Book Review - Becoming by Michelle Obama
"For me, becoming isn't about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn't end."
This book has something for everyone, more so, for every woman. The struggles of putting oneself through good education, the biases and stereotyping that literally every woman faces at some point in her life and the struggle of breaking out of a man's shadow and stand on her own.
Becoming, by Michelle Obama is an eloquent portrayal of her own life from humble beginnings to becoming the first lady of USA. The book covers largely 3 important phases of her life. The 1st phase is of her modest childhood, where she talks about her upbringing, her working class parents who struggle to provide for her and her brother and their family values. It is these memories and experiences that lay the foundation to her thoughts, future and life.
In the 2nd phase she describes her courtship with Barrack and the book breezes through some balmy chapters. However, she beautifully manages to intertwine their professional challenges, social struggles and contrasting personalities into these chapters. Some of the chapters, especially when she talks about her stint at Princeton and Harvard are truly inspiring.
As the book moves towards the last phase, she writes about the grueling campaign, the presidency and the exhilarating reelection. There is a rather realistic feel to this part of the book and is probably the highlight of the entire book. She talks about the mammoth criticism they face and how they brave through it all. While both of them have broken several racial and cultural barriers in this process, Michelle shouldered the additional burden of breaking gender barriers, despite being in the spotlight. And while the critics might say it was rather simplistic, I believe it is at least a beginning.
She has also described motherhood and her some personal struggles which were very candid and made the book very relatable and non preachy. I did feel that a few chapters dragged on and slowed the pace of the book, however it still was a great read!
I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.
Happy Reading!
SSB
In the 2nd phase she describes her courtship with Barrack and the book breezes through some balmy chapters. However, she beautifully manages to intertwine their professional challenges, social struggles and contrasting personalities into these chapters. Some of the chapters, especially when she talks about her stint at Princeton and Harvard are truly inspiring.
As the book moves towards the last phase, she writes about the grueling campaign, the presidency and the exhilarating reelection. There is a rather realistic feel to this part of the book and is probably the highlight of the entire book. She talks about the mammoth criticism they face and how they brave through it all. While both of them have broken several racial and cultural barriers in this process, Michelle shouldered the additional burden of breaking gender barriers, despite being in the spotlight. And while the critics might say it was rather simplistic, I believe it is at least a beginning.
She has also described motherhood and her some personal struggles which were very candid and made the book very relatable and non preachy. I did feel that a few chapters dragged on and slowed the pace of the book, however it still was a great read!
I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.
Happy Reading!
SSB
Comments
Post a Comment