• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Heartspoken

Heartspoken words will never fail you

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • Media/Press Kit
    • About Elizabeth
    • Resources
  • Blog
    • Faith (Connect with God)
    • Connection (Connect with others)
    • Self-Knowledge (Connect with Self)
    • Nature (Connect with the natural world)
    • Note and Letter Writing
    • Books and Reading
    • Writer Resources
  • Services
    • Craft Your Perfect Note With Expert Help
    • Writing & Editing Services
    • My Portfolio
    • Testimonials
  • Reading room
    • Heartspoken book
    • Media/Press Kit
    • What I’m Reading
    • The Heartspoken Bookshop
  • Contact

Book Review: Becoming by Michelle Obama

By Elizabeth H. Cottrell

CLICK HERE to Download Post as PDF
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

Book review: Becoming by Michelle Obama

Becoming
by Michelle Obama

Reviewed by Elizabeth H. Cottrell
5 stars out of 5

This absorbing and compelling memoir not only told a remarkable story, but it also offered practical but inspiring examples of perseverance, resilience, courage, and vulnerability, all juxtaposed with human frailty and the challenges of dealing with those whose lives are so different from your own. It begins with an inside glimpse of Michelle Robinson’s childhood in a gritty part of southside Chicago. She was raised by parents who loved her—and her brother Craig—fiercely and who worked tirelessly and sacrificed their own dreams so their children could attend Ivy League schools. 

Michelle was smart, driven, and on an upward trajectory as an attorney when she met and fell in love with Barack Obama—an equally brilliant attorney with a clear-eyed vision for a better world. It was a vision she embraced and supported, though she was sometimes skeptical of their ability to make the vision become a reality.

Her story of their life during her husband’s meteoric political rise—and their life as a family in the White House bubble—was absolutely fascinating. Some will view the litany of their accomplishments as self-serving, but clearly, they worked hard to fulfill their respective roles with grace and dignity, all the while ferociously protecting the two daughters, Sasha and Malia, who were growing up in the strangest of circumstances.

This book is a testament to the value of combining dreams with hard work, success with disappointment or failure, and fighting hatred with love. Here are some of my favorite quotes: 

“Let’s invite one another in. Maybe then we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong assumptions, to let go of biases and stereotypes that unnecessarily divide us. Maybe we can embrace the ways we are the same…There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being able to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.”

Her story is such a moving reminder that we are all—each and every one of us—a work-in-progress. We are all becoming what we will be, and I look forward to seeing how the next chapter of Michelle Obama’s life unfolds. I copied these words from her into my reading journal:

“Becoming requires equal parts patience and rigor. Becoming is never giving up on the idea that there’s more growing to be done.” ~Michelle Obama

That, my friends, is a beautiful mantra that will serve us well in pursuit of the #HeartspokenLife.


Click the image to the left to view or order the book from Amazon. Amazon affiliate links are used in this post, which means at no extra cost to you, I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the links provided. Thanks for supporting this work!

If you’re interested in other Heartspoken Book Reviews, CLICK HERE.


 

Pin this:

Book review: Becoming by Michelle Obama for Pinterest

Author

  • Elizabeth H. Cottrell
    Elizabeth H. Cottrell

    Elizabeth H. Cottrell is a writer, speaker, and award-winning author whose #HeartspokenMovement and message strengthens the four essential connections of the Heartspoken Life: with God, with Self, with Others, and with Nature. She teaches readers how to turn note and letter writing into a superpower for authentic Connection. Learn more from her website and newsletters: https://heartspoken.com/newsletters

    View all posts

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email
CLICK HERE to Download Post as PDF

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Write for Heartspoken

Guest posting guidelines title graphic

Touch lives with ease, even if you don’t like to write…

Send Out Cards

My short email newsletters will enrich your Heartspoken Life’s essential connections:

CLICK HERE for options and sign-ups

My book should be on your writing shelf!

HEARTSPOKEN: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire
Hardbound • Softbound • Kindle
From Amazon • From my Heartspoken Bookshop (supports indie bookstores)

Elizabeth H. Cottrell, Founder of the #HeartspokenMovement

Elizabeth H. Cottrell, Author

I am a writer and blogger called to encourage readers to strengthen the bonds of faith, family, friends, and nature; to live a life of purpose; and to cultivate the joy and impact of personal, handwritten notes and letters.  Together we are creating a #HeartspokenMovement! More Info.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Connect with me!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Looking for something?

What do you want to explore?

I am a Virginia Blogger!

Virginia Bloggers logo

Heartspoken Outreach

Hands holding heart with page title

We love mail!

Heartspoken
P.O. Box 81
Maurertown, VA 22644  USA

Legal Pages

  • Heartspoken’s Privacy Policy
  • Heartspoken’s Affiliate Disclaimer

Footer

Looking for something?

  • Heartspoken’s Privacy Policy
  • Heartspoken’s Affiliate Disclaimer

© 2023 • RiverwoodWriter, LLC and Heartspoken • P.O. Box 81 • Maurertown, VA 22644 • 540-436-3969