Michelle Obama's memoir, "Becoming," published on November 13, 2018, offers readers a deeply personal account of her life, tracing her journey from her childhood roots to her time as the First Lady of the United States. Described by the author as a profoundly personal experience, the book delves into how she discovered her voice, navigated her years in the White House, championed public health initiatives, and balanced her role as a mother. This memoir quickly
became a bestseller, setting a record for the highest-selling book published in the U.S. in 2018, with over two million copies sold just 15 days after its release. Published by Crown and made available in 24 languages, the book also contributed to literacy efforts, with one million copies donated to First Book, an American nonprofit dedicated to providing books to children.
Early Life and Education: Becoming Me
The first section of "Becoming," titled "Becoming Me," sets the stage for Michelle Obama's story by sketching a scene from her life after her tenure as First Lady. It then transports readers back to her early years, growing up on the South Side of Chicago. She lived in an upstairs apartment with her parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson, and shared a bedroom with her brother, Craig. This period of her life highlights her first piano lessons and how she learned to be an independent girl under the nurturing care of her parents. The narrative continues through her academic journey, detailing her experiences at Princeton University and Harvard Law School. While her time at Princeton and her early career at the law firm Sidley Austin are discussed at length, her experiences at Harvard Law School are mentioned more marginally.
It was at Sidley Austin that she met Barack Obama, marking a significant turning point in her personal life. This section provides a comprehensive look at the foundational experiences that shaped her character and aspirations, emphasizing the influence of her family and her educational pursuits.
Relationship, Career Shift, and Political Ascent: Becoming Us
The second section, "Becoming Us," chronicles the evolution of the Obamas' romantic relationship, their marriage, and the nascent stages of Barack Obama's political career in the Illinois State Senate. This part of the memoir also sheds light on Michelle Obama's career trajectory, noting her deliberate "swerve" from corporate law into the non-profit sector. During this time, she continued to work while raising her daughters and increasingly participated in political events, gradually becoming more involved in her husband's campaigns.
This section particularly emphasizes the delicate balance Michelle Obama maintained between her public role as the first African American First Lady of the United States, her responsibilities as a mother, and her marital commitments. The narrative culminates with the election night in 2008, a pivotal moment when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, signifying a profound shift in their lives and the beginning of a new chapter.
Life in the White House and Beyond: Becoming More
The final section, "Becoming More," guides readers through Barack Obama's presidency and Michelle Obama's dedicated focus on her initiatives, most notably the "Let's Move!" campaign. It also explores her role as the "head mom in chief" to her two daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama, alongside other aspects of the Obama family's life as the First Family. The epilogue of the book reflects on the Obamas' last day in the White House, which coincided with Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony, and Michelle Obama's personal reflections on optimism. In this concluding part, she also expresses her clear lack of desire to ever run for political office herself, offering a definitive statement on her future aspirations.
