Mohsin Hamid's Exit West makes it to Obama's favourite books of 2017

As we ushered in 2018, former United States President Barack Obama took to Facebook to share the books he enjoyed most reading the past year with book by Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid making it to the list.

Exit West was included among the 12 books Obama says inspired him in 2017.

"From songs that got me moving to stories that inspired me, here's my 2017 list — I hope you enjoy it and have a happy and healthy New Year," said the former president in his post.



Exit West, Hamid's fourth novel, is the story of a refugee couple fleeing a country undergoing civil war. The book has garnered praise over and was even shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

Other books in Obama's list included "The Power" by Naomi Alderman, "Grant" by Ron Chernow, "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" by Matthew Desmond, "Dying: A Memoir" by Cory Taylor, "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles and "Sing, Unburied, Sing" by Jesmyn Ward.



The former president also listed down songs he enjoyed in the past year which included "Havana" by Camila Cabello (feat Young Thug),
"First World Problems" by Chance The Rapper (feat Daniel Caesar), "Rise Up" by Andra Day, "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar and "Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles.