Book Review: Becoming by Michelle Obama

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 396 pages

Published: November 13, 2018

Publisher: Crown Publishing

Genre:  Nonfiction, Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs
Synopsis:

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.

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When Michelle Obama first appeared on the scene, I instantly admired her. I didn’t normally look up to the First Ladies of the United States, but I can immediately tell there was something different about her. Her intellectual mind, her wit and her open personality just made her appear more human, more open to the people. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that I fell in love with her memoir, Becoming.

After reading two disappointing memoirs, Heart Berries and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, I was about to avoid them altogether. But after reading Becoming, Michelle Obama has restored my faith in the genre. Maybe because I respected and was interested in the life story of the writer. Becoming is more than just any typical memoir. It is literally an eye-opening experience into a person was determined to depict her expectations her own way. Michelle Obama has appreciation for her life, for her family and for her work. Her appreciation is shown through her emotional and inspirational words. She doesn’t sugarcoat the truth. She allowed the raw emotion to burst through the pages and reveal a side that the public hasn’t seen before.

What I enjoyed about this memoir is that it isn’t a sleazy tell-all book. She didn’t take the time to reveal any dirty little secrets. She never belittles anyone, however, that didn’t mean she wasn’t blinded by their flaws. Michelle Obama saw that there are issues with America but her belief in hope and strength in her conviction doesn’t diminish her love for her country. It only increases it.

Her experiences during her husband’s presidential campaigns gave readers a chance to see how lethal and cold the political world can be. Michelle explains her distaste of politics and how after leaving the White House, she is relieved to be done. Although I am disappointed that she isn’t going to run for anything, at the same time I am relieved. She is too good for Washington. I don’t think that she wouldn’t do an amazing job. This book and her words prove that she is so much more than the bureaucratic red tape and the corruption that clouds the political world. She has managed to provide inspiration through the arena that she knows best: through education and empathy for others.

One of the best memoirs I have read by far! My respect and admiration for this woman have increased tenfold. Her experiences and her life story was so relatable to me that I just wanted to read more and more. She has so much insight and wisdom that her intellect would be inspirational to the younger generation. Such a thumping good read!

Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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