In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As first lady of the United States of America - the first African American to serve in that role - she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the US and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations - and whose story inspires us to do the same.

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Becoming

Michelle Obama (Author, Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)

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Product details

Listening Length	19 hours and 3 minutes
Author	Michelle Obama
Narrator	Michelle Obama
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	November 13, 2018
Publisher	Random House Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07B3JQZCL
Best Sellers Rank	#15 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #1 in Biographies of Women #2 in African-American & Black Biographies #2 in Biographies of Politicians

Customer reviews

5 star		89%
4 star		5%
3 star		1%
2 star		1%
1 star		4%

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Mountain-man

Disappointed

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2018

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Slow and boring and self boasting.

4,001 people found this helpful

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Anthony Edwards

Not worth the time if you actually want anything from the read

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2018

The last thing I wanted to read was a shallow minded patting on the back. I thought with the education, the time would be well spent. I was wrong.

3,804 people found this helpful

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The World’s First Lady

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2018

I believe I always loved Michelle Obama. Her grace and dignity always seemed to come as a gift from above. Her spirit is so incredibly deep and strong. The stories from her childhood, her brother, her neighborhood, her family, inform us in a brilliant voice about what it was like in the place and time she grew up.

Michelle Obama has the empathy and the depth of character so missing in her media portrayal. I always felt worried that we were suffocating her. But there is a Michelle Obama who is bigger than the words on a page. She knows our pains, and she understands our lives. And we know her in this book. In this most private book, we know her in a way we could not have otherwise. Interesting that nothing here surprises me, it only affirms what I felt like I know: Michelle Obama is a person like us. She worked and suffered and overcame.

Her storytelling skills are exquisite. It left me a little breathless to hear her voice, unfettered and real.

I love the photographs.

2,733 people found this helpful

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Savvy shopper

Don’t waste your money

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2018

Worst piece of crap ever

3,103 people found this helpful

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Deborah

A Birthday Gift

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2018

If you are an insomniac this book will definitely help that. A real snoozer.

2,763 people found this helpful

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Vicki L. Dorsey

Terrible book

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2018

Poorly written, silly comments in bad taste, this is not a good book for a lady to read

1,971 people found this helpful

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DivaSoul

An Amazing Book!! Buy it now.. #Oprahsbookclub

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2018

Michelle Obama is my voice, a voice that may never be heard with thoughts, feelings and experiences similar to mine yet they don’t matter until now. Thank you Mrs. Obama! For being the voice of this African American woman❤️ Everyone should buy this book!

1,894 people found this helpful

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Brenda Nelson

Great Read!!

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2018

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I read a lot of negative reviews, but I don’t understand why. I enjoyed reading her story from her perspective. Some parts made me sad; however, I’ll always view Michelle Obama as a role model.

1,619 people found this helpful

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Slipknot

Wonderful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2018

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I thought I couldn't love this family more, but after reading this beautiful, moving story, I know that I and millions of others were so right to have faith in these genuinely good people. I am glad that Michelle gets to have her Barack back again, but oh, how very much they are missed - especially in contrast to what came after...

148 people found this helpful

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LiamKincaid

The Case for the Defense - Part 1

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2019

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Michelle and her husband accomplished and overcame a lot, even before they became the First Family. I think Obama's 2008 candidacy had a lot of energy and purpose. However, after he was in office, a lot of that energy dissipated and he failed to sufficiently differentiate himself from policies left down by his predecessors in many areas. What is good about Michelle's book is most of it does not focus on each and every cranny of every year in the Presidency. Most of it is her earlier life and events. The big events in the Presidency occupy very little space. I give this book one star because of the ending. Michelle clearly is very devoted and defensive of her husband and his achievements.

As much as we may not like it or agree with it, political office holders normally pave the way for their successors (whether they intend to or not). Obama's choices paved the way for Trump to campaign and to win the Presidency, much like G W Bush's choices paved the way for Obama. Michelle is content to not interpret the results, but bash some of the electorate for not voting for a woman and for voting for someone she describes in insults. For a family that is normally revered for deep analysis of complicated issues, Michelle's writing style and choice of words on this was very disappointing and in my opinion, narrow-minded. Michelle comes across as believing America was best and meaningful when her husband was it's President. She has a hard time seeming to come to terms with the fact that people might make different choices or that she and her husband will have to leave behind the mantle of being responsible for the nation, in their respective areas.

It was a disappointing and short handed book in my mind. Fans of the Obama's will find much to enjoy, I am sure. But those who enjoy deep analysis of history, will be disappointed. I hope that Barrack's book will be more insightful and deeper (The Case for the Defense - Part 2).

117 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Becoming: an uplifting, memoir grounded in reality

Reviewed in Canada on November 21, 2018

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Unlike most autobiographies, Ms. Obama opens, her heart, her fears, her worries, but mostly her hopes for her family, country and world.
While most political memoirs detail behind-the-scene, make-or-break deals, this book details the impact smaller actions can have on the local level. A very useful and timely reminder for those overwhelmed by the daily scourge of bad news.

179 people found this helpful

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A. Ch Lanz

Ausdrucks- und Inhaltsstark . . . . trotzdem (oder gerade deshalb) super zu lesen

Reviewed in Germany on November 18, 2018

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Michelle Obama authentisch wie eh und je ! Obwohl im Buch naturgemäß ihre optische / mimische Präsenz fehlt, schafft sie es durch Ausdruck, Inhalt, Tiefe und dem ihr eigenen gehörigen Schuß Humor und Selbstironie auf jeder Seite des Buches total präsent zu sein. Kein blablabla, kein "ach-bin-ich-wichtig" - pure Ehrlichkeit, Intelligenz und Reflektion ihres bisherigen Werdeganges . . . . . allerdings durchaus gepaart mit Reflektion der amerikanischen (und oft globalen) Wirklichkeit. Das Buch hat mir nicht nur beim Lesen wissenswerte Einblicke und viel Freude bereitet, vielmehr bin ich sicher, dass es auch mein zukünftiges Leben beeinflussen wird.

PS: Schlechte "Rezension" für reine Auslieferungsprobleme, die absolute nichts - aber auch gar nichts - mit dem Inhalt des betreffenden Buches zu tun haben sollten von Amazon vielleicht in einer Sonderrubrik gesammelt werden. Weder das Buch noch interessierte Rezension-Leser haben einen solchen Schwachsinn verdient. Wenn ein Buch durchnässt ankommt, sollte eventuell der betreffende Briefkasten / Ablageort negativ rezensiert werden, nicht aber das Buch ! ! !

153 people found this helpful

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Kitabi Keeda

It is a book that should be read by every generation to know that anything is possible.

Reviewed in India on December 11, 2018

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When you read a book, a good book, you get fully engrossed in the lives of the characters. It is like a short but powerful relationship that you have with them. When you pick up a memoir by Michelle Obama, there is a lot of expectation baggage at the beginning itself.

I am a fan of team Obama. I have seen all possible YouTube videos of them; speeches, campaign footage, interviews, dances, karaoke performances, dinners, street interactions; I follow them on social media and a couple of years back I read Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama which was quite insightful as well. Despite these impressions already formed, this book made me admire and respect them even more.

In her memoir, Michelle Obama talks about the experiences in her life that made her what she is. How she became.

While political experiences are obviously a part of her narration, she does not write about politics or advocate a side. Instead, she writes about values, people, reactions, thoughts. It is really a mesmerizing story about a remarkable woman. Her not-so-privileged childhood, her struggle to balance work and motherhood and her life as the First Lady. She writes about the achievements and failures in all aspects of her life. She talks about larger issues like discrimination as well as the supposedly little things like family and love which make a difference. Surprisingly, it is relatable.

The writing is eloquent, honest and simple. It feels intimate and warm. It is a story of a woman of character and strength.

Some might say that good PR will ensure that this is how she is projected. I say. Read the book for the writing, the inspiration that comes from it. It is a book that should be read by every generation to know that anything is possible. That you must own your story. That you matter.

146 people found this helpful

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A Discerning Buyer

An ordinary person who found herself on an extraordinary journey……..A book that strengthens you

Reviewed in India on January 2, 2019

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For me, as for many others, the Obamas embodied kindness, decency, and -above all – intelligence, in sharp contrast to the (cough, cough) circus that followed them in the White House.
I am neither American, nor of color, nor (God forbid) will I ever be involved in any political activities. Yet, like all my friends who have read “Becoming”, I am completely charmed by it, and by Michelle Obama. A lot has been said about the book and its appeal. You just cannot finish this book and just forget it; her story will probably stay with you for life. I would like to add my own little inputs below (in no particular order) as to why this book was one of the most wonderful books that I read this year (or any year), and why, like millions of people around the world, I find Michelle Obama’s story so powerful and uplifting.
“Your story is what you have…It is something to own”
A book can be beautifully written, but I don’t really care for it if it doesn’t touch my heart. And Becoming was a very, very emotional read. Here we have a lady who has lived in the White House for eight years, and who speaks with such pride and love about her working class parents, the cramped little apartment she spent her happy childhood in, in the poorer section of Chicago, about her relatives, all blue-collared, like her parents. This is who I am, she says, this my story. “I had nothing or I had everything. It depends on which way you want to tell it”. We can think of many women in her position who would perhaps underplay their background, hide some of the facts, but not a strong, direct, honest woman like her. It is this humility, the pride and the self-respect with which she shares her background with the rest of the world, which will touch you to the core.
“…they (my friends in South Chicago), like me, were descended from slaves”
Like Michelle points out, repeatedly, let us not forget for a minute her roots – that not too long ago, her forefathers were working as slaves in a country they were forcefully brought to, loaded like animals onto ships from Africa. “I was the great-great-granddaughter of a slave named Jim Robinson, who was probably buried in an unmarked grave somewhere on a South Carolina plantation”.
America might have got its first black President, but – a century and a half after the Civil War of 1865, and more than half a century after the Civil Rights Act of 1961 - racial discrimination is still alive and kicking in that country.
“I carried a history with me, and it wasn’t that of presidents of First Ladies…The struggles of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King were more familiar to me than that of Eleanor Roosevelt or Mamie Eisenhower”. Yes, I had to Google Rosa Parks, and Coretta King, and if the names are not familiar to you, I suggest you do so as well, to understand what a long journey the Obamas have undertaken, and what she refers to as the “push and pull” of history.
Her description of her Uncle Terry, who had once been a Pullman porter, is particularly poignant, and will go straight to your heart “Years after retirement, Terry still lived in a state of numbed formality – impeccably dressed, remotely servile, never asserting himself in any way…It was as if he’d surrendered a part of himself as a way of coping”. I didn’t know what a Pullman porter was, and I again had to Google it. What I read had me in tears. It was too late for Uncle Terry, but not for the next generation of African-Americans, and not for his brave, intelligent, hardworking niece and nephew.
The power of education, or “I will show you “
Michelle reached where she did through sheer hard work and intelligence, and an enormous desire to make something of herself in life. This is perhaps the only right way to “become” what you want to be. “Education had been the primary instrument of change in my own life, my lever upward in the world”. “Strive” is an important word in Ms. Obama’s dictionary – perhaps the most important.
Every schoolgirl (or boy) should be encouraged to read this book, because the lessons it impart are invaluable. It is also a book for parents to read, for the way in which Michelle and her brother were brought up by their parents is inspirational. Their parents treated them like adults, encouraged them to take their own decisions, and constantly reiterated that – “you belong. You matter. I think highly of you.”
A yin-and-yang duo
In Becoming, we gain a whole new perspective of Barack Obama; not the president, but the boyfriend, husband, father and son. We meet a man who is least interested in the rat race, or in any material trappings. What excites him, and what he is passionate about are books and ideas, especially ideas to make the world a better place - “Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?”. Unlike Michelle, he is “hardwired for optimism”, and while she is a detail person, a box-checker, Barack is quite at home with “the unruliness of the world”. It was clear early on their relationship that “We were built differently”. Yet their relationship thrived, and when Barack’s aspirations became clear, she supported him, not because she thought he would win (“Barack was a black man in America…. I really didn’t think he could win”), but because she loved him. The rest is, of course, history.
The end of Obama’s term, and the next occupant
When she walks out (almost with relief, it seems) of the “most famous address” in the world, she begins a fresh journey – all over again. And that, perhaps, is what awes you and touches you most about her – that she doesn’t let her years as the FLOTUS define her, or restrict her in any way. While being a loving, supportive wife and mother, she could never be JUST Mrs. Obama, the wife of arguably the most powerful man in the world. She was, and will always be, a person in her own right. A person who has strived all her life, and will continue to strive, to be the best she can be - constantly evolving, constantly reinventing herself.
The White House was definitely not the end of the road for her – “you are left in many ways to find yourself again”. As is her nature, she makes no bones about the current occupant of the White House, expressing her opinion in a direct, upfront manner. “..we were up against a bully, a man who among other things demeaned minorities and expressed contempt for POWs, challenging the dignity of our country with practically every utterance”.
Becoming
“Becoming” is about Michelle’s childhood, her Ivy league education, her career, her abiding love for her husband and children and her country, her years at the White house, but above all, it is about a woman who steadfastly holds on to her identity in spite of being married to the most powerful man in the world. She was never a “missus defined by her mister”,
“At 54, I am still in progress, and I hope that I always will be”.
It’s people like the Obamas who make America great. Not the bullies who are currently in power – they take America back to the dark ages. That, at least is my view; your views may be different – but hey, it’s a free world, isn’t it?
Please hit the like button if you liked my review. It feels so good to know that there are people who are reading my reviews, and who believe in a better and fairer world. Thank you.

141 people found this helpful

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Sentinel

Political & Personal Journey of Hope & Love.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2018

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As a number of my fellow reviewers have already outlined in considerable detail the contents of this engaging book, I'm simply going to summarise the main strengths for me. Primarily I thought this autobiography balanced the political and the personal aspects of Michelle's life in an honest & insightful way. The curve of the political is inevitably mirrored in her family life, and she is very good at exploring the effects upon her daughters as well as her husband, 'warts and all'. The voices and characters of her girls are allowed time to come through, as well as her impressive husband.
The photos chosen to illustrate her book reflect a similar balance of family and political life, and many of the informal shots have a real sense of love shining out at the reader, which I found very moving. My only gripe is the four (yes, really) pages of acknowledgements she makes, where she really seems to lose her ability to be selective. However, that's a tiny moan within a very impressive and moving testament. It does give you hope, especially in our increasingly blinkered & bigoted world.

51 people found this helpful

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lise

Wow, the book is a triumph!

Reviewed in Canada on November 15, 2018

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Absolutely loved each and every word. Michelle is so relatable and handled her time as First Lady with such grace. She is an inspiration for all women.

88 people found this helpful

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Ian Williams

Thoughtful, compassionate and honest.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2018

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I couldn't put it down. No, that's not true, but I did pick it up again as soon as I could. This is an eloquently written memoir by a woman who found herself in quite a unique situation and, as she done throughout her life, handled it with intelligence, grace, and compassion. Michelle Obama is a remarkable as all the other reviewers here recognise. Well, all but one who is clearly a Trump supporter among other vile things. I can't recommend this book too highly.

45 people found this helpful

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Dan Moorcroft

Not what is says on the tin

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2019

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This product does not work at all. Got it for my mum for Christmas. She has read 90% and still looks nothing like Michelle Obama. Waste of money

42 people found this helpful

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Tashi

A beautiful account

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 13, 2018

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This book is everything I hoped it would be. She tells her story so beautifully.

45 people found this helpful

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Kai

Absolutely phenomenal

Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2018

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A very down to earth story, which explains the growth of a woman so many of us look up to.

She doesn't shy away from the truth of her life, or the truth of her feelings.

Could not put the book down and found myself thinking about it even as I worked.

78 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Boring and annoying

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2020

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I read half of it and was fed up, got to the point where she claimed buying winter hats for her daughter was a challenge and gave up. Thousands of parents have much more serious problems and don't feel the need to write books about them. You may perhaps like this book if you like Michelle Obama herself, but to me it was just complaining of a wealthy woman that she's not wealthy enough.

27 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Superb

Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2018

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I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in politics and the formidable Obama family. They are models of dignity and dedication. An inspiration to all Americans. Thank you for your story.

69 people found this helpful

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Declan kidd

You don't get much info

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2019

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You don't learn much it like she looking back with rose tainted glasses

33 people found this helpful

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