A review by kinzakhan
Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds by Huma Abedin

3.0

Glad I finished reading because I appreciated the second half way more than the first half. The first half on its own was very idealistic, as if the author saw the world through rose-colored glasses and wrote in the same way. It's hard to tell whether she was actually this naïve/privileged, or if she wanted to just portray her life that way. The second half felt way more real, sincere, and relatable. I appreciated the way she was unapologetic and when she explained both - what was going on outside and what was going on in her own head & heart simultaneously. Her commentary of the Clinton administration was so "perfect" that it was almost cringe at times and warranted eyerolls. This is not shocking given the nature of her work. The parts I appreciated most were her unapologetic display of her intersectional identity and how that played a role in her everyday life at the white house, especially after Trump's election. This book, like Michelle Obama's Becoming, did show the costs of being a public figure rather than just focusing on the "perks," so it would be helpful to read for a WOC or someone thinking of pursuing a similar career. I also wish the title showed up more in the book - the title got me excited to read it, but not once did she actually highlight or state the both/and perspective - it rarely went that deep, and I think it would have been much better if it had.