Audiobook Review: Becoming by Michelle Obama
Becoming offers a deeply humanizing and enjoyable glimpse into the life of our former FLOTUS. I usually don’t follow politics more than necessary, so there was a lot I didn't know about Michelle Obama. But I suspect that even if I had closely followed her during her husband's presidency, I still would have learned a lot about her and her family.
I had assumed this memoir would have focused specifically on her time in the White House, but instead we were treated to a glimpse of who Michelle was before she became Michelle Obama. In fact, we learn that she doesn’t even really like politics! She describes what it was like growing up on the south side of Chicago, and her experience as one of few Black students at Princeton in the 1980s. We learn about her own career journey and how she struggled to pinpoint what kind of career would make her happy. I found Michelle relatable (she used to eat Chipotle in her car just like us commoners!), and I appreciated how down to earth she seems even after everything she experienced as First Lady.
While Michelle had simultaneously balanced a career and motherhood prior to Barack’s entry to politics, her maternal instinct throughout it all is what I found to be most interesting. The deep care she has not only for her own daughters but children and young adults in general was evident throughout this book. Of all the things she could have focused on during her time as First Lady, most of the initiatives she chose involved children. And as for Malia and Sasha, Michelle endeavored to give them as normal a childhood as possible, which is what I think any mom would do given the situation.
I think it’s a shame that some people probably wouldn’t pick up this book based on politics because I believe there’s something in here for everyone to enjoy. (Really, though. Did you know the First Family is invoiced for groceries and pays for overnight guests?) If you usually enjoy memoirs, this book shouldn’t be any different. In fact, I found the voice of this book to be similar enough to other memoirs that I wondered if it was written (or perhaps ghostwritten, as Barack hinted) in such a way that limited how Michelle would have said it in a conversation. Her warmth and vulnerability certainly shine through, but the voice, humor, and occasional sass as seen in her Netflix special were nowhere to be found in the book. And after watching the Netflix special, I have to wonder why. Occasionally, I felt like certain topics were glossed over, but I understand that she’s still a public figure and therefore the need for privacy. I would be interested in reading another book she may write in the future after more time spent away from the White House.
If you listen to Becoming on audiobook like I did (which I suggest you do as it is read by the author!), don't be intimidated by the 19 hours or so it takes to read the book at regular speed. I was able to listen at 1.75 speed and honestly probably could have gone quicker. I know that audiobooks are usually read at a slower pace, but I’ve never been able to go as fast as 1.75. Michelle announces the beginning of each chapter and also the three sections of the book (Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More) so it’s easy to tell when she’s shifting gears.