I’m only one chunk of the way through Becoming by Michelle Obama. However, I am already blown away and buried in the memoir. It is remarkable how she went from having very little as a child, to working her way up to becoming a successful attorney, author, and former First Lady. Her story is inspiring to all, as she had a fairly humble beginning but worked hard and achieved greatly. I’m already enjoying this book more than I have most. I recommend it to anyone who wants to feel some inspiration and encouragement from an extremely successful, smart, and hardworking woman.
One structural aspect of Becoming that makes it interesting to read is the way Michelle Obama splits up parts of her life. To tell her story, the book is divided into 3 parts: “Becoming Me,” “Becoming Us,” and “Becoming More.” She starts from the very beginning. “Becoming Me” describes her early childhood life living in the South Side of Chicago. It continues through her education at Princeton and Harvard. The last bit of this section touches on her career as a lawyer at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met Barack Obama. “Becoming Us” starts from the beginning of their relationship and follows their marriage. It shares how Michelle Obama balanced her motherly duties, marital commitments, and position as First Lady. Lastly, “Becoming More” dives into Barack Obama’s presidency, Michelle Obama’s role as a mom to their daughters, and aspects of their life when they were the First Family. Combined, these three parts do an outstanding job of portraying Obama’s development as a person.
In my opinion, the way the book is split up into three parts helps readers fully understand all aspects of Obama’s life. At first, I was mainly intrigued by her life as the former First Lady. Now I am in awe of her more deeply because I know how many sacrifices and efforts it took her to get this successful. “Becoming Me” is my favorite piece, as I am amazed at every experience she had in her early childhood. It shows readers how valuable hard work is. We as readers learn that Michelle Obama did not get anything handed to her. For example, she was usually one of the only Black students in classes. She had to work and study hard to achieve her dreams. Although not everyone always believed in her, she knew she could do anything she put her mind to. In each section, the experiences and hardships she goes through get more intense, but we see how she comes back stronger from them.
I recommend Becoming to anyone who wants to get inspired by one of the most successful women in our country. I always thought I knew a ton about Michelle Obama, but I really did not. I learned more about her family, education, morals, and where she grew up. This book inspires me to work harder and not put limits on my potential. In Becoming, Obama shows the importance of education
and that it is possible for you to become whatever you aspire to be. Michelle Obama is one of my biggest role models, and even if she is not one of yours, there is so much to be learned from her.
I’ve also started reading Becoming recently, and I agree with you; I especially liked reading about Michelle Obama’s childhood because I liked how her parents tried to provide her and her brother with the best education they could. I feel like growing up in an environment that embraced the importance of education helped influence her to continue to strive for her success. It was also fun to read about such an influential person as a child and a student like us!
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot about this book but have yet to read it. I'd definitely love to learn more about one of our most influential first ladies and successful woman in general. While I don't usually read memoirs, I might have to to make an exception!
ReplyDeleteI'm often hesitant about reading memoirs. Some I have read are not as engaging as other fictional books I usually read. However, this memoir seems fascinating and engaging. I think the way she divides the book into the different "Becoming __" sections is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds so awesome! Michelle Obama is such a great role model, and I think I will have to read it. Stories like hers are so inspiring, and it sounds like this book really gives you a closer look into her life.
ReplyDeleteThe storyline throughout the three sections of the book seems like it would be interesting! I'd like to read this book because of the well structured timeline through Michelle Obama's life. From you description it sounds like the book has great character throughout the timeline that the book takes place. Becoming sounds like an interesting book to read
ReplyDeleteThe way the autobiography is described as a complete recollection of Obama's experiences seems like a good way to fully describe Michelle Obama's development as a person. As one of the most influential figures in politics, I think it's very important to understand her story, and based on your review, "Becoming" seems like a very helpful book. I'll definitely consider buying it in the future.
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