Michelle Obama

In this brilliantly deliberate memoir, Obama reflects on the journey that is her life. She shares how an educationally-driven, middle-class, African-American girl from the south-side of Chicago could become First Lady of the United States. With the highest decency, she shares how she raised two girls while in the public eye and how she joined with her husband in carrying a difficult nation. Through her words, she courageously fights for the soul of a country, for decency and honor over show more pettiness and cynicism.

Obama contends that she never liked politics. She consistently turns her nose up at its ugliness and bitterness. She does not understand Republicans’ visceral recoil from her husband’s bold initiatives. At specific points, she hints at latent racism within the American soul. Yet she still admonishes readers to the value of education, learning, and working with the American system. Despite opposition, she clings to the reformist message. She is utterly reasonable even in the face of opposing hatred and strife.

Obama’s memoir hits all of the strengths of good reflective writing. Avoiding cliche, she digs deep into her own soul for her words. At times, she points the way forward; at other times, she lets others do the task for her. She does not over-intellectualize and treats her fellow travelers in life with foundational respect. In a balanced way, she seeks to understand more than to be understood, to listen to her neighbors rather than to pontificate. She exhibits the dignity of a black woman who has often been excluded and minimized from national discussions.

Although this book bears witness to the history of politics, it is relatively apolitical. Obama does not seek to settle disputes. Her most impactful assertion is that children need healthy diets – hardly a contentious issue. Instead, she tries to respect the worth of her journey and her integrity. Her feminine voice bespeaks strength without hiding behind a profession. She speaks to the house-mom who cares about the world around her.

I doubt a lot of conservatives will like this work or even read this work. In particular, readers should be aware that she speaks negatively about the rise of Donald Trump (though in a voice that reflects a firm parent more than a bitter rivalry). Conservatives’ visceral recoil is misplaced, though. Those who dislike Obama because of her political affiliation will miss out on a supreme and excellent character that reflects highly upon America, the black race, and the Obama family. Listening carefully to different viewpoints has always been a necessary part of democracy, and I hope that this practice continues to the next generation. Obama’s memoir is an appropriate place to begin such a journey. show less

This book was phenomenal. Here's the thing: I made it 90% through before I realized what she did with this book. She'll give you details about her and Barack's dates and engagement but then fill your brain with details about all the policies that are important to her. This is just another part of the advocacy she started as FLOTUS and in the exact same format that she *describes* in the book: keep it light, but make it real.

She also talks about being a working mother, being a list-driven, show more step-by-step sort of person in a chaotic sort of world, and is incredibly honest. As a person who has had a career for a while but has only had a child for two years, I felt like I was getting advice I could really use.

I straight-up love this book. It's great. show less

What do you get when you blend an autobiography of a notable person with a self-help book? Obama provides the answer in “The Light We Carry.” I conducted an experiment and read the first half of the book, then listened to Obama narrate the second half. Both platforms had advantages. I liked being able to physically highlight and easily take notes from the printed edition. But her skilled narration created a more engaging experience. I agree with some readers who note that people who have show more read numerous personal growth books won’t discover much untrodden ground in this tome. Still, I enjoyed Obama’s ability to link her life experiences to some well-established tactics for personal development. For example, her strategies for overcoming anxiety in public speaking will provide reinforcement to college students who enroll in my oral communication class. Another helpful insight was provided as Obama recounted her love of knitting. She explained that a simple physical activity can “detour” our brains from going down anxiety-filled paths as our hands "drive the car" for a period, giving some relief to our “churning brains.” Again, there are no revolutionary ideas here, but it’s an interesting, anecdote-filled book that underscores a number of useful techniques for navigating difficult situations. show less

I was glad to see Michelle Obama's autobiography published, because even though she is one of the best known people in the world, she is also surprisingly reticent about herself. This book opens up her world to us, from her childhood in Chicago through the years of Barack's presidency. I thought it was well-written and gave us insight into her experiences in school, the workplace and on the political trail. We learn a lot about her family and their relationships, especially because growing show more up in an extended family gave her such a feeling of belonging and being loved. She recounts the difficulties most women today experience balancing education, work and family responsibilities. I admired her before reading the book, and I have even more respect for her after learning more about her. show less