Becoming

Genre: Non-Fiction

This is the true-life story of Michelle Obama’s (nee Robinson) life. In this very-well written account, we learn about her childhood, her early school life and her strong family connections. We learn about how a young, black girl from the very poor south side of Chicago grew up to excel in school and go to Princeton University for her undergraduate studies and Harvard University for her law degree. We meet a young Barack Obama, whom she mentors at the law firm where she works, and how the two become friends and then lovers. We see the long, slow rise of Barack’s political career and his rise to the presidency of the United States. Throughout, we learn about Michelle’s struggles, accomplishments, raising two young daughters in the political realm and then the iconic White House and what life looks like for the family today, outside of the White House. This is the story of the rise of one of America’s most celebrated political couples and how they overcame so much to reach the top.

When this book first came out, I read that Oprah interviewed Michelle for her Super Soul Sunday podcast. So, of course, I had to listen to it. It was an interesting interview in that Michelle seemed very forceful and commanding, even cutting Oprah off a couple of times mid-sentence. She was clearly determined to tell her story and to tell it the specific way she wanted to do it. I remember thinking that this book would be the beginning of her political career.

And then I read the book. There are a few things that come across as truths about Michelle after reading this book. She's very intelligent, very self-motivated, incredibly driven, self-assured and she knows herself very well. At one point she says very clearly that she has no interest in running for office. But, I think that the words she chooses in writing her story, tell of a politically savvy and invested person. It's interesting to me that Michelle's language was third person when it came to Barack's political career until they literally stood on the stage announcing Barack’s presidential candidacy, and then she says, "It began dawning on me that we were the band. We were the team about to take the field. What I felt more than anything was a sudden sense of responsibly". I think that once she understood that this was not a “him”, but a “they”, she internalized that sense of responsibility and she took on this role of politician wholeheartedly and I think that role affects how she tells her story.

Allow me to digress for a minute. Just go along with it, I have a point. My husband is my best friend. I really love him. No. I mean I really, really love him. But, it's not just that I love him. I really like him. I respect him. He is the kind of guy you would always want in your corner. He's very shy and, if you don't know him, you might think there's not much to him...but he's smart. He knows so much about many different kinds of things. He loves me, our families and friends fiercely. I mean he will walk through fire for us. There aren't many people he dislikes, but if you're one of those people, watch out, he'll go into battle with you and you won't know what hit you! OK, now read that again. Those sentences don't give you nearly the full picture of who Mr. Abby's Book Reviews really is. That description is my political description of him. I’m invested in telling you his story in a way that will influence your thoughts about him. See, everything I wrote is all 100% true, but it's not the full picture. For a full picture, here's what you're missing. My husband is the worst dancer. No. I mean it. He can't dance to save his life. I have to remind him maybe 10 times and three weeks too long, before he'll get his hair cut. He has the worst dad jokes. He is 48 years old, an engineer, and wears khakis and a button-down shirt to work every day. It takes him about five minutes from the minute he gets dressed to when his shirt comes un-tucked from his pants and stays that way all day. He never turns his socks inside out before throwing them in the laundry. He never picks a restaurant, but leaves the task to me. See, he's still all those things that I said initially, but if I leave out the second part of the description, it's a minimal picture. No man (or woman) is made up of only really good or only really bad. But, if you put the good and bad together, you get a more complete, more accurate picture.

See, almost all that we get in this very political story is the political version of Michelle and Barack, their family life, their presidency, their work. And it feels like it's not the full picture. Is it made up? No. I believe there is all truth to it. But, Michelle is clearly invested in presenting Barack’s presidency and her work within it in the best light possible.

That said, I did like the details about moving into the White House and leaving the White House, Sasha and Malia’s lives as the first daughters and the descriptions of the private residence at the White House. I would say, definitely give this book a try, just know that the political world doesn’t stop outside the pages of this book.