• Michelle Obama

  • A Life
  • By: Peter Slevin
  • Narrated by: Robin Miles
  • Length: 15 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (669 ratings)

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Michelle Obama  By  cover art

Michelle Obama

By: Peter Slevin
Narrated by: Robin Miles
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Publisher's summary

An inspiring story of a modern American icon, here is the first comprehensive account of the life and times of Michelle Obama. With disciplined reporting and a storyteller's eye for revealing detail, Peter Slevin follows Michelle to the White House from her working-class childhood on Chicago's largely segregated South Side. He illuminates her tribulations at Princeton University and Harvard Law School during the racially charged 1980s and the dilemmas she faced in Chicago while building a high-powered career, raising a family, and helping a young community organizer named Barack Obama become president of the United States.

From the lessons she learned in Chicago to the messages she shares as one of the most recognizable women in the world, the story of this first lady is the story of America. Michelle Obama: A Life is a fresh and compelling view of a woman of unique achievement and purpose.

©2015 Peter Slevin (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Michelle Obama

Average customer ratings
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Inspiring life story

Having not known much about Michelle Obama, I never expected to be so inspired about her life story. I think Barack Obama is one lucky man! I think she should run for president in the future.

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31 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointingly written but she's still an impressive woman

I was excited to listen to a biography ofone of my heroes. Michelle Obama is an impressive person who coped well with some incredible pressures as First Lady. Disappointingly, I found this book to be, often, a stringing- together of info and quotes rather than a coherent story. The narration was a little melodramatic and there were errors in pronunciation that should have been picked up.

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28 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Detailed and absorbing

This book is part of my First Ladies reading project. I chose this book by Peter Slevin as it appeared to be a more true biography than some of the books about Michele Obama I looked at.

The first part of the book covers Michelle Obama’s early life including her family roots in slavery and segregation. Slevin cover the problems of growing up black in Chicago’s south side. The book goes into the working class upbringing and how each generation has brought the family another step up from poverty.

Slevin reveals details about Michele’s family upbringing and how her mother Mrs. Robinson created a warm and stable home environment for her high-achieving children.
Slevin goes into her time at Princeton and Harvard Law School and the underling racial tensions. Slevin went into depth about her Thesis from Princeton reciting portions of it. The author discusses her problem of not being accepted by the blacks as she is too educated and not accepted by the white’s because she is black. Slevin also covers her work history and her time at Chicago law firm Sidney Austin, the Chicago Mayor’s office, a not for profit agency and the University of Chicago and the University’s hospital. The remainder of the book covers the campaign and some as First Lady. Apparently Mrs. Obama said she is going to write her own memoirs as First Lady.

Slevin is a former Washington Post correspondent and now teaches journalism at Northwestern University. The book is well researched with complete access to the family. Slevin also interviewed family friends, colleagues and former classmates. The book is easy to read and provides a lot of information. Robin Miles narrated the book.

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24 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great book ... a must to hear or read.

Love it ...... didn't want to stop the story. Have to hear it all..great get job

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9 people found this helpful

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Inspirational! Outstanding Leadership! Provacative

This was an awesome and very inspirational book. Many times it's the woman behind the man the exemplifies strength and support. Mrs. O is a force to be reckoned with in her own right. In this writing you will here about her accomplishments and challenges to get to where she is in life and the constant nagging question in her heart, "Am I doing enough? Is there more than I can do? How can make this an opportunity to continue the legacy of servitude for myself and others?" Unprecedented leadership. This book is profound and puts a call to action in every fiber of my being. A must read.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

interesting - nice tribute

This is an interesting take on MO and a nice tribute to the many who helped shape her. a little too much on her husband late in the book.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Appreciative

I have appreciated First Lady Obama for as lonf as I have know of her. It was predominantly an emotional connection until now. Being only one year my junior, our stories are as much alike as they are different. While many may selfishly disregard the challenges of her place in leadership, I am full of gratitude. Thank you for telling the story from this perspective because every perspective has validity ti those who value them.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great insight to an inspiring woman

Really enjoyed discovering the strength of this great yet humane woman. Inspiring and thought provoking.

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not impressed with the writing.

Well with the wealth of a life story this writing didin't even scratch the Surface. Kind of sad actually.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Lots of details

Well researched with facts, interviews, and quotes spanning from the 1920s to 2014. While I appreciate the information it was a dense listen and my attention often drifted elsewhere.

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2 people found this helpful