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anmariefweeks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a Democrat and I voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012, but I was never his biggest fan. He had different priorities than I did, and I often felt that he was too much swayed by his approval ratings. So I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did.
In fact, up until they moved into the White House, I was truly surprised by how normal and accessible Mrs. Obama seems to be. Her story is fascinating, and other than knowing she was from the South Side of Chicago, I knew none of it.
I did have some eye roll moments once they reached the presidency because it seemed a little too.... I don’t know. It felt like she was trying to smooth over and re-explain some things that really were more problematic than she wants to admit. As a small example, there was the moment during the first campaign when she (famously and controversially) said she felt proud to be an American for the first time in her adult life - she tried to make it sound like her remark was unfairly taken out of context, when it would have felt more real to me if she had just admitted- ‘I was naive. I didn’t realize how it would sound. It was a dumb thing to say.’
But writing that out makes it sound more significant than it was. There were a few moments like that, but they were minor compared to the overall story of her origins and what she has accomplished. And if she had been more brutally honest, her detractors would have a field day with it, so I can’t really blame her for glossing things over. Great book.
In fact, up until they moved into the White House, I was truly surprised by how normal and accessible Mrs. Obama seems to be. Her story is fascinating, and other than knowing she was from the South Side of Chicago, I knew none of it.
I did have some eye roll moments once they reached the presidency because it seemed a little too.... I don’t know. It felt like she was trying to smooth over and re-explain some things that really were more problematic than she wants to admit. As a small example, there was the moment during the first campaign when she (famously and controversially) said she felt proud to be an American for the first time in her adult life - she tried to make it sound like her remark was unfairly taken out of context, when it would have felt more real to me if she had just admitted- ‘I was naive. I didn’t realize how it would sound. It was a dumb thing to say.’
But writing that out makes it sound more significant than it was. There were a few moments like that, but they were minor compared to the overall story of her origins and what she has accomplished. And if she had been more brutally honest, her detractors would have a field day with it, so I can’t really blame her for glossing things over. Great book.
bettielovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful insight of their lives, from when she was a child to when they left the White House, I love how she focused in family, hers and how to help the ones of the rest of America.
How even though she was very driven and really disliked politics he loved Barack more and knew he could make a difference and stand behind him and next to him all these years.
Another think i liked was how even if she mentioned some celebrities here and there, she mentioned once and again how her close group of friends from earlier in her life were her support system and how women need each other to grow.
How even though she was very driven and really disliked politics he loved Barack more and knew he could make a difference and stand behind him and next to him all these years.
Another think i liked was how even if she mentioned some celebrities here and there, she mentioned once and again how her close group of friends from earlier in her life were her support system and how women need each other to grow.
bookschaosnart's review against another edition
4.0
A great autobiography. I really enjoyed the notes from her pre-obama years and how she grew and changed but also stayed the same.
readingspells's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I started reading my copy of this book a couple of years ago but set it aside about a quarter of a way through and never went back to it. When I saw it on Borrow Box I knew the time was now and I was so right.
The audio is bloody brilliant. Her voice is so lovely and like a lot of memoirs the author reading it themselves adds a personal element you don't get when just reading it. You can hear her voice shift and change slightly as she covers more difficult and emotional topics. It just brings the whole thing alive.
I have always liked and respected the Obama's and this book only increased that feeling for me. She is smart and wise and funny and honest and real. She talks about being a daughter and a sibling and a Mother and a wife in such a relatable way but also about being herself, how she finds her own identity. Her love for Barak is absolutely evident too. I mean you only have to see them together to know it is real but this book gives powerful voice to that love and bond.
I found this book an oddly emotional read both as a woman but also from the viewpoint of the world we are in today and how far we have fallen from having people like the Obama's in political office. I found myself sad and bitterly angry at a world that has enabled misogynistic, racist, narcissists who are only interested in their own self serving greed into power both here and the USA.
The epilogue at the end even made me cry a little as she is so open and passionate in her words about making a difference and also how we 'become' that it is always a work in progress. The whole book is inspiring and absorbing and it is a easy five star from me.
“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.”
~ Michelle Obama
The audio is bloody brilliant. Her voice is so lovely and like a lot of memoirs the author reading it themselves adds a personal element you don't get when just reading it. You can hear her voice shift and change slightly as she covers more difficult and emotional topics. It just brings the whole thing alive.
I have always liked and respected the Obama's and this book only increased that feeling for me. She is smart and wise and funny and honest and real. She talks about being a daughter and a sibling and a Mother and a wife in such a relatable way but also about being herself, how she finds her own identity. Her love for Barak is absolutely evident too. I mean you only have to see them together to know it is real but this book gives powerful voice to that love and bond.
I found this book an oddly emotional read both as a woman but also from the viewpoint of the world we are in today and how far we have fallen from having people like the Obama's in political office. I found myself sad and bitterly angry at a world that has enabled misogynistic, racist, narcissists who are only interested in their own self serving greed into power both here and the USA.
The epilogue at the end even made me cry a little as she is so open and passionate in her words about making a difference and also how we 'become' that it is always a work in progress. The whole book is inspiring and absorbing and it is a easy five star from me.
“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.”
~ Michelle Obama
andotherworlds's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
please please please listen to the audiobook of this (no adjectives to describe how good of a book) please someone make a petition to get Michelle Obama to read every book. that is all. just read it.
please please please listen to the audiobook of this (no adjectives to describe how good of a book) please someone make a petition to get Michelle Obama to read every book. that is all. just read it.