Review: Becoming by Michelle Obama

BOOK STATS

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Title: Becoming
Author/Narrator: Michelle Obama
Genre: Memoir
Audience: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Length: ~19 hours (426 pages)
Publisher: Crown; Books on Tape
Release Date: November 13, 2018
Source: Libby app

SYNOPSIS

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.

MY THOUGHTS

Listen to this audiobook and let it change your life. She is so eloquent and inspiring, but also relatable. I ugly cried my way through the last few chapters because this book stirred so many emotions. IT IS SO GOOD.

Michelle Obama’s story makes me want to chase my dreams and fight for what I deserve. She has so many accomplishments in her own right beyond being FLOTUS, and I enjoyed her perspective on the White House and life in general. I also admire how throughout her career she always advocated for more minority and women representation at her workplaces and paved the way for others to follow in her footsteps.

I repeat, go with the audiobook on this one. It was delightful listening to Michelle Obama narrate her own memoir, and it felt like a conversation with an old friend.