Becoming
An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States. 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.
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I’m not a political person and I have never been one to follow politicians closely but I did always find Michelle Obama intriguing. This memoir only solidified my interests. I found Her story inspiring. Being from Chicago area I’ve seen the struggles and crime that the southside faces so I know how hard Michelle’s path was. Her parents seemed like incredible people- it brought me so much emotion to know how much they sacrificed for their children. I thoroughly enjoyed the early chapters and hearing about her path. The parts about her early relationship with Barack was also intriguing. Hearing how our 44th President was before he was president was very interesting, and hearing the passion that Barack Obama had for bettering others and our country, and then the dedication he brought to the people when he was in office, gave me a lot of respect for him. This memoir gives insights into our president as well as his first lady and I think it’s very much worth the read.
From her humble beginnings to First Lady, Michelle Obama “keeps it real” and we get an inside look at what it's like to be the (nonpolitical) spouse of a politician and being thrown into the spotlight, with its many advantages and disadvantages.
I cried at the end, as she relived the horror show of election night 2016, when the world's most hateful bully was somehow elected. But she ends on a very hopeful note:
"I'm an ordinary person who found herself on an extraordinary journey. In sharing my story,I hope to help create space for other stories and other voices, to widen the pathway for who belongs and why. I've been lucky enough to get to walk into stone castles, urban classrooms, and Iowa kitchens, just trying to be myself, just trying to connect. For every door that's been opened to me, I've tried to open my door to others. And here is what I have to say, finally: Let's invite one another in. Maybe then we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong assumptions, to let go of the biases and stereotypes that unnecessarily divide us. Maybe we can better embrace the ways we are the same. It's not about being perfect. It's not about where you get yourself in the end. There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there's grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become."
I cried at the end, as she relived the horror show of election night 2016, when the world's most hateful bully was somehow elected. But she ends on a very hopeful note:
"I'm an ordinary person who found herself on an extraordinary journey. In sharing my story,I hope to help create space for other stories and other voices, to widen the pathway for who belongs and why. I've been lucky enough to get to walk into stone castles, urban classrooms, and Iowa kitchens, just trying to be myself, just trying to connect. For every door that's been opened to me, I've tried to open my door to others. And here is what I have to say, finally: Let's invite one another in. Maybe then we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong assumptions, to let go of the biases and stereotypes that unnecessarily divide us. Maybe we can better embrace the ways we are the same. It's not about being perfect. It's not about where you get yourself in the end. There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there's grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become."
In Michelle Obama's book, "Becoming," she portrays herself as down-to-earth and relatable. She candidly discusses her experiences in school as a person of color, shedding light on the challenges she faced. At one point, she reflects on the possibility of being a research subject rather than being recognized for her intelligence when it came to getting into an Ivy League school. She portrayed Barack Obama in a stricter light while perceiving him as more relaxed and easygoing.
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