Former United States first lady, Michelle Obama, published her autobiographical memoir on Nov 13, 2018 detailing the many experiences that have made her the woman she is today—from her roots in Chicago, Illinois to her experience as the first lady.
The critical reception of Michelle Obama’s memoir is generally very positive. According to the Associated Press, Michelle Obama’s personal memoir, ‘Becoming’ is “among the fastest-selling nonfiction books in history and already among the best-selling political memoirs of all time.” Furthermore, the Washington Post reported the memoir “reached over two million copies sold in just the first few weeks after its release.”
With that in mind, we decided to check out the book and share our thoughts with you. Here’s 4 reasons why ‘Becoming’ should be your next read this year.
1. The personal aspect of her writing makes you feel like you’ve known her and her family for years.
From the preface of the book she makes you feel like she is one of us. She explains that one of the first things she did after moving into the White House was make her own cheese toast, which she hadn’t done in over eight years. She explained the freedom of sitting outside without alerting anyone and sleeping with the window open. It is this, the detailed, conversational aspects of the book really draw you in.
The way the book is divided into three sections: Becoming Me, Becoming Us and Becoming More, adds to the personal tone because it allows you to see the progression of her family’s journey to the public eye beyond what was seen on TV.
2. Her story is real and does not brush over the struggles their family has experienced through this journey.
Michelle, throughout the book, writes about her distaste for politics and how she would never run for president. She talks about when Barack was a senator traveling between Washington D.C. and Chicago that she thought it was tearing their family apart.
She also writes about the sacrifices that her and her family had to make like Michelle stepping back from the job she loved, campaigning, or their oldest daughter, Malia, going to prom alongside a secret service agent. All of these sacrifices were made before Barack even became president.
The details and aspects of life are frequently left out of politics and this book gives a very real portrayal of the good and bad of living in the the public eye.
3. Along with the story of the Obama family and their rise to fame, ‘Becoming’ also gives advice for women as they begin to enter the professional word.
Michelle writes about how to respond to haters, because she was often ridiculed for the clothes she wore, the fact that she is a tall, Black woman, or doing too much politically for a first lady. She explained the constant focus on her appearance from her clothing to facial expressions was difficult because she just wanted people to focus on what she had to say. She talks about rolling with the punches and how although it was in the back of her mind, she let the media say what they wanted while she continued to focus on her message
Another big piece of advice she gives is how to make sure your significant others’ work or priorities don’t override your own. Michelle struggled with her own career first as a lawyer and then working with nonprofits, while also balancing the challenges of her husband’s demanding political career and her role as a mother. She often despised the fact that with their two girls her husband’s career could take precedent, while she would have to move to part-time or make more sacrifices. Throughout the entire campaigning process, she kept her job at the University of Chicago, and did not quit her job until she became the first lady.
4. Throughout the novel, Michelle spreads an important message to young girls and women: You belong, you matter.
She establishes this idea from the very beginning when she talks about her childhood and her own self-doubt from questioning whether she was smart enough to attend Princeton and then later Harvard Law School then again when she entered the workforce. There were many times in her life where she stopped to question, “do I belong, do I matter, am I good enough?” She went through this sequence of questioning her own self worth again when Barack entered any political race. In the book, you can see how she builds up the confidence to eventually say, “yes I am or yes we are.”
Michelle Obama is inspiring to young girls and women out there trying to find a voice in a generation where they are constantly being told that they aren’t enough. ‘Becoming’ is an inspiring story of a woman and a family overcoming the odds and it is the perfect read to launch you into 2019.