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akvolcano's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I remember being in late elementary/middle school and hearing about Barack Obama. Growing up, I have slowly gain more knowledge about his family and his work. I have much more to learn! Michelle Obama has written this book beautifully. I could completely see her perspective and get a fuller understanding of the effect of the presidential term. And seeing their family’s experience as a family, not as the presidential family, was a refreshing new perspective. I also have never heard much about her, besides that she was the reason nutrition changed so abruptly in my cafeterias. I really enjoyed learning more about her. Definitely would recommend this book! She is a truly amazing person and so is her family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
missrosymaplemoth's review
4.5
I switched to the audiobook on page 262. I was having a weird week and could not bring myself to read the rest with my eyes so I read with my ears. :) I just listened to my first audiobook in several years as well so I thought of this option.
I loved this book and I’m glad to have read it. The writing style was pleasant, although the pace was often slow which I think contributed to my inability to continue in print. That is my only “complaint.”
I enjoyed learning about some events from Michelle Obama’s perspective, about her childhood and the circumstances in which she grew up. It was nice to hear her narrate the audiobook, as I thought it brought an personal touch and elevated the listening experience.
I enjoyed learning about some events from Michelle Obama’s perspective, about her childhood and the circumstances in which she grew up. It was nice to hear her narrate the audiobook, as I thought it brought an personal touch and elevated the listening experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death and Racism
Minor: Police brutality
bashsbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
This is an exquisitely written and narrated memoir. I do think it's funny that she doesn't think of herself as a politician when she's the most politically active First Lady I've seen in my lifetime, and I find her brand of respectability politics not relatable, but I understand where both of these things are coming from. Also, I deeply respect that she didn't want her husband to become a politician for personal reasons, I would also not be pleased if my partner wanted to do that. Overall, I found her very down-to-Earth and her story extremely interesting. Would recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Chronic illness, Racism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Mass/school shootings, War, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Gun violence, Islamophobia, and Miscarriage
imnotadorableimpunk's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Classism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Racism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Sexism, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Bullying, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infertility, and Misogyny
puckeverlasting's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This was phenomenal. I laughed and cried, and was completely immersed in this journey. Her writing style and voice are wonderful. She gave just the right amount of information throughout, delving deeply without the details becoming mundane. This book was thought provoking and beautiful, by far the best I've read this year.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Racism, and Gun violence
Gorgeous all around. A phenomenal readnebraskanwriter's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
“I’m an ordinary person who found herself on an extraordinary journey.”
Though I am not super into politics, I found this memoir interesting, heartbreaking and enlightening. Michelle tackles the monumentous task of encompassing her entire life as well as her husband’s presidency into this book. She begins by talking about growing up in Chicago, going to law school, becoming an attorney, how her and Barack met.
She talks about how her and Barack were always passionate about helping others and making things better for people. Which then over time led Barack to go into politics which then eventually catapulted him into the role of becoming President of the United States.
Throughout it all, from moving into the White House to traveling over to England to meet the Queen, Michelle’s focus was always on her children and making sure they could live the best life possible.
I feel like that is my biggest take away from this book. No matter what party you align yourself with, at the end of the day, Michelle was a mother and a wife. She and her husband did what they thought was best for America for their girls’ future. Whether that was successful or not is of your opinion but the love Michelle feels toward her husband and her children was evident and beautifully written. Trying to grapple with any little bit of sense of normalcy with the secret service never letting you leave their sight, aids leaving a thick binder every night for you to review and be briefed on the next day, going to funerals of gun violence victims. The weight of what any world leader goes through is immense, at times soul crushing like with the Sandy Hook shooting. But then there were also moments of happiness and success.
Being president and a president’s wife is not a glamorous job. Everyone projects their problems onto you. These people believed so passionately in making a difference in the world that they gave up 8 years of normalcy, of privacy, of having a simple life, to make America a better place. Or at least they tried to. And I find that admirable.
Though I am not super into politics, I found this memoir interesting, heartbreaking and enlightening. Michelle tackles the monumentous task of encompassing her entire life as well as her husband’s presidency into this book. She begins by talking about growing up in Chicago, going to law school, becoming an attorney, how her and Barack met.
She talks about how her and Barack were always passionate about helping others and making things better for people. Which then over time led Barack to go into politics which then eventually catapulted him into the role of becoming President of the United States.
Throughout it all, from moving into the White House to traveling over to England to meet the Queen, Michelle’s focus was always on her children and making sure they could live the best life possible.
I feel like that is my biggest take away from this book. No matter what party you align yourself with, at the end of the day, Michelle was a mother and a wife. She and her husband did what they thought was best for America for their girls’ future. Whether that was successful or not is of your opinion but the love Michelle feels toward her husband and her children was evident and beautifully written. Trying to grapple with any little bit of sense of normalcy with the secret service never letting you leave their sight, aids leaving a thick binder every night for you to review and be briefed on the next day, going to funerals of gun violence victims. The weight of what any world leader goes through is immense, at times soul crushing like with the Sandy Hook shooting. But then there were also moments of happiness and success.
Being president and a president’s wife is not a glamorous job. Everyone projects their problems onto you. These people believed so passionately in making a difference in the world that they gave up 8 years of normalcy, of privacy, of having a simple life, to make America a better place. Or at least they tried to. And I find that admirable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Racism, War, Cursing, Misogyny, Violence, Abandonment, Bullying, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, and Panic attacks/disorders
sas_lk's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Some parts I liked more than others, but overall, Michelle Obama is a truly inspiring human. Especially for women, and of course people of colour.
I interestingly most enjoyed her discussions about motherhood even though I am not a mother myself.
I respect her a lot, and I am grateful she wrote this book.
I interestingly most enjoyed her discussions about motherhood even though I am not a mother myself.
I respect her a lot, and I am grateful she wrote this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Slavery, Gun violence, Child death, and Racism
eib_21's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Murder, Police brutality, and War
wholeottabooks's review
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
Am I Michelle’s friend now? I felt so close to Michelle and her family through every page. Even though I knew how most chapters ended, I was still rooting her on through every new obstacle. Michelle’s writing and careful choice of words is so powerful. She places emphasis on the importance of language and she truly lives by it. I loved every second of this book and am thrilled she wrote another one. Thank you, Michelle, for your honesty and for sharing your hope.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Mass/school shootings, and War