BOOK REVIEW: Becoming by Michelle Obama

When I asked the book club group members to vote on which biography we wanted to kickstart 2019’s book club list with, it came as no surprise that  Becoming,* by former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, came up as number one.

Like many book worms, this book appeared (after dropping 204959502020 hints) under my Christmas tree, and I’m not ashamed to say I began reading it pretty much there and then on the 25th December.

Three days later I closed Becoming,* wiped away a tear from my eye and was ready to consume the book all over again; I’ve got a wait list for those that want to borrow it, as well as a plan to encourage both of my girls to read it when they are ready.

The Obama’s entered my life, like many others, during the first presidential election run in 2008. I’m born and bred in Birmingham, UK, but was drawn into the hope they shared and the community they built. Over the years, Michelle Obama’s passionate speeches and media savvy connections had drawn me into the day to day lives of both the Obamas. Since they stepped away from office in early 2017, she has been working on this book, now she has more freedom to share her story and her inspiring journey.

During her time as First Lady, and since, it is clear to see she has intelligence, strengths, determination, and agenda; but I knew very little about her life before the White House. I wanted to know how she has got to where she is now and balanced her life and many roles, including the Mum of two daughters.

She writes as she speaks, eloquently, passionately and unapologetically; what you get in this book is HER story, not backstage gossip or scandal (however, much you may have hoped for that). Yes, you get an insight into life in the White House, her thoughts on the current Administration and her hopes for the future. But you also get an image of what life was life for her before she became Michelle Obama, when she was Michelle Robinson, growing up during the racial tensions and class divisions of the South Side of Chicago.

What is she Becoming, you may ask?

Each section expands on the title:

Becoming Me
Becoming Us
Becoming More

It charts her life at school, her family, her college experience and her early career as Lawyer, her life before she met Barack and, as she quotes in the dedication page, he “promised” her “an interesting journey.”

We get insight into fertility issues, working and parenting, balancing her career aspirations and Barack’s developing political career, and how she found a space for her voice within the regular restrictions of the White House.

This book is a must read for everyone, but in true book club tradition, there are the five things I have learnt from Becoming by Michelle Obama.

1. You are never finished
The underpinning lesson of the book is that we are never finished. There is so much pressure out there to get the “finish line” in your life or career; you know, that moment when you have achieved EVERYTHING you think makes you successful. Becoming encourages us to enjoy the journey of each stage of your life and never stop reaching for YOUR version of success and accomplishment.

2. Don’t be swayed by others
From Michelle Obama’s background as a qualified lawyer, community worker, executive, and FLOTUS there is a lot scrutiny and speculation about what she could do next; talk of her running in the 2020 election is common in the news. However, she knows her mind; what works for her and doesn’t. This knowledge of self has been with her since childhood; her assertiveness is there from her early days as student.
The surprise is that Barack is an almost an accidental politician; it was never his plan, but he was influenced by others to pursue that path!

3. You can SWERVE
We read in detail her internal struggle with finding her purpose, and the process she went through to walk away from her corporate law role. That took courage, and planning, and a support network. I love the idea of swerve; that you can take what you are good at, and what you want to do, and move in another direction. Not stepping back, not changing, just taking a slightly different route whilst still moving forwards!

4. Confidence issues are everywhere
I was surprised to read about how imposter syndrome is an ongoing issue for Michelle Obama; like many, looking at her achievements, her confidence in presentation and her seeming ease in front of a camera, you would assume that this wouldn’t affect her. WRONG! Whilst this has driven her to achieve and succeed, it has is there, irrespective of what others consider a success.

5. Know your worth
For her first major career swerve, there was a significant drop in salary. Michelle knew her worth and was upfront and honest about what salary she needed and deserved; she helped the not for profit find the funds to secure her employment. As a working parent, she negotiated part-time hours; when she realised, she wanted to increase her hours to help her family and manage her stress levels, she got help to support her. This is the number one lessons I took from her life story; know your worth and ask for what you need!

As you can tell from my gushing, these five things are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the insight and the emotions that this book stirred in me. This will be one I will dip into over the years to come, and I’m sure as my life changes, my children age and I take career swerves, there will be new lessons to learn.

What do you think? What have you taken away from Becoming? If you want to join in the discussion, join The Balance Collective with Clara Wilcox and click on the “book review” topics. Join over 500 working parents, creating a career they enjoy, not endure.

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