By Michelle Obama
Crown, 2018, 426 pages, Memoir
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, she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private. A deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations.
I enjoyed learning more about Michelle Obama’s childhood growing up in the South Side of Chicago, along with her early career and meeting her husband, Barack Obama, and then seeing the change her life took as her life was lived more and more in the view of the public. Learning of Obama’s background helped me find a lot in common with her, even though our lives are fairly different. I especially appreciated that she has dedicated her life to improving the lives of those who are often overlooked or in the minority.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which is read by the author in a well-written, conversational style. It was like driving around town while listening to the captivating stories of a good friend at the same time.
Those who enjoy this book may also enjoy other memoirs of politicians, but I was especially reminded of Sonia Sotomayor’s memoir, My Beloved World.
2 comments:
This is an intimate portrait of a powerful woman who has experienced heartbreaks and successes that have shaped an amazing life. I really appreciated the section where she recounts her experience with fertility treatments and trying to get pregnant.
These tender details make this more than just a “famous person” memoir. It is articulate and impeccably written. Reading this book was like having Michelle Obama as a delightful house guest for a couple of days.
I found it fascinating to learn about Michelle Obama and the experiences she and her husband had that shaped the initiatives they championed while in the White House. While I didn’t agree with all of their policies, learning about the experiences that shaped their perspectives and why they pushed the things they did were eye opening and often very touching. I love stepping into the shoes of someone with very different life experiences from myself, and this book was enlightening in a variety of ways. I especially loved that the audiobook was narrated by Michelle Obama herself. She did an excellent job and it felt very natural and conversational.
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