This is not a famous person autobiography giving us the recipe how she did it. Not at all. This is the story of a gifted girl growing up in the South Side of Chicago who, against all odds, is accepted into an Ivy League school and becomes a lawyer. It is the story of an intelligent woman who has to make choices to do what is best for her family and her children, while also finding ways to grow herself. A woman who, despite all of her accomplishments, keeps asking herself ‘Am I good enough?’ Her story is well written and there are many inspirational lines. I will cite one section that I especially liked.

“Hamilton touched me because it reflected the kind of history I'd lived myself. It told a story about America that allowed the diversity in. I thought about this afterward: So many of us go through life with our stories hidden, feeling ashamed or afraid when our whole truth doesn't live up to some established ideal. We grow up with messages that tell us that there's only one way to be American - that if our skin is dark or our hips are wide, if we don't experience love in a particular way, if we speak another language or come from another country, then we don't belong. That is, until someone dares to start telling that story differently.” ( )

De memoires van een uitzonderlijk vrouw.
Openhartig vertel Michelle hoe haar leven eruit heeft gezien tot nu toe.
Ze begint met het vertrek uit het witte huis. Daarna begint het verhaal met haar jeugd en zo tot op het moment waar het boek mee begint. Een mooie cirkel dus.

Een absolute aanrader ( )

Very good. I did listen to the audio but then had to buy the book. ( )

I want to live next door to Michelle Obama and have tea or lunch with her once a week. What a story and what a life. Honest, detailed, generous. She own's her box-checking, detail-oriented ways from the start along with her lack of interest in politics. I love this self awareness along with her loyalty, love of family, and devotion to friends.

Following the strong and skillful writing of another memoir (the fifth in the genre by that writer), Obama's writing felt less smooth, a occasionally self conscious and precise. And it is a long read. But well worth the time. I began with a print copy and half way through switched to audio book. I kept going because of her intonation, her emphasis, her rhythm.

Without comparison to someone who makes a living as a writer, this is a five.

I wrote a few lines from the epilogue in my journal:
"There is 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 willing to know and hear others." ( )

4.5 stars! I love Michelle & the first half of the book was amazing!! The second half was slower for me as she seemed to highlight policy and things accomplished in the 8 years of the White House. The real stories of husband/ wife and family were less frequent. She is an eloquent writer and I loved the storytelling. ( )