Becoming means so much to me. It’s one of those books that wraps itself around you like a warm blanket, entrances every bit of you, and compels you to deeply treasure every word.
Becoming does a great job of humanizing Michelle Obama and letting readers into her life. Very shortly after I began reading the book, I found myself not only reading about Michelle Obama, the cum laude graduate from Princeton University and first African-American First Lady, but about Michelle Obama, the human. I related with Obama so much, especially during her the early years. From her need to meticulously plan out the details of her future to her uphill battles as a young, colored woman working in a field dominated by white men to her thirst to always become something more, I felt like Obama, in one way or another, embodied so much of my mindset and the kinds of obstacles that I faced. I was comforted by the fact that I had much in common with Michelle Obama — I took it as a stamp of approval; a sign that, yes, I was on the right track; an indicator that the challenges I faced and worked so hard to overcome would not amount to nothing.
But even more important than the comfort that Becoming offered me (which perhaps is nothing more than a testament to my need for approval from others? I don’t know — that wasn’t the point) is the inspiration that I took from Obama’s story. Her ability to push herself and always work as hard as she possibly could without shattering under the pressure, her kindness towards others, and her keen awareness of the world around her all have stuck with me and continue to serve as motivation. Even the combination of Obama’s fierce independence yet utter love and vulnerability when it comes to her husband, Barack Obama, struck me with awe.
As a lover of memoirs and feminism, reading Becoming came naturally to me. But Becoming is one of those books that anyone at all can enjoy and learn from. It is a must-read for everyone, and especially for young people and women, as Obama so powerfully stresses to children that they matter and encourages women to embrace and stay true to themselves. In every way, Becoming is empowering. As I sit here writing this review, two weeks after having finished the book, I am still left wondering how 421 pages of this vibrant story brimming with life has left me feeling so full and sufficient.
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