hardcover
English language
Published Aug. 5, 2018 by Crown Publishing Group.
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 …
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. ([source][1])
Well, it was interesting.
I find it very hard to write honest thoughts on autobiographies, which to some extend are always publicity efforts, and should therefore not be trusted verbatim.
But yes, it was an interesting read for a number of reasons, not least of which what the book did not contain.
Historia zwykłej kobiety, które dane było przeżyć niezwykłe rzeczy.
Lekko i zgrabnie opowiedziana historia życia pierwszej czarnoskórej First Lady. Walka ze stereotypami oraz uprzedzeniami rasowymi była jej codziennością. Upór, determinacja oraz konsekwencja sprawiły, że wybiła się ponad przeciętność.
I want to be consistent with my policy to review actual books rather than vote for political points of view but it is difficult because I am a "fan" of Michelle the person and because with the dark age of our current political climate (which is not remarked upon until the last few percent as Kindles measure these things) everything is distorted. I am a naturally negative person and Ms. Obama is the opposite and just continues "becoming" rather than dwelling on the difficulties and one would have to have that attitude in order to succeed as she did. Other reviewers complained that she seems too perfect in this book but I think it's not because she is being dishonest but because of her positive focus.
As a book, it was never boring and I never wanted to skip ahead. I avoid much of the daily news/entertainment culture so I …
I want to be consistent with my policy to review actual books rather than vote for political points of view but it is difficult because I am a "fan" of Michelle the person and because with the dark age of our current political climate (which is not remarked upon until the last few percent as Kindles measure these things) everything is distorted. I am a naturally negative person and Ms. Obama is the opposite and just continues "becoming" rather than dwelling on the difficulties and one would have to have that attitude in order to succeed as she did. Other reviewers complained that she seems too perfect in this book but I think it's not because she is being dishonest but because of her positive focus.
As a book, it was never boring and I never wanted to skip ahead. I avoid much of the daily news/entertainment culture so I got to learn for the first time things that everyone else probably already knew (such as how she met Barack). She is willing to talk about such taboo subjects as couples counseling and skipping out on the Secret Service in order to get a little peace. She manages to find only good things to say about the Bushes and can talk about Joe Biden without bringing up Anita Hill (which I couldn't do.)
No, she doesn't create the kind of intimacy that Isaac Misrahi could in [b:I.M.: A Memoir|26072943|I.M. A Memoir|Isaac Mizrahi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1530004438s/26072943.jpg|46010272] (which I read overlapping with this memoir) and it's not [b:Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance|88061|Dreams from My Father A Story of Race and Inheritance|Barack Obama|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1352340675s/88061.jpg|86032]either so it couldn't get that 5th star. But it was obviously written by a person and not by a hired flack, which if you're in the political arena, is saying a lot.
An unfortunate consequence of the Goodreads rating system is having to rate a book four stars and then, in the same keystroke, loudly proclaim everyone should read this! I’m going to use an analogy inspired by the book itself: one of Obama’s top priorities as First Lady was to address the childhood obesity epidemic; part of that approach was planting a garden at the White House and encouraging healthy eating. Becoming is healthy, nutritious, necessary eating. I can’t claim the book “was amazing” any more than I could in good conscience claim that a given carrot or apple was amazing—but veggies and fruits are an important part of my day, crème brûlée is not, so I only choose the best I can get. Becoming is at the very high end of the best of that best.
Michelle Robinson was lucky. Kind, smart, hardworking parents with a commitment to their children; …
An unfortunate consequence of the Goodreads rating system is having to rate a book four stars and then, in the same keystroke, loudly proclaim everyone should read this! I’m going to use an analogy inspired by the book itself: one of Obama’s top priorities as First Lady was to address the childhood obesity epidemic; part of that approach was planting a garden at the White House and encouraging healthy eating. Becoming is healthy, nutritious, necessary eating. I can’t claim the book “was amazing” any more than I could in good conscience claim that a given carrot or apple was amazing—but veggies and fruits are an important part of my day, crème brûlée is not, so I only choose the best I can get. Becoming is at the very high end of the best of that best.
Michelle Robinson was lucky. Kind, smart, hardworking parents with a commitment to their children; other encouraging adults in her life; chance opportunities that worked out well. She acknowledges this, recognizing also that there are thousands of others just like her who’ve had a different roll of the dice. She uses that knowledge to motivate her toward always encouraging others and offering them a hand up. Childhood education, mentoring, encouragement, focused attention; they matter so, so much.
But that’s just a small part of the book. There’s duty, humility, kindness, HOPE. Living a fulfilling life. Finding meaning. Self-awareness. Decency, joie de vivre, powerful love. Responsibility. It is impossible to read this in 2018 without feeling pain on each page (or, on audiobook, each minute); impossible not to contrast her words against the putrescence we now have in the White House. But that is not her fault, and not the point of her book. Obama's message is one of encouragement, of uplifting. Yes, of hope. She is a gifted writer and a superb human being. Please read her book, and please pass it on.
Made me laugh a few times, but made me cry, too. Trying not to fall back into mourning for what was...
