Becoming – Michelle Obama

Disposition

American Girl:

Not sure where to begin with my “disposition” for this book, especially when a tyrant, racist, and sexual predator is currently the leader of our country. Which only makes me love and dearly miss the Obamas that much more. Can’t wait to get started, and did I mention the Audible is narrated by Michelle?!

Brit Boy:

I completely agree…  My interest in the Obamas has only increased since our change in presidency, I too am excited to gain an insight into Michelle and her family.

Editorial

This is the first Audible book that I am SO glad that I have chosen instead of print. Hearing Michelle’s story in her voice was comforting, joyous, somber, and eye opening. It will make you love her even more. Through the entire book she presented herself and family with such grace, without ever seeming conceited. This is not a story of “politics” but rather a story of her life, specifically broken into three parts “Becoming Me”, “Becoming Us”, “Becoming More”, which really defines most people in their journey into adulthood.

“Because people often ask, I’ll say it here directly: I have no intention of running for office, ever. I’ve never been a fan of politics, and my experience over the last ten years has done little to change that. I continue to be put off by the nastiness—the tribal segregation of red and blue, this idea that we’re supposed to choose one side and stick to it, unable to listen and compromise, or sometimes even to be civil. I do believe that at its best, politics can be a means for positive change, but this arena is just not for me.”

This is one instance where the authors narration of the book really improved the listener’s experience. Michelle is clearly a natural orator and the easy way she tells her story is more reminiscent of a chat over a coffee or glass of wine rather than a monologue or “story”.

One of my favorite things about this book is that she keeps it real. She discusses the problems with being a working mom, she makes fun of herself regularly, she points out some of the frustrations from being married to Barrack, she discusses openly how one of her daughter’s had a too high BMI and their journey in dealing with that. Despite the Obama’s mutual success Michelle seemed to successfully keep her children grounded, she made sure they did not become entitled, and despite the pressures of their careers, she made sure that their daughters were put first. She is so incredibly relatable, and I found myself constantly routing for her, and wishing we could be friends! (Granted her drive for working out far surpasses mine…)

“When it came to the home-for-dinner dilemma, I installed new boundaries, ones that worked better for me and the girls. We made our schedule and stuck to it. …It went back to my wishes for them to grow up strong and centered and also unaccommodating to any form of old-school patriarchy: I didn’t want them ever to believe that life began when the man of the house arrived home. We didn’t wait for Dad. It was his job now to catch up with us.”

The reality and honesty in her writing was refreshing and very relatable, she never portrays herself or her family than anything more than normal, with the same problems and issues as we all have, the only difference being her status as First Lady for a third of the book. I would agree with American Girl, the Obamas are welcome over for a glass of wine whenever they are passing.

I loved the insight into what it was like for her to move into the White House. How in the morning the Bush’s lived there, then by the evening the Obama’s were moved in and unpacked, all while they were attending the Inauguration Ball. I never thought of how politicians literally have to put their life on hold and into a state of limbo when running for office. I could not imagine the stress involved with knowing if you win you will be moving states, changing houses, changing your children’s schools, moving into a home site unseen, with zero control of the outcome. Everything hangs in the balance on election night. Years of work, comes down to one life altering night. How do you prepare for that? Prepare your children? Then four years later having to go through the entire process again? Potentially forced to move out of your home. The childhood home that their daughters grew up in.

The insights into being First Lady were by far my most enjoyable too, there are certainly a lot of day to day issues which they had to deal with which I had just not thought of. I also liked the way that they took the Presidency and position of First Lady seriously. Whether it was Barrack requesting more detailed briefings on issues from his aides or Michelle being determined that her position was more than a figure head and she really could make a difference. This was always a much loved job for them rather than a position they felt entitled too.

While it was fun hearing her perspective on the perks of Presidency (private chefs, in home bowling alley, Camp David, etc.), I have a whole new level of respect for what the family actually sacrifices for the sake of the Country when becoming President. No more date nights. Being almost constantly surrounded by people. Very little privacy. Not being able to attend your children’s special events. Your children being unable to just go to a friends house, or to easily just have a friend stop by. Michelle opened my eyes to so many things that happened behind the scenes, and it made me love the Obamas even more.

I would definitely recommend this book! And not just for Obama supporters, as mentioned she does not preach about her politics. She even handled the Trump administration with a few curt comments without even mentioning him by name, and honestly that is the respect he deserves. Don’t skip on the epilogue either, she has some amazing closing remarks that brought tears to my eyes.

I also recommend this book, it was much more insightful than I expected. I really miss the Obamas even more now I have listened to this.