Book Review: Becoming

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 || 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚢 𝙼𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎 𝙾𝚋𝚊𝚖𝚊 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
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Becoming, a subjective experience about Michelle Obama’s childhood in south side Chicago, her pursuit of living the American dream, eventual dissatisfaction with what that meant and finally coming into her own.
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Michelle did not sugar coat her attitude toward politics, her feelings about Obama running for president or the challenges of creating and raising two daughters with the media scrutiny.
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While her voice was pleasant, humorous and candid, a tone that stood out the most was her optimism. The belief that better outcomes are possible even under the worst circumstances. The optimism wasn’t found without real work being put in, it was based on trusting her contribution to her life and society. The understanding of knowing who she was, the company she kept and having faith. She placed emphasis on family, education, supportive friends, being active in the community and finding a balance that works. Becoming provided an up close look into the experiences that shaped her to become the phenomenal woman many admire and look up to today.
A well written relatable piece and I’d recommend it as one the neccessary biographies to read, especially for black men and women.