Becoming
By: Michelle Obama
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners 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.
LifeWithXi's Takeaway
Simply put, this is a memoir of her life. But truthfully, it is much more than that.
I am not much of a non-fiction reader, and I very rarely read memoirs. I read to escape from the reality, so why would I? But I decided to pick up this audiobook on a whim. Firstly, I think the audiobook for this is the way to go as Michelle Obama herself narrates the book. Anytime there is a non-fiction book narrated by the author, I would say go for the audiobook. It allows you to feel what the author is feeling, and the tiny details in their intonation does matter.
Without spoiling too much information, she grew up in Chicago not having the easiest life (not the hardest either, at least not given much in the book). The book itself is vaguely divided into three parts, her childhood, her meeting Obama and the presidency, and after. She talks about how she met Barack and the feelings she went through. Of course, this isn’t Barack Obama’s memoir. It doesn’t talk about things from his perspective, but you get a glimpse of his insight into life as well. She talks about her failures in life (some of which SHOCKING), her own faults and shortcomings.
I am at a stage of my life where this book was extremely inspiring and helpful. I have failed many times in life, and I felt that I could relate. It was inspiring without any cheesy inspirational lines. Through this very honest and humble memoir, it gives a fresh perspective to see that her (and Barack) are real people with real problems, and ultimately overcame (or perhaps, still overcoming) those problems and becoming who she is today.
Highly recommend. Solid 8/8 star for the audiobook.