Book Review: Becoming by Michelle Obama

Michelle Robinson Obama served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Mrs. Obama started her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She later worked in the Chicago mayor’s office, at the University of Chicago, and at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mrs. Obama also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an organization that prepares young people for careers in public service.

As first lady, Michelle Obama initiated Let’s Move! a program aiming to end childhood obesity within a generation. Through it, elected officials, business leaders, educators, parents, and faith leaders worked together to provide more nutritious food in schools, bring healthy and affordable food into underserved communities, plant vegetable gardens across America, and provide new opportunities for kids to be more active. Each year local schoolchildren helped plant and harvest the garden she started on the White House South Lawn. Its vegetables and fruits were served at the White House and donated to soup kitchens and food banks.

My Review:

I  purchased the book quickly after it’s release in November 2018, but I wanted to listen to the audiobook read by the author right along with it. I am so thrilled that I did so. 

I felt a lot of of parallel experiences and emotions with the author. My first experience with New York was met with the fast pace, hustle and bustle of the smelly, and dirty city. I also, loved structure, organization, and proving to myself why I was worthy, and/or good enough in the desire to have a career and be a wonderful mother and wife was my dream as well. 

I appreciated the glimpse into Michelle Obama’s life, her past, present, and future. Her resume on the jobs she held. Barack Obama’s trek to becoming a political leader, as well as his love for family, community, and books, which is my love too . I delved into videos, interviews, articles, and documentaries on the Obama’s in between reading.  I was grateful for her intimate look into her feelings, compassion, and learned knowledge of being good enough as the first black FLOTUS.

While reading this book, Michelle Obama published the young reader’s edition. Now, I  have the hunger to read her husbands’ newly released book - A Promised Land.

Waffles + Mochi is an all-new children’s show from President Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground Productions—coming to Netflix in March 2021!