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Becoming
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Start ListeningEditor's Note
Grammy nominee…
This memoir from the most admired woman in America is touching, surprisingly intimate, and empowering. It’s a beguiling portrait of a uniquely American story: from an upbringing on Chicago’s Southside to life in the White House, she seems to have lived the epitome of the American Dream. But as she reveals, it hasn’t always been a fairytale. This audiobook version, read by Obama herself, is nominated for the Best Spoken Word Grammy.
Description
An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
Becoming
Editor's Note
Grammy nominee…
This memoir from the most admired woman in America is touching, surprisingly intimate, and empowering. It’s a beguiling portrait of a uniquely American story: from an upbringing on Chicago’s Southside to life in the White House, she seems to have lived the epitome of the American Dream. But as she reveals, it hasn’t always been a fairytale. This audiobook version, read by Obama herself, is nominated for the Best Spoken Word Grammy.
Description
An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
Reviews
There's not a lot I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. Michelle is very articulate and inspiring, and although I didn't do this one on audio (I would've liked to), I could easily hear her voice in my head as I was reading. I'm ashamed to admit that I really didn't know much at all about Michelle prior to reading this. Though she's always presented herself as very polished, yet down-to-earth and very personable, I had virtually no knowledge of her personal background or education. This was an easy-to-read, though very well-written, memoir. I really miss the Obama presence in the White House.
Rating: 5The real Michelle Obama.I started this a while ago, but then I seemed to just grind to a halt. I didn't stop for any particular reason; the book group I was reading it for had passed and I suppose other things got in its way. So, now I've picked it up and completed it - I didn't want it to go the same way as her husband's book, Dreams From My Father, which also sits half-read on my shelf. I'm not a follower of politics and this would never have been a book I would have chosen, but I'm glad I've read it. Actually, I listened to the author narrating herself, which added another dimension; I just wished I could have sped her up a bit.I have a lot of respect for the Obamas, totally apart from US politics. I think they were motivated to do good and genuinely help people, a rare enough characteristic for politicians these days.It was interesting to learn about Michelle's childhood; her piano lessons on a cronky old instrument and her family relationships. She was motivated to work hard throughout her life, but always put the greater good above her own ambitions. I can see how she would have found her soul-mate in Barak Obama.The insider view of life in The White House was fascinating: the vegetable garden that Michelle instigated and then shared with local school children, the constant bodyguards who flanked her and her daughters wherever they went, and the sudden transition once she leaves, and suddenly finds herself with her own kitchen and no staff...silence.This was a fascinating book and well deserving of the accolades it has received.
Rating: 4Rated: AAs I was reading "Becoming", I became more and more impressed with the life story of Michelle Obama. In her own right, she grew up on the south-side of Chicago, attended Princeton as an undergraduate and Harvard for her law degree. She worked professionally in a prestigious Chicago law firm before sensing that she needed to serve people more than herself. She was a great mom raising two daughters while her husband was often absent with political commitments. Her White House years were dedicated to having her own voice heard through various initiatives. I really respect this black women who patiently pushes the cause of equality and justice forward for all.
Rating: 5Fascinating! She is like me! But she has about a decade on me. So uncanny, that this woman who was the First Lady had experienced life as I had. Simply put?! I could be a First Lady. :)
Rating: 5I mean, five stars. Obviously.
Rating: 5Wow - what a story. It started off a bit slow, but as the book went on I realized how important it was that Michelle had laid the groundwork of her story by describing so much of her childhood. So inspiring in so many ways. In these dark, dark days it gives me hope and the strength to keep fighting for what is right and just.
Rating: 5BecomingI thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography by Michelle Obama of her early life in a South Chicago, her marriage to Barack Obama and her 8 years as the FLOTUS.Michelle is an optimistic, goals driven high achiever who grew up in a tight loving family in Chicago. Her parents were her role models, loving, respectful, hardworking and raising Michelle and her brother Craig to be responsible adults.Michelle was able to attend Princeton and Harvard Law school. A legal career in a downtown Chicago law firm is where she met Barack Obama. They married in 1992. Michelle is a gifted organizer, manager and people person. She wants to see people achieve their full potential and she developed and worked on projects that allowed this to happen to marginalized youth, African Americans and women. She headed projects that helped young people find careers in the public service, worked in community relations and affordable housing, and supported Barack as a candidate for the state Senate, the federal senate and the Presidency.Through this she and Barack had two children, Malia and Sasha and she worked full time in various careers.As the FLOTUS, she wanted to take on projects that could make a difference in Americans lives. She established the White House garden and was able to influence the food industry to lower salt, sodium, fat levels in manufactured foods. With Jill Biden, she established a program for the spouses of military men to ensure that they were able to find jobs. She brought African American artists, performers and youth to the White House. This is a portrayal of a smart, caring, affirmative, thoughtful, woman who happens to be married to Barack Obama.Very good book.
Rating: 4Wonderful book from an intelligent, articulate, accomplished woman. I enjoyed learning about her upbringing and to her most challenging position as First Lady of the United States. This is a must read.
Rating: 5Michelle Obama goes through her years in Chicago, her school and meeting Barack, and eventually her White House years. This is a wonderful book, I only deduct a little because there are some long-winded sections that could have been trimmed. She had a wonderful style, and talks compellingly about her struggles and an overarching hopeful optimism. All of this is underscored by determination, and resourcefulness.
Rating: 5Becoming by Michele Obama was very interesting book about her life. She is one of my favorite women! I did learn a lot about her life. She is very intelligent and strong woman. A good heart and brain!
Rating: 4Audiobook narrated by the author.Michelle Obama’s memoir / autobiography takes her from her childhood through college, her first years as an attorney, meeting Barack and their time in the White House as President and First Lady. Through her words I felt that I really got to know this remarkable woman. She is smart, dedicated, authentic, compassionate, principled and tireless. She’s open and honest about her experiences and reminds us that she is still a work in progress … “becoming” the best version of herself she can be, helping her husband and children become their best selves, encouraging others to strive and achieve. She narrates the audiobook herself and does a fantastic job. I can’t imagine that anyone else could have done it better.
Rating: 5This is an in-depth look at how Michelle Obama became what she is today: a highly educated, compassionate, passionate and loving person. She talks about her parents, the culture shock at Yale and Harvard and then meeting HIM. She was a highly successful lawyer when Barack Obama came into her life and completely changed her perspective on how she would work to help the neglected and impoverished people in this country. She expressed dislike of politics but agreed to be part of it because her husband had natural talent for it. She managed to find her own direction as First Lady while maintaining a happy home for her children. I admire her ability to adapt, to find the positive and keep on working despite the stress and the racism directed towards her. This was a great memoir of a great woman who is an inspiration to anyone trying to make the world a better place.
Rating: 5Becoming is an excellent book. One is invited into Michelle Obama's life from childhood to becoming The First Lady. The book was written by a very intelligent woman who married an even more intelligent and great man. This is the kind of book that one must savor every word. It is one of the best biographies that I have read.
Rating: 5My respect for and admiration of Michelle Obama runs deep, so I was expecting to enjoy this book even though memoirs aren't usually my preferred genre. I was not disappointed, I loved everything about this book.The narrative is divided into three sections representing three fundamental periods in her life. The first section focuses on Obama's childhood in working class Chicago; she remembers her neighborhood and the strength of their community, and the deep undercurrent of familial love and high expectations that ran through her early years, eventually following her to Princeton and then Harvard Law. The second section of the book covers Michelle's early years with Barack. She honestly and openly shares her personal distaste for politics, her reluctance related to her husband's early campaigns, and her frustration at the ways in which politics negatively impacted her family life. Her love for Barack is palpable on every page, even when she highlights the difficulty of being married to such a driven, mission-filled partner. The final section of the book covers her family's time in the White House. She discusses the stress and heartache alongside what she recognizes to be the insane privilege of their position; she highlights victory and defeat, and describes the process of finding her own voice and her own mission for her time as First Lady.Obama's writing is clear and evocative. She doesn't sugarcoat the hard times, nor does she seem to embellish the good times. Her honesty about the compelling and incredible journey she has been on thus far in life was engaging and easy to read, and I highly recommend it to everyone, irrespective of political opinion -- her illuminating tale should resonate with any reader.
Rating: 5Becomingby Michelle Obama 2018Crown4.5 / 5.0Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' is one of the best memoirs I've read. Candid and from the heart, her sincere desire to help humanity are done with such grace. A welcome, refreshing and inspiring read. Her respectful manner and her vast experience make this very relatable. She is never afraid to share her thoughts and speak her mind and does so with eloquence.Growing up on the south side of Chicago is an education all it's own. She remembered her childhood on the Southside, setting up an Office of Business Diversity at the University of Chicago to include more women and black people . Michelle formed Let's Move! to help fight childhood obesity that can lead to lifelong health problems and complications.Michelle formed Reaching Higher to encourage youth to go to college and to stick with it, it's not easy.Michelle formed Let Girls Learn to help to help women continue their educational and career pursuits.Michelle is an extraordinary woman and example to us all. She always puts people, families, communities, education and health first. Her biggest worry being a First Lady was the affect it would have on her 2 daughters, wanting them to have as little interruption to their life as possible. Excellent memoir.Extraordinary woman.That is what Micheele Obama has Become.
Rating: 5Hard to believe we had such a classy, intelligent, kind, courageous first family in the White House only a few years ago. This book reminded me of all we've lost since they left. As Michelle Obama says, "Being president doesn't change who you are; it reveals who you are." I miss them. On a lighter note, I really enjoyed learning about her youth and her early relationship years with Barack. Well-written, informative, and a must-read.
Rating: 5Yes, I believe that Michelle and I could have been best friends. Hearing her stories, hearing her voice, I could completely relate and understand the woman she is. Her struggles and and successes are shared in a way that lets the reader inside Michelle's head. Her no-nonsense approach to life is refreshing. I can't help but to love her even more after hearing her story. The audio is 19 hours and every moment is fascinating.
Rating: 5I chose to read ‘Becoming’ because I wanted to pay homage to a person who have stayed sincere, strong, and regal, despite all the criticisms, mud-slinging, and name-calling. Even in this book where she had absolute authority to speak as she pleases, she maintained her composure and was elegant in her words. For that, applause, applause. Becoming is divided into three sections: ‘Becoming Me’ – Her youth and her upbringing, her parents striving to give her and her brother the education that would propel them out of the Southside Chicago neighborhood‘Becoming Us’ – The story of Barack and Michelle, her senior at their law firm to his junior, his eventual entry into politics including state senator, ending at his winning the presidential election. This is the biggest portion as she transitions through multiple cycles, when she finds herself “… becoming a different kind of Mrs. – a Mrs. Defined by the Mr.” ‘Becoming More’ – Her role as the First Lady, or FLoTUS, till their departure from the White House. Throughout the book, I found effecting insights, especially in the section ‘Becoming More’. I’ve included some in the quotes section below. It’s silly to state the obvious, but I’ll say it anyway. This book won’t turn anyone into her fan, if one had been amongst the mud-slingers. It will affirm positive opinions you may have. She reinforces her stance to NOT run for office in the epilogue of the book. After reading this, everyone will understand why. I listened to the audiobook for 3/4 of it so I can hear her voice and finished the rest via the physical book to see the photos. I’ll probably still listen to the audiobook for the last portion so I can hear her joy in the triumph of her initiatives and her angst in learning of the pussy-grabbing Cheeto video. Sigh. Some quotes:It’s not easy to be outside.“…If anyone in our family wanted to step outside onto the Truman Balcony – the lovely arcing terrace that overlooked the South Lawn, and the only semiprivate outdoor space we had at the White House – we needed to first alert the Secret Service so that they could shut down the section of E Street that was in view of the balcony, clearing out the flocks of tourists who gathered outside the gates there at all hours of the day and night. There were many times when I thought I’d go out to sit on the balcony, but then reconsidered, realizing the hassle I would cause, the vacations I’d be interrupting, all because I thought it would be nice to have a cup of tea outdoors.”On Leadership:“Everything was big and everything was relevant. I read a set of news clips sent by my staff each morning and knew that Barack would be obliged to absorb and respond to every new development. He’d be blamed for things he couldn’t control, pushed to solve frightening problems in faraway nations, expected to plug a hole at the bottom of the ocean. His job, it seemed, was to take the chaos and metabolize it somehow into calm leadership – every day of the week, every week of the year.”On then 8-year old Sasha:“…Walking around her classroom at Sidwell’s parents’ night that fall, I’d come across a short ‘What I Did on My Summer Vacation’ essay she’d authored, hanging alongside those of her classmates on one of the walls. ‘I went to Rome and I met the Pope,’ Sasha had written. ‘He was missing part of his thumb.’I could not tell you what Pope Benedict XVI’s thumb looks like, whether some part of it isn’t there. But we’d taken an observant, matter-of-fact eight-year-old to Rome, Moscow, and Accra, and this is what she’d brought back. Her view of history was, at that point, waist-high.”On teenager Malia:“In general, I understood that it was better for all of us not to acknowledge the hate or dwell on the risk, even when others felt compelled to bring it up. Malia would eventually join the high school tennis team at Sidwell, which practiced on the school courts on Wisconsin Avenue. She was there one day when a woman, the mother of another student, approached her, gesturing at the busy road running past the courts. ‘Aren’t you afraid out here?’ she asked.My daughter, as she grew, was learning to use her voice, discovering her own ways to reinforce the boundaries she needed. ‘If you’re asking me whether I ponder my death every day,’ she said to the woman, as politely as she could, ‘the answer is no.’”On the underlying efforts and that helping hand – I know this too well:“There had been so many times in my life when I’d found myself the only woman of color – or even the only woman, period – sitting at a conference table or attending a board meeting or mingling at one VIP gathering or another. If I was the first at some of these things, I wanted to make sure that in the end I wasn’t the only – that others were coming up behind me… The important parts of my story, I was realizing, lay less in the surface value of my accomplishments and more in what undergirded them – the many small ways I’d been buttressed over the years, and the people who’d helped build my confidence over time. I remembered them all, every person who’d ever waved me forward, doing his or her best to inoculate me against the slights and indignities I was certain to encounter in the places I was headed – all those environments built primarily for and by people who were neither black nor female.”On Nelson Mandela:“Mandela had gone to jail for his principles. He’d missed seeing his kids grow up, and then he’d missed seeing many of his grandkids grow up, too. All this without bitterness. All this still believing that the better nature of his country would at some point prevail. He’d worked and waited, tolerant and undiscouraged, to see it happen.”On Gun Violence (in Chicago) – disheartening:“At one point, one of the social workers interjected, saying to the group, ‘Eighty degrees and sunny! Everyone in the circle began nodding, ruefully. I wasn’t sure why. ‘Tell Mrs. Obama,’ she said, ‘What goes through your mind when you wake up in the morning and hear the weather forecast is eighty and sunny?’She clearly knew the answer, but wanted me to hear it.A day like that, the Harper students all agreed, was no good. When the weather was nice, the gangs got more active and the shooting got worse.”On Racial Injustice:“…For more than six years now, Barack and I had lived with an awareness that we ourselves were a provocation. As minorities across the country were gradually beginning to take on more significant roles in politics, business, and entertainment, our family had become the most prominent example. Our presence in the White House had been celebrated by millions of Americans, but it also contributed to a reactionary sense of fear and resentment among others. The hatred was old and deep and as dangerous as ever.” On Misogyny and the expression ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’:“…I’d been mocked and threatened many times now, cut down for being black, female, and vocal. I’d felt the derision directed at my body, the literal space I occupied in the world. I’d watched Donald Trump stalk Hillary Clinton during a debate, following her around as she spoke, standing too close, trying to diminish her presence with his. I can hurt you and get away with it. Women endure entire lifetimes of these indignities – in the form of catcalls, groping, assault, oppression. These things injure us. They sap our strength. Some of the cuts are so small they’re barely visible. Others are huge and gaping, leaving scars that never heal. Either way, they accumulate. We carry them everywhere, to and from school and work, at home while raising our children, at our places of worship, anytime we try to advance.”On ‘Becoming’:“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end. I became a mother, but I still have a lot to learn from and give to my children. I became a wife, but I continue to adapt to and be humbled by what it means to truly love and make a life with another person. I have become, by certain measures, a person of power, and yet there are moments still when I feel insure or unheard.It's all a process, steps along a path. Becoming requires equal parts patience and rigor. Becoming is never giving up on the idea that there’s more growing to be done.”
Rating: 5Part 5, chapter 9: I knew her could handle a partner who had her own passions and voice. These were things that you could not teach in a relationship. Things that not even love could build or change. In opening up his world to me he was showing me everything I would ever need to know about the kind of life partner he would be.
Part 5, chapter 10: in the presence of his certainty, his notion that he could make some sort of difference in the world I couldn’t help but feel a little lost by comparison…..Hence the journal….my reasons for starting it….1. I feel very confused on where I want my life to go, what kind of person I want to be, how I want to contribute to the world. 2. I feel I’m getting serious with B. and I want to get a handle on myself.
Part 10, chapter 17: It’s remarkable as a stereotype functions as an actual trap. How many angry black women have been caught in the circular logic of that phrase?
Part 15, chapter 24: To one’s feet planted in reality but pointed in the direction of progress…..You may live in the world as it is, but you can still work to create the world as it should be.
Rating: 5Part 5, chapter 10: in the presence of his certainty, his notion that he could make some sort of difference in the world I couldn’t help but feel a little lost by comparison…..Hence the journal….my reasons for starting it….1. I feel very confused on where I want my life to go, what kind of person I want to be, how I want to contribute to the world. 2. I feel I’m getting serious with B. and I want to get a handle on myself.
Part 10, chapter 17: It’s remarkable as a stereotype functions as an actual trap. How many angry black women have been caught in the circular logic of that phrase?
Part 15, chapter 24: To one’s feet planted in reality but pointed in the direction of progress…..You may live in the world as it is, but you can still work to create the world as it should be.
Oh, how this book made me again miss the time when Obamas were in the White House! This was a compelling story of a South Side girl and her journey to FLOTUS. Listening to this audiobook was a huge plus, it made the whole story more compelling and touching. I cried and I laughed. Michelle Obama is such a warm and beautiful person, and her voice is so soothing and warm that listening her felt like a true privilege.
Rating: 5Michelle Robinson Obama will always be my First Lady of the United States.
Rating: 5Oh, what do I say about this one? I'm probably officially the last person in the world to finally read this book. I started out on paper and then put in the (months long) wait time for the audio because I just had to. There's something about hearing a person tell their own story, you know, and Michelle is no exception. Talk about a really down to earth and transparent First Lady. I'm so thankful for her contributions, past and ongoing, and the positivity that she puts out into the world. If you haven't read this one yet, then I guess YOU'RE the last person to read it. Tag, you're it.
Rating: 5More then anything, this book served as a reminder of what dignity, and goodness in the White House used to be. Despite politics, which Michelle openly admits to not really loving most her life, you cannot deny that this woman has always been a shining example of how someone in such a position should be. I loved reading about her early childhood and seeing a more in depth look at her life before Obama. I have always thought she was smart and poised, and it appears shes a great writer too. She told her story much in the same way she has lived her public life; beautifully. She did not shy away from being honest when needed, and did not try and downplay her successes and talents. The only thing that kept from giving the memoir 5 stars was the lack of depth that were written about her more current years and the presidency. For the most part it felt more biography then memoir. This happened, then this happened, and this is how I felt about it. She didn't really let down the walls or write anything that might make her appear vulnerable. There were no, oh my God I never would have known, moments. For that, the narrative dragged at times. I was hoping for a little more. More of her! I wanted to know more about how she truly felt about people, and would have loved the book to focus more on her thoughts, emotions and insight instead of her day to day this is what I did telling.Overall, however, i think the book only reinforces how amazing a woman she is and how lucky we were to have such a dignified and wonderful first lady.It feels even more sad now, with the current climate after finishing this knowing that the Obama's are no longer there, working towards something good.I hope there is so much more of Michelle to come. I hope she and her husband continue to do their part in progressing the country. I've always been a huge fan of hers and always admired her. Her memoir only helps reinforce that!
Rating: 4This is a well written and interesting autobiography. I think I would like Barack and Michelle. She provides insight into her and family‘s life before during and after the presidency. I strongly recommend this book.
Rating: 5Wonderful, graceful, well-written and honest book by the former first lady. She writes in a way that you feel you know her - her values, her opportunities that launched her from the Southside of Chicago, all the way in to the white house. I find myself wanting to know "what's next" in her life - where will she make a difference, and a legacy.
Rating: 5I really really enjoyed this book. It was candid, heartwarming, intriguing, and overall quite inspiring. Michelle Obama seems like one of the people that you would like to sit down with over a cup of coffee and just chat about anything with. She's real and down to earth and reading her memoir made me respect and admire her even more. From her wonderful childhood, early adversity, and romance with Barack, I enjoyed every aspect of her story. She has managed to stay humble and honest; even while being one of the most "visible" women in the past decade. Every aspect of her life has been criticized, analyzed, and knit picked yet she believed in her husband and her family so she toughed it all out and has an amazing story to tell. Wonderful!
Rating: 5The former first lady offers an intimate view into her life, as she recounts her own childhood, education, family, career, and love for a man who would become president. Reading her account of the past few years of American politics was painful at times and inspiring at others. I enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it to those with an interest in American politics or even just curiosity about how the White House functions.
Rating: 5This beautifully written memoir is divided into thirds: Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More. To my great surprise, I found the ascension to the WH the least engrossing part of the story. The first two are so honest and show such openness and vulnerability that I felt knocked out and astounded by the bone-deep self-knowledge shared and revealed. The depiction of Michelle's childhood, the historical significance of growing up and living in mid-'60s Chicago as a barely middle-class African American, is a story largely unknown to white readers raised on a steady diet of poverty porn. Personality-wise, they are such an odd couple - but what they share is keenest intelligence and strongest drives towards success. It's hard to avoid sounding syncophantic, as I have massive admiration for Michelle’s achievements, her forceful personality and even more, for her writing skills of the highest quality.Quotes: "If you wanted to work...on any of the big job sites in Chicago, you needed a union card. And if you were black, the overwhelming odds were that you weren't going to get one.""The [male students] were simply emboldened, floating on an ancient tide of superiority, buoyed by the fact that history had never told them any different.""I lived like a half-closeted CEO, quietly but unswervingly focused on achievement, bent on checking every box.""The fundamental problem with caring a lot about what others think: It can put you on the established path and keep you there for a long time. Maybe it stops you from swerving, from even considering a swerve, because what you risk losing in terms of other people's high regard can feel too costly.""Barack was like a wind that threatened to unsettle everything. Listening to him, I began to understand that his version of hope reached far beyond mine: It was one thing to get yourself out of a stuck place. It was another thing entirely to try and get the place itself unstuck.""
Rating: 5I don’t read a lot of memoirs, but when I do they have to be by someone I’m interested in and the memoir has to be well written with honesty, even if it’s uncomfortable or embarrassing, so that I can hear the writers voice and find an emotional heart connection. I want to know what it was like to have lived their life. The moment I read an excerpt from Becoming by Michelle Obama I was moved emotionally by her story. Casting the emotional part aside for a moment, the facts of her life, so far, are that she grew up in the South Side of Chicago with her brother and her working class parents in a small upstairs apartment above her great aunt Robbie a music teacher who owned the house. They lived in a nicer neighborhood that was changing because of “white flight” which means; when black families moved in, white families moved out. Her parents were both talented and intelligent enough for college but couldn’t continue their education financially, but they instilled the importance of getting higher education in their children and worked hard to make sure it happened for them. She had a stable childhood, and studied hard in school to get good grades, and to make the most of every opportunity available to her. She went to Princeton and Harvard to become a lawyer and landed a job at a high end Law firm, and at that Law firm she was asked to mentor another Harvard law student named Barack Obama who would someday become President of the United States and as his wife she would become First Lady of the United States. Aside from the facts, we can now see her as a little girl discovering the world and her place in it and her insecurities, the “am I good enough” feelings many of us can relate to, and also her navigating through teen years to finding her passion to use her gifts to help others achieve. Then there are insights into her courtship and marriage to Barack who has a completely different personality then she does. I loved that she wrote about their arguments, their troubles, and even that at first she didn’t want him to run for President. One of her friends was Jesse Jackson’s daughter so she saw first hand how the public spotlight brought on criticism and how hard it was for someone of color to get elected. And also it was difficult for her to let go of her career, and put her dreams on hold to step into the unknown with her husband. But she also loved and admired the man she married whose calling was to make things better for all people, to bring together people on both sides of an issue to help find common ground. So she jumped into the spotlight, into the mess of American politics and she gives us an insight to what it is like campaigning, flying from city to city, state to state with 2 young daughters in tow, learning how “on the fly”, and then being criticized by the public, and the media, and yet connecting with the people in the towns where she spoke. There is so much more to her life incased in this book, I recommend it to men and women who want to know more about the Obama’s and who are interested in politics, but especially to young women who are grappling with life in these times. I read this in kindle so I’ve underlined so many quotes that it’s hard to pick just one, but here is one I wrote down “ Inspiration on it’s own is shallow, you had to back it up with hard work” both of them worked hard to make things better for Americans, and one thing stuck with me after I put the book down: she gives an insight into who Barack is by saying that, late at night, he would be reading letters from the people, making notes to give an answer and response to those he could and praying over them. I appreciate that because my husband wrote to him when we were caught up in the housing crash and we wanted to “put a face on” what was happening in our town, county, and state. We got a response from him even though I was a Republican and my husband was a Democrat. Becoming is an excellent insightful memoir so I’m giving it an appreciative 5 stars.
Rating: 5Like it or not, I tend to always give memoirs a 4 or 5 star rating. It's the authors personal story, for goodness sake. If it sounds plausible and the writing is effective how could I give the author anything less. In Mrs. Obama's book, I found both. From her childhood on Chicago's Euclid Avenue to turning over the keys of the White House to the 45th President she tells her story with graciousness, intelligence, emotion, honesty and not without a little humor. Within these pages, Mrs. Obama humanizes the positive and the negative affects of a life in the public eye, with heart felt sympathy she discusses the tragedies taking place on the streets of her childhood and the importance of female friendships which help her to stay the course and grounded. I would hope readers put their politics aside and enjoy her story. Readers may find she shares more similarities to their own story than they might have imagined.
Rating: 5