Former United States President Barack Obama has included Rosarita, a novella by renowned Indian author Anita Desai, in his annual list of favourite books for 2025. The recommendation was shared as part of Obama’s customary year-end cultural roundup, which highlights books, films, and music that resonated with him over the year.

Announcing the list on social media, Obama described it as a diverse selection spanning biography, politics, and fiction. “As 2025 comes to a close, I’m continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favourite books, movies, and music,” he wrote. He added that he hoped readers would discover something new through the list and invited them to share recommendations of their own.

Anita Desai, now 88, is widely regarded as one of India’s most influential literary figures. Over a career spanning several decades, she has produced a body of work celebrated for its psychological depth and nuanced exploration of human relationships. Her most notable novels include Clear Light of Day and Fasting, Feasting, both of which have earned international acclaim. Desai has also been shortlisted for the Booker Prize on three occasions.

Obama’s inclusion of Rosarita is expected to draw increased global attention to the novella, introducing Desai’s work to a wider international readership and reaffirming her enduring significance in contemporary world literature.