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Becoming

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Becoming

By: Michelle Obama
Narrated by: Michelle Obama
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About this listen

An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former first lady of the United States.

Number one New York Times best seller

Watch the Emmy-nominated Netflix original documentary

Oprah’s Book Club Pick

NAACP Image Award Winner

One of Essence’s 50 most impactful Black books of the past 50 years

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 US 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 mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners 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.

©2018 Michelle Obama (P)2018 Random House Audio
Celebrity Memoir Essentials Top 100 Essentials Women Inspiring Thought-Provoking First Lady Heartfelt Funny Witty Feel-Good Self Help
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Editorial review


By Yvonne Durant, Audible Editor

BECOMING WILL BE ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS

I remember seeing Michelle Obama for the first time in an Oprah magazine feature on a celebration honoring African American women. I knew her then as the wife of Senator Barack Obama and said to myself, "She’s so pretty." Of course, she was more than that. I happily and sometimes nervously followed the Obamas on their journey to the White House. When I got to hear her side of things years later, in her memoir Becoming, I loved every minute of listening to this great American story. She was so candid. I also could relate to her as I too was told by my parents that there was nothing I couldn’t do. This kinship made it easy for me to crawl into her story and make myself at home; that’s how she makes you feel, one of the family.

I sat in their living room and at the kitchen table when they’d talk about school, the neighborhood, and the family. Her father had MS but that didn’t stop him from going to work every day until he couldn’t. I laughed out loud when her brother, Craig, ran a fire drill centered on their father and how they would get him safely out of the house. Their parents followed his instructions and thankfully, that fire never happened. The family didn’t have much but they had everything they needed. Once, there was school trip to Europe and Michelle didn’t want to burden her parents, so she chose not to mention it. When they found out, they sat her down and explained that they were the parents and they would make the decisions—she went on the trip to Europe.

When she went to college at Princeton, it was clear Michelle was destined to do great things. The next stop was Harvard. Race reared its ugly head along the way when her white college roommate’s mother asked that her daughter be reassigned to another room. That was small stuff; Michelle stayed on course, and I found myself rooting for her all the way. Her honesty is brutal, like the time when her marriage hit a wall. She looked at it, made a plan, and that wall came tumbling down as they found a way to keep the marriage and family intact. One thing that stuck with me is that she would not sit and wait for her husband to come home. Oftentimes, he was late—the candles on the dinner table would start losing their flames, and Malia and Sasha were sleepy—but there would be no more waiting up. When it was time for dinner, they had dinner; when it was time to go to bed, they went to bed. She did not want them to think that life at home began when the man of the family walked in the door.

When Michelle Obama became first lady, I’m convinced every Black girl stood a little taller—including me, a grown woman. And maybe mothers looked at her and then at their daughters, and said, "See, there’s no such thing as 'can't'."

Continue reading Yvonne's review >

Editorial Review

The memoir we're Becoming eager to hear

Her dance moves. Her vegetable garden. Her advocacy for girls everywhere. Her humility despite being one of the best-known names in the world. There are so many things to love about Michelle Obama that even those who might disagree with her husband’s politics admit to being fans. So much anticipation surrounds this, her official memoir, and specifics about what it will ultimately contain are few, but we can safely bet on it to be inspiring. No matter which boxes you check on your ballot, it’s hard not to be in awe of what this remarkable woman achieved in her path from the South Side of Chicago to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and beyond. When she revealed the book cover, the author tweeted: “As I prepare to share Becoming this fall, I hope you’ll also think about your own story, and trust that it will help you become whoever you aspire to be.” Can you imagine what it’ll sound like in her own words, via her own strong, familiar voice? I, for one, can hardly wait. —Courtney R., Audible Editor

Featured Article: Voices of Audible—Women's History Month


It can be challenging for anyone to feel in charge these days—especially women, many of whom are leaving their jobs at record rates and reporting that they're struggling with self-esteem at work. That’s why this Women’s History Month, we asked a range of women at Audible, from a high school intern to a creative director, "When did you take charge?" Find their inspiring stories and listening recommendations that champion the strength of women everywhere.

What listeners say about Becoming

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Are You Who You Appear To Be

I am into a few chapters and I keep feeling I am discovering a precious gem. The story telling is like fiction but this is fact. Michelle's voice works so well in her reading. I feel comforted by her steady telling. It's an historical book. This is not dry and un-telling. It is rich. You will be a better person for reading this. Whether that's your intention or not.

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Beautifully written and narrated

Michelle Obama delivers a beautifully written, honest and well read narrative of her time in the white house. Her novel made me not only more aware of the trials of the first black presidency but also rendered me looking for opportunities to volunteer in some of the causes championed by her. ‘Becoming’ literally moved me to tears and taught me a lot about American history. Unveiled, honest and from the heart I would recommend it to anyone.

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62 people found this helpful

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A comforting voice of reason.

This is an engrossing story of perseverance and humility. It satisfied my curiosity and provided a coherence to the “optics” presented by Michelle Obama during her husband’s presidency. Her voice is a soothing, strengthening reminder of the milestones reached during the Obama administration. Her overall optimism, during this frightening political time in our government, renews the sense that we all have a great deal of work ahead of us as a nation. When the daily news gives me despair, I will return to this book again and again to simply hear her voice of courage.

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Nleon

This book really touched home. We had a similar childhood. I really loved this book. The added bonus was Michelle read it to me. I can’t wait to read, I mean listen to it again.

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A book for the ages

This isn’t just a regular “post White House” book. It’s much more than that, and told in a way that only Michelle can tell it. Gripping, stunning, and amazing. A must read!

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Greatest First Lady ever!!!

I am so glad I purchased this book and listened to Mrs. Obama narrate it herself. I couldn't stop listening to her wonderful life and the love she has for family and friends. She is a kind soul and I'm glad to be a part of those that listened to the book, it was definitely more fulfilling.

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"Becoming" an author...needs some classes, sorry.

It was a good book, just not what I was expecting. I was glad that I was listening to it because if reading it, "I would've put it down and not picked it up again." It was very interesting to hear what some of her EMOTIONS were behind some of the events that occurred while she was first lady and I respect the hell outta her for letting her husband handle the political things while she found initiatives that needed attention that didn't conflict with National or International affairs. She is a brilliant woman with her own ideas so to remain quiet for all of those years, playing the dutiful wife, mother and FLOTUS when I am sure that she was chomping at the bit sometimes, must have been tough. She is a class act and given the verbal vomit that is spewed from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue these days just cheapens the position of leader of the greatest country on earth. The repubs keep digging our grave and we put a Dem in there long enough to make some progress then the repubs are back to make the tape red again and spill some more of our boys' blood overseas. It is time for the foul-mouthed TV star to go back to strong-arming contractors and leave the strategic, sensitive and POLITE negotiations to the grown-ups who know how to play nice.

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Authentic. Transparent. Relatable. Eye Opener

I loved EVERYTHING about this book. I would recommend to ANYONE. It made me emotional all over again about the Inauguration of our first black family in the white house.

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A powerful insiders view!

Absolutely LOVED this book! It's an insider's view of history and its affects on a wife and mother. A must read!

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The book I didn’t know I needed

I spend a lot of time on the road so I decided to listen to my first ever audio book. This was one to remember. Becoming felt even more intimate narrated by Michelle Obama. There were moments that tugged at my heart, others that made me laugh out loud and some just left my mouth wide open. There are so many important life lessons in this book with my favorite being the “swerve”. I also had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Obama during her book tour in DC. You can feel her words. I was holding on to each word, sentence, paragraph and chapter wondering what she would next Become. I would highly recommend this book!

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