Becoming in Closter Public Library

Jun 27, 2019 Janet rated it liked it

I did not really want to read this (too fed up with the hateful politics we are immersed in), but so many people told me they loved it that I gave it a listen. (Had the audio; read by Michelle Obama)
There really is very little politics here (though she does discuss the racism and sexism she faced all her life, and goes into some detail about the double standard applied to women in politics), it is a very well written memoir, by a very humble woman, who attributes much of her success to hard work ...more

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Nov 30, 2018 Sue Seligman rated it it was amazing

This is an amazing memoir by an amazing woman. Michelle Obama is well known as President Barack Obama’s wife, former First Lady of the United States, and mother of Malia and Sasha. From the very first pages to the Epilogue, the reader is invited to share in the intimate details of Michelle’s life, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years of dedication and hard work throughout her educational experience, including Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and her career in This is an amazing memoir by an amazing woman. Michelle Obama is well known as President Barack Obama’s wife, former First Lady of the United States, and mother of Malia and Sasha. From the very first pages to the Epilogue, the reader is invited to share in the intimate details of Michelle’s life, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years of dedication and hard work throughout her educational experience, including Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and her career in law as well as her pursuit of opportunities in community outreach programs where she fulfilled her passion in mentoring women from backgrounds similar to her own and helping them to find career and economic success. Even after her marriage to Barack Obama, Michelle was always searching for ways to help others achieve their personal and professional goals regardless of their economic status. Much of Michelle’s own success can be attributed to her close knit family and the values with which they raised her, such as the importance of education, their confidence in her choices and in her ability to exercise her talents and passions to achieve personal and professional success. When she married Barack Obama, she learned about compromise and sharing, and helping him to pursue his goals. Their lives were never easy, and she is very upfront about the many challenges faced by a high profile, political couple whose ultimate goal of becoming POTUS and FLOTUS became reality for eight years. They faced many unique situations as the first black family to inhabit the White House, and yet, their eighth years brought many amazing changes to the climate of the country in terms of political and economic growth, social changes such as the development of programs to combat obesity, the legalization of gay marriage, more widespread community outreach programs, improvement of education in low income areas, and so many more accomplishments. Michelle also discusses the challenges of raising her children in the White House, her frustration with the gun control issues, and other issues. However, this is really not a book about politics. Rather, it is a book about a family within the political arena, but mostly it is about a woman who comes of age within a changing country, who achieves personal and professional success because of her own dedication and passion. Michelle Obama is a woman to be admired, not because she was our First Lady, but because she broke stereotypes and pursued her goals. She is a woman of class and honor, and has much wisdom to share in her memoir. ...more

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Jul 13, 2019 Brenda Kahn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-reading, 2019-favorite, memoir

Breaking my "Give no stars" rule to give this one five. I LOVED this memoir. I pretty much knew I would, being a fan of both Michelle and her husband, who happened to be president. I waited for seven months for the audiobook. Of course it was delivered with two other books in that capricious way of library holds. I had three days to "read" almost 19 hours of memoir. I disconnected from my family to clock in about six hours a day. The third day coincided with my cleaning my beach house at turnove ...more

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May 12, 2019 Deirdre marked it as to-read

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