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Becoming
- Narrated by: Michelle Obama
- Length: 19 hrs and 3 mins
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Becoming
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
The number one best seller.
British Book Awards, Audiobook of the Year.
Winner of the Grammy's Best Spoken Word Album 2020.
Winner of the 2020 Audie Award for Autobiography/Memoir.
An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States.
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 United States 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.
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Critic reviews
"A genuine page-turner, full of intimacies and reflections." (Evening Standard)
"A rich, entertaining and candid memoir. And overall Obama's a fun person to sit alongside as she tells you the story of her life...it is as beautifully written as any piece of fiction." (i)
"Offers new insights into her upbringing on the south side of Chicago and the highs and lows of life with Barack Obama...a refreshing level of honesty about what politics really did to her. I have read Barack Obama's two books so far, and this is like inserting a missing piece of reality into the narrative of his dizzying journey." (Guardian)
What listeners say about Becoming
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs Sarah Mehrali
- 23-11-18
Absolutely blown away by this memoir!
Michelle Obama beautifully recalls her life, capturing her highs, lows, struggles and triumphs in the most eloquent way. A must read for everyone, but in particular, for people of colour who will completely identify with her observations and experiences navigating this world.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jess Dawson
- 05-03-19
Overhyped but a pleasant read
Her narration is beautiful but it's not particularly compelling to continue to read... I found it interesting in parts but overall I wouldn't read again.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Redelle
- 16-01-19
Insight into an impressive First Lady
Michelle Obama takes you through her life from her humble beginnings in Chicago’s Southside to living at The White House.
Each personal story is explained in detail and sometimes certain stories are recalled later in the book so you feel as if her memories are somehow yours.
Great insight into the personal thoughts and life of an admirable woman.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laura
- 28-11-18
Interesting, Inspiring and Uplifting
A story in full, that I'd previously only seen or heard bits of. In full, remarkable and inspiring. The best part was hearing Michelle Obama tell her story herself!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Karo Murat Kisa
- 18-03-19
Great intentions but manipulative tone
A very good person with good intentions. Very manipulative as a result of high intelligence.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mrs D Stothert
- 15-10-19
No PDF included
I just wish these audible books would include a PDF that I could download to look at the photos because I feel that by listening to them I am losing an important part of the book :(
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- kat998
- 22-05-20
Breathtaking
I have had Becoming in my wish list for months, swayed by the ratings, wondering if it would live up to them or indeed I wanted an audio book of 19hrs and whether to buy it in print.
Oh my, this has got to be one of the most inspiring books I have ever heard, so glad I downloaded the audio version.
Michelle Obama speaks from the heart, I felt I was living her story alongside her and could actually feel her emotions, from her piano recital as a child where my heart was in my mouth wondering if she would play.
To decisions she made to give up a successful law career - taking those unknown steps.
To becoming FLOTUS and the sacrifices it entailed for her whole family.
As a woman having been faced with the same range of choices much of it resonates (albeit with much less pressure and attention lol)
The personal criticism about her height, her clothes choices her bearing - she showed such grace and dignity in quelling her critics by her actions and never resorting to their level.
As a white female I cannot begin to imagine the additional struggles as a woman of colour but she increased my awareness my understanding and I was amazed at how her voice draws you in so far you actually get a sense of how the prejudice is played out across the pond and I felt myself getting angry and frustrated on her behalf. Not that I am in denial of prejudicial attitudes in my own country but hearing it spoken eloquently, passionately and with such dignity brings a great appreciation for what she was able to achieve under the glare of the spotlight.
A truly open and honest book about her view of politics, her own opinions, how she ‘normalised’ life in the White House.
Her view on the last election and I can only imagine how deflated they must have felt handing over to a misogynistic megalomaniac after the progress they had made.
I loved this book from start to finish, truly inspiring, I was disappointed when it finished.
I would love to hear more from the author about some of her projects, I have already downloaded her book about the White House garden.
Listen to it and let it take you on an inspiring journey.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carolyn's
- 05-06-22
So interesting
This was an exceptional well written and also spoken book . I had my own thoughts about Michelle and they were not particularly favourable but wow my opinions have changed drastically.
This is one of those books that is a must read/listen to .
It’s long but worth listening right to the end !! You get a real feel of life being in politics in America .
Thank you so much Michelle for opening my eyes .
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- laraharding
- 26-01-19
Felt inspired by her optimism
I loved this book and uncharacteristically , listened to the political bits too. It all made more sense seen through the eyes of a non-political woman. I want every girl and young woman to hear her message, which comes from the heart. Her voice conveys calm, caring intelligence.
Overall I feel enriched, educated and inspired by this autobiography and its author
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael Mather
- 26-01-19
A beautiful book
A worthy read. Providing a very interesting insight into the life of Michelle Obama and the life she lived. Regardless of your political or cultural views, this book is a must read to help understand the story of her experience in her own words.
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