It has been a long time since I did my last book review here. Now I promise to myself again to be active and doing a post at least twice a month. (Come on Aina!!!)
Blurb
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerising storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
My Review
“If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.”
Michelle strives her way since small in school to high school, then Princeton and Harvard. Even her counsellor told her she is not a Princeton Material. She doesn’t allow what people define her, really define her, and proving them wrong.
“Failure is a feeling long before it becomes an actual result. It’s vulnerability that breeds with self-doubt and then is escalated, often deliberately, by fear.”
Reading this personal memoir making me realise even the First Lady grow up as a typical teenager, having a crush, love music, etc. She even has her struggle in marriage, pregnancy and raising her kids.
In Barrack’s tenure for eight years, she still can’t hide her dislike for politics. But her effort in ensuring the kids in America get their healthy meal and approaching teenage girls to empower them for me was very great.She even took the opportunity to encourage many companies to hire the ex-army and care a lot about their family.
One of the crucial things that amaze me that how she tried really hard to make sure her kids growing up feeling normal (even living in the White House is not normal).
As Michelle said, “Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.” Please go grab this book and it should inspire you to own your stories and to not allowing others define you.
P/S: Big thanks to my dear sister Ku Nurasyiqin for getting me this book during her trip to Hawaii.