Why it’s essential
The former first lady shares her life with great warmth and truth, tracing her inspirational journey from the South Side of Chicago to the White House.
Featured in The Audible Essentials Top 100.
What is Becoming about?
Michelle Obama grew up on the South Side of Chicago with her family—brother Craig and their parents. Marian and Fraser Robinson instilled strong values in their kids and taught them that only they could stop themselves from achieving their goals. Hers was to become an attorney; if not, she probably wouldn’t have met another one, Barack Obama, who was assigned as her mentee at a law firm. Together, they went on to make history. In Becoming, she takes us on that journey with warmth, humor, and truth.
Editor's review
Yvonne Durant loves writers’ biographies and memoirs because she loves writing, and she’s nosy. She’s also convinced mani-pedis were created for listening. Her memoir, Quite the Contrary, released on February 10, 2022.
I remember seeing Michelle Obama for the first time in an Oprah magazine feature on a celebration honoring African American women. I knew her then as the wife of Senator Barack Obama and said to myself, "She’s so pretty." Of course, she was more than that. I happily and sometimes nervously followed the Obamas on their journey to the White House. When I got to hear her side of things years later, in her memoir Becoming, I loved every minute of listening to this great American story. She was so candid. I also could relate to her as I too was told by my parents that there was nothing I couldn’t do. This kinship made it easy for me to crawl into her story and make myself at home; that’s how she makes you feel, one of the family.
I sat in their living room and at the kitchen table when they’d talk about school, the neighborhood, and the family. Her father had MS but that didn’t stop him from going to work every day until he couldn’t. I laughed out loud when her brother, Craig, ran a fire drill centered on their father and how they would get him safely out of the house. Their parents followed his instructions and thankfully, that fire never happened. The family didn’t have much but they had everything they needed. Once, there was school trip to Europe and Michelle didn’t want to burden her parents, so she chose not to mention it. When they found out, they sat her down and explained that they were the parents and they would make the decisions—she went on the trip to Europe.
When she went to college at Princeton, it was clear Michelle was destined to do great things. The next stop was Harvard. Race reared its ugly head along the way when her white college roommate’s mother asked that her daughter be reassigned to another room. That was small stuff; Michelle stayed on course, and I found myself rooting for her all the way. Her honesty is brutal, like the time when her marriage hit a wall. She looked at it, made a plan, and that wall came tumbling down as they found a way to keep the marriage and family intact. One thing that stuck with me is that she would not sit and wait for her husband to come home. Oftentimes, he was late—the candles on the dinner table would start losing their flames, and Malia and Sasha were sleepy—but there would be no more waiting up. When it was time for dinner, they had dinner; when it was time to go to bed, they went to bed. She did not want them to think that life at home began when the man of the family walked in the door.
When Michelle Obama became first lady, I’m convinced every Black girl stood a little taller—including me, a grown woman. And maybe mothers looked at her and then at their daughters, and said, "See, there’s no such thing as 'can't'."
Did you know?
Michelle was working at a law firm when she was assigned to be a mentor to a young lawyer, Barack Obama. He arrived late for their first meeting.
When her husband announced his bid for the presidency one bitter cold morning, Michelle made sure there was a heater under the podium to keep him warm.
During the White House years, the first lady would give her hair days off—free of heat, heat, combs, products, and other people’s hands. This way, there would be no bad hair days.
What listeners said
"From the South Side of Chicago to the WHITE HOUSE! Whew. Let that sink in. As a black woman, this book moved me differently than any other book I’ve read in recent memory. Letting me know it’s ok that I’m still “Becoming” and that I have the right to enter any space I want to! I loved Mrs. Obama before, but I was introduced to Michelle Robinson Obama and I love her even more. She read her own story like she was talking directly to me and I loved that. It was like sitting down at your Auntie’s house and she was telling you all the tea over a good glass of wine! I’m so thankful for her sharing her story and being so open and honest about it all. What a story!" —Audible listener
"I am into a few chapters and I keep feeling I am discovering a precious gem. The storytelling is like fiction but this is fact. Michelle's voice works so well in her reading. I feel comforted by her steady telling. It's an historical book. This is not dry and un-telling. It is rich. You will be a better person for reading this. Whether that's your intention or not." —H. Franke, Audible listener
"I love listening to Michelle Obama share in her own voice her story! I feel strongly that everyone regardless of race or gender should read this book. Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your authentic voice with the public!" —Marchdreamer, Audible listener
Quotes from Becoming by Michelle Obama
"Like a lot of girls, I became aware of the liabilities of my body early, long before I began to even look like a woman."
"If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others."
"So many of us go through life with our stories hidden, feeling ashamed or afraid when our whole truth doesn’t live up to some established ideal."
About the author and performer
Michelle Robinson Obama served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Mrs. Obama started her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She later worked in the Chicago mayor's office, at the University of Chicago, and at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mrs. Obama also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an organization that prepares young people for careers in public service. The Obamas currently live in Washington, DC, and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
