In the nearly 250-year history of the United States, there has been no shortage of political leaders from whom we can learn valuable lessons. From presidents and senators to influential thinkers, speakers, and activists, a diverse range of leaders, from all kinds of sociopolitical backgrounds and worlds of thought, have affected policy change and made a lasting impact on our nation.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect audiobook to celebrate Presidents' Day or just searching for an inspiring political take on how we got here and where we’ve yet to go, these titles are a great place to start. So, if you'd like to dive into some of the best listens about how to affect change and bring people together, look no further than this list of audio biographies and memoirs from presidents and political leaders.
Best Memoirs and Biographies of Presidents
Written and narrated by Barack Obama himself, this in-depth and engaging memoir covers the first term of the former president's historic presidency. Obama details his youth, with attention to when he first realized he wanted a career in politics, and takes listeners through his journey to the White House. He lets us in behind the scenes of some of the most pivotal decisions from his first term and ruminates on the powers and limitations of a president. The first volume in Obama's presidential memoirs, A Promised Land is an insightful and engrossing listen.
Written and narrated by Joe Biden himself, this personal and deeply moving memoir recounts the day he learned that his son Beau had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, and follows the year in his life following that devastating news. Before he died, Beau asked his dad to promise him he'd be all right—and Biden swore he would. This is an emotional account of how personal and private tragedy shaped a leader’s life and purpose.
Noted journalist and historian Jonathan Alter sheds fascinating light on Jimmy Carter, an enigmatic man of deep faith and high principles, and his improbable journey to the White House and beyond. Raised in abject poverty in the Jim Crow South, Carter became an impassioned and surprisingly popular civic leader. After a difficult presidency, he rebounded, continuing his work to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, advance human rights, and eradicate disease and homelessness, becoming a Nobel Prize-winning humanitarian. Michael Boatman narrates this nuanced portrait of our oldest living president, now 97, and one of the most underrated.
Alexis Coe turns the presidential biography on its head in You Never Forget Your First. This provocative account of George Washington takes a deep dive into his life before the Revolutionary War and examines how the American people—and history—have recast him as a benevolent founding father of our nation. Not one to flinch away from the less palatable aspects of GW's life, Coe offers a more balanced look at the first president, with plenty of humor and lots of heart. Performed by Brittany Pressley, this is a presidential biography made accessible (and entertaining!) for all.
Get to know our now-president even better through hearing him speak candidly about overcoming adversity, finding renewed purpose after losing his son Beau to brain cancer, and moving forward with determination and hope. Taken from Joe Biden's 29-city American tour as Vice President of the United States, Conversations with Joe features highlights of his heart-to-heart talks with many influential thinkers and commentators, including George Saunders, Stephen Colbert, Constance Wu, Melinda Gates, Leslie Odom Jr., and Aaron Sorkin. A compelling listen, this Audible Original reinforces Biden's message of unity and promise in a way that's intimate and heartfelt.
Abraham Lincoln is a much-beloved American president who continues to keep our attention not only for his role in trying to hold the nation together during the Civil War and his landmark Emancipation Proclamation but also because of his tragic assassination. In this Audible Original, renowned Lincoln scholar James L. Swanson shares the story of his lifelong obsession with the murder of our revered 16th President. In this gripping listen, which he also narrates, Swanson takes us behind the scenes of his research into Lincoln's final days and moments, as well as delves into lingering questions about John Wilkes Booth's motivation for this shattering crime—and his conspirators.
In this Audible Original podcast, former Daily Show writer Elliott Kalan and historian Alexis Coe, author of You Never Forget Your First, take a more humorous and human look at the men who've led the country over the centuries. Beyond adding to the understanding of presidents we all know well for their triumphs and blunders, the hosts bring fully to life and poke fun at more obscure presidents—Franklin Pierce, Chester A. Arthur, and Gerald Ford among them. Kalan and Coe are often joined by guest experts such as Jon Stewart, Gail Collins, H.W. Brands, and Mary Roach, who add their own fascinating insights and unexpected twists.
Best Biographies and Memoirs of Political Leaders
Written and narrated by Georgia governor hopeful, voting rights activist, serial entrepreneur, and best-selling author Stacey Abrams, Lead from the Outside is an inspiring and informative book about what it means to organize and inspire people to take action towards achieving great change. As a Black woman, Abrams knows firsthand what it's like to be kept from the table. Using her hard-won insights, she offers marginalized Americans something more valuable than hope: practical steps for building the skills to realize their ambitions and make a real difference.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is no stranger to the spotlight, having served in one of the most visibly public positions in our country—and making history as the first Black woman to do so. But in this memoir, she gets candid about her life experiences and the moments that have shaped her, as well as her time in the White House and the sense of purpose she finds in helping to create programs that strengthen the health of families. Obama narrates this audiobook herself with her usual candor and grace, making Becoming an absolute must-listen.
Although Nancy Pelosi didn't start running for office until she was 46, she's had a rich and fascinating career in politics, culminating in becoming the first female Speaker of the House. In this in-depth biography, noted journalist Susan Page draws on more than 150 exclusive interviews with those close to Pelosi and with Pelosi herself to paint a picture of her subject as a tireless fighter for civil rights, a master legislator, and a formidable foe. Narrated by the author, Madam Speaker reveals how all of Pelosi's skills were much-needed when former President Trump took office, just when she'd been planning to retire.
Representative Elijah Cummings served Maryland's 7th District faithfully, always calling on his fellow leaders to do better for the people they served. In We're Better Than This, Representative Cummings reflects on his years growing up in Baltimore as the son of sharecroppers who envisioned a better future for all and other early influences on his ideals. Narrated by Laurence Fishburne and Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, this memoir also pays tribute to a prominent voice in politics. Listeners will hear memories from those who worked with Cummings, including Presidents Obama and Clinton, as well as a heartfelt foreword written and read by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
This 1965 autobiography gets new life with a powerful Audible-exclusive performance from Laurence Fishburne. In it, Malcolm X tells of his experiences growing up, his work for civil rights and Black empowerment, and his conviction that the US is an inherently racist country built on the backs of people of color. This groundbreaking work remains just as compelling and relevant today as when it was first published following Malcolm X's assassination.
True to its title, My Own Words is a diverse collection of writings and speeches from the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Covering a span from 1993 to 2016, the selections reinforce the Justice's commitment to gender equality, as well as touch on topics from being Jewish to the value of looking beyond the US when interpreting our Constitution. Written in collaboration with Ginsburg's authorized biographers and narrated by actor Linda Lavin, this is an essential volume for anyone looking to better understand one of the most influential Supreme Court Justices of the 20th and 21st centuries. What's more, this listen features archival original recordings of Justice Ginsburg's speeches and bench announcements.
In this memoir, Justice Sonia Sotomayor. the first Hispanic American and third woman appointed to the US Supreme Court, reflects on her journey from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench. As a girl, Sotomayor faced daunting adversities, from the early death of her alcoholic father to being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Yet, with only television characters for her professional role models, she was seized with the determination to become a lawyer. With the help of mentors, Sotomayor developed a belief in her own ability to defy the odds against her and achieve her dreams. Narrated by famed Puerto Rican actor Rita Moreno, this Audie Award finalist is a testament to self-invention and an affirmation of America as a land of possibilities.
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham presents a detailed portrait of John Lewis, civil rights icon and longtime congressman. At age 25, Lewis marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma. Propelled by his strident belief in nonviolent protests and faith in American democracy, he went on to become a US Representative, working for those who needed a voice the most, and a National Book Award winner. Narrated by JD Jackson, this audiobook features an afterword written and read by Lewis himself. His Truth Is Marching On provides essential insight into the life and legacy of a civil rights leader and political visionary.
