at the University of San Francisco. She also taught at the Sorbonne in Paris.
“The Anthropologists,” published in July 2024, is Savas’ third novel. It tells the story of an expatriate couple, Asa and Manu, navigating their relationship and identity while searching for a home in a foreign country.
Critics, including The Guardian, praised the book for its exploration of modern life and love. The novel begins with the couple’s decision to find a new home, capturing their emotional struggles and reflections on belonging.
Despite earning acclaim abroad, none of Savas’ works have been translated into Turkish. Her earlier novels, “Walking on the Ceiling” (2019) and “White on White” (2022), have been translated into Spanish, German, and Dutch. In interviews, Savas expressed her hope that her books will eventually reach readers in Türkiye.
Obama’s annual book recommendations feature diverse authors
Barack Obama’s annual recommendations often bring attention to authors who may not yet be widely recognized. His endorsement of “The Anthropologists” is likely to introduce Aysegul Savas’ work to a broader audience. Each year, Obama’s lists offer readers carefully selected literature that reflects various themes and global perspectives.
Other books on Obama’s 2024 list include Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation,” Dinaw Mengestu’s “Someone Like Us,” and Martin MacInnes’s “In Ascension.” The list includes both fiction and non-fiction, exploring topics such as mental health, scientific discovery, and political memoirs.
