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Becoming
- Narrated by: Michelle Obama
- Length: 19 hrs and 3 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Women
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Publisher's Summary
Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Becoming by Michelle Obama.
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.
Critic Reviews
"A polished pearl of a memoir." (New York Times)
"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)
"I found myself lifting my jaw from my chest at the end of every other chapter...this was not the Obama I thought I knew. She was more." (Independent)
More from the same
What listeners say about Becoming
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 22-07-19
It's one of the best book I have came across
it's an exceptionally beautiful book kept me hooked untill the last paragraph last line, word.
9 people found this helpful
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- chaks
- 25-07-19
An Inspiration
An exceptionally inspirational book. Very well narrated. The spirit of the book will surely encourage all generations, not necessarily in the USA , but all over the world, wherever there are prejudices of any kind. Thank you Michelle
6 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 30-12-18
Felt upclose and personal with Michelle Obama.
first audio book. Happy to choose this one it made my experience of audio book worth listening. I enjoyed each and every chapter of this book.
20 people found this helpful
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- kushal chheda
- 09-09-19
A heartfelt must read!
It's amazing how this book allows one to feel so connected to the journey that Michael and Barack Obama undertook. It makes me think of them more as...human. The way Michael ma'am has managed to pour her heart out in this book is exceptional. A BIG thanks to her, for writing this Jewel of a book!
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-12-19
One of the best autobiographies!
Loved the writing and in awe of Michelle Obama- the strong independent woman, the mother of two, the responsible daughter and doting wife!
3 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 19-06-19
Thoroughly enjoyed
Loved the book. Brilliant narrative by Michelle Obama and very honest and candid way of portraying the life of a person with color. Full of hope and resilience.
3 people found this helpful
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- jyoti
- 06-12-19
a must read
it was a beautiful journey, i felt like i am living the story myself along with Michelle Obama
2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 28-11-18
down to earth narration
title says it all....listened to it nonstop in 2 days... worth knowing michelle obama in all her roles
6 people found this helpful
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- Akash Rochlani
- 26-11-19
Own your story
Wow what a book ! So well narrated by Michelle herself. This book shows that how tough people just keep doing more and more in the right direction no matter where they come from. A definate note about optimism and to hope for magic like children because it will happen and we will make it happen. What a deep dive into the personal lives of the couple. This book is definitely meant to inspire ♥️
loved each and every part of the book. Thanks for publishing this.
1 person found this helpful
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- Ashish
- 23-11-19
favorite of all time.
Best to know how much struggle a ordinary women like Michelle Obama do to achieve goals with her husband.go for it
1 person found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 14-11-18
Excellent
Loved it. Perfectly titled. i felt like Michelle was speaking directly to me, telling her story.
18 people found this helpful
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- Asania
- 02-01-19
Loved the power of authenticity
I am recommending this book to my friends, family and young women in my life. As a Black, female South African who grew up working class, there were so many things I could relate to in Michelle’s story. This helped me process my own thoughts and feelings about my personal journey.
Thank you Michelle for your authenticity and openness.
11 people found this helpful
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- Athena Akwenye
- 10-01-19
Awesome!
It Was even better than I expected. So many topics woven together beautifully. Great Book!
4 people found this helpful
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- Onyeka Okonkwo
- 24-11-18
Solid Autobiography
The narration is excellent.
The stories are reflective and straight to the point.
Overall, it’s a great work as expected.
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 19-11-18
my absolute favorite book.
Loved it 100 times over. I have listened to this book in it's entirety so many times I have lost count. it is my greatest dream to meet you one day Michelle Obama I'm so proud of you and your family. Nothing is impossible.
One love from Jamaica.
13 people found this helpful
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- Sims T
- 10-01-19
Love love love!
I laughed. I cried. It was so well done. She is such an inspiration and this was the perfect way to kick off the new year. I feel motivated and moved to become an even better person.
3 people found this helpful
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- J E Law
- 29-12-18
Inspiring and compelling story
Loved this, and now not sure what to do without Michelle talking to me! Such a great listen and so inspirational. Revealing Insights into the White House years and also simply a love story. Highly recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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- Jennifer Doherty
- 02-05-19
Touching, honest and inspiring!
I loved this autobiography! Michelle Obama is so honest and candid in her description of life as a First Lady and the journey supporting her husband to get into office. It’s at times laugh out loud funny and at others brought me to tears but throughout this book is inspiring and hopeful! Great read!
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 05-04-19
very personal and inviting.
The ease with which she opened doors leading into her life made me feel quite familiar with her.
2 people found this helpful
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- Sheila Sutra
- 01-04-19
The woman that is Michelle Obama
What is so inspiring about her story is that it starts of so similar almost like we were living the same life as children. Her journey was unique but still so are all our journeys, we just need to be reminded to always be authentic.
The Obama’s grace and struggles it have paved the way for many others. This book give a good insight of the profess and emotions that went on during that journey to and and while in the White House
This book has also thought me about what kind of parent I would like to be for my children. An insight of great parenting not just by the Obamas but also by the Robinsons.
Read this book.
2 people found this helpful
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- Marie
- 19-06-19
Very Disappointed
I was really looking forward to this book, as I didn't know much about the Obama story before they entered The White House and I always enjoy a book more when the narrator is telling their own story. However, this audio book did not even come close to my expectations, it was extremely boring and the narration was very slow and monotonous....zzzzzz
I have been listening to this book now for over a week and I only have one hour left, but I just cannot bring myself to listen to it a minute longer. I kept thinking the next chapter would get interesting - nope, it just droned on and on and on! I normally listen to books whilst driving to pass the time, this is the first book that made my journeys feel longer!
I have listened to 18 hours of Michelle Obama talking and most of it was just drivel - I would not recommend this book, unless you have insomnia then it could be a great sleep aid.
52 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 28-01-20
Poor
it was a struggle for the start. Only managed 15 minutes even my wife didn't enjoy it
31 people found this helpful
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- De-Ann
- 03-12-18
Beautiful!
Michelle takes us on a walk through her intimate moments of her life. I especially loved the openness with which she talks of her connection with her African roots. An honest and open story that I feel so accurately reflects the warm, human, beautiful couple we saw on our screens.
43 people found this helpful
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- Tink21B
- 22-11-18
Heartfelt and engaging
I was thoroughly impressed with this heartfelt and moving biography.
The book is divided into three sections: ‘Becoming Me’ describes growing up in a tight-knit working class family on Chicago’s Southside; ‘Becoming Us’ looks at her relationship with Barak Obama, from their meeting as young lawyers, their marriage and family and takes us through his political career up to the point he was elected president in 2008; ‘Becoming More’ then describes her experiences at the White House during his two terms in office.
I thought that the construction of the book was brilliant! Yes she is the wife of a former president, however this is HER book, HER story and she gives equal weight to each part, subtly showing that without the foundation her parents gave her she might not have met her husband or been the woman who would choose to marry him, and without that decision she wouldn’t have lived in the White House. Her point is made overtly and covertly, she could have been any one of a number of girls growing up in America and they could have been her.
She freely admits she doesn’t really care for politics, though she grew up in a Democrat household, so she tells events without the political colour that can easily weigh down biographies like these. Instead she often colours her descriptions of events with the little details that resonate more with the average person.
Her affection for those she loves, particularly her husband and family resonates throughout the book. She is unflinching in giving her opinion on Barak Obama’s weaknesses (timekeeping) but is a fierce proponent of what she views as his strengths. She is equally unflinching with her assessment of many others particularly Donald Trump and the Republican Party, though she is also critical of Hillary Clinton in the 2008 campaign. She speaks affectionately of George W. and Laura Bush (and notably says nothing about Meliana Trump) and humanises many individuals who seem more history than human (Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela).
One of the most powerful things that she does it to put her life and the events in it into a wider context. She is the great-granddaughter of a slave, she grew up during the decline of the Southside of Chicago and the so-called ‘white flight’ and was deeply aware of the affect it had on the community. And she reminds readers of the country and economy that her husband inherited and the very different one that he left.
All in all I thought this was a wonderfully warm and often witty book and possibly the best post-administration promotion of Barak Obama’s legacy. I’m delighted that I bought the audiobook as Michelle Obama’s narration was brilliant. She tells her story in her own words and her own voice and adds nuance that I thing would have been missing if I’d only read the written book (though I might buy that for the pictures!)
73 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 03-12-18
Fantastic, even if you're not an American
Couldn't stop listening. I was worried I wouldn't like it as I am not American and not all that interested in the nuances of US politics. But I loved it! So much more than just a political disquisition.
52 people found this helpful
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- Amy Featherstone
- 03-12-18
Such a human story
Being from the UK I didn’t know a lot about the obamas but what I know now is that they are just like you and me. I loved hearing about Michelle’s upbringing, her successes before and during her life as First Lady and the snippets of interesting facts about life in the Whitehouse.
65 people found this helpful
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- Fersh
- 03-12-18
Audio better than print
Unusually, I’m certain that the audiobook is better than the hard copy would be. Maybe this is because Michelle Obama read her own life story. She writes with the same honesty and grace she demonstrated as FLOTUS. Inspiring a plethora of emotions, her story allows us to understand the source of her drive and achievements. One thing surprised me: her recurring question of “Am I good enough?” The answer is evident: she most definitely is! A must listen autobiography.
135 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 28-03-19
So excited to read this book. boy was I wrong
I couldn't wait to start listening to this I thought wow this will be good, sample sounds good. Its rated so high bluh bluh. Listened to all of 6 chapters and returned. How boring! As if she could remember what colours she didnt know when she was in Nursery what bs is that.
7 people found this helpful
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- JJ
- 15-11-18
Fascinating and compelling
An open and, I truly believe, honest account of Michelle‘s journey from her first day at school to her departure from the White House and everything in between. Her message is clear and transparent and she holds nothing back as she shares her most private thoughts, beliefs and real life experiences. Through her book, Michelle demonstrates her humanity, her normalcy and her love for people, young and old and of every race, colour and creed. Especially powerful is hearing her passion and emotions first hand as she personally narrates the text. She made me laugh and cry in equal measure and after feeling I really know so much about her now, she is officially my hero! I highly recommend this book!!!!
119 people found this helpful
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- Mich
- 20-11-18
Epitome of grace, humility, courage, honesty and hope
This was a beautifully written / read book. I waited with anticipation when I preordered the audio was not disappointed. This was truly inspiring. As I listened, I experienced a tsunami of varying emotions...joy, laughter, pride, annoyance, hurt, I even cried at times but overall hope, love and appreciation. I was left motivated to keep going and helping others to grow too. I re played certain parts to internalise a message or ponder upon it. In some aspect, surprisingly I felt scales falling off my eyes. I am moved to not only continue to build on my own confidence, vision of my future and helping others, but also to re-examine my past...my history of MY forefathers. I am left recapping my own herstory and the reality of my path today. I felt re-energised.
I have bought the hard copy book too. I have recommended this book to all my friends and especially my daughter, sister, nieces and daughters of my friends. I would recommend the audiobook as Mrs Obama draws you in and captures you with her voice and intonations and takes you on a journey, some of which resembled my own journey and thought processes. I truly felt like I was there living each experience. It was wonderfully presented and I do not believe anyone else could have presented this book other than her.
Thank you, for allowing me into a snippet, yet important, personal and brutally honest journey of your life and your family. I continue to admire your family and having nothing but the utmost respect, love and prayers for you all. God bless, guide and protect you all always.
Your namesake,
Michelle
68 people found this helpful
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- Tony
- 12-01-19
Just brilliant
As a middle aged white guy growing up in wonderful circumstances (not in the US), Michelle Obama’s story is incredibly inspiring. I think girls, Americans, people from minorities might find it even more so.
I loved her voice and am grateful she took the time to do the audiobook herself. Everyone should listen.
30 people found this helpful
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- Jo
- 24-02-19
Sadly disappointed
This was a very long book and could have been more enjoyable had it been edited by A LOT
I finished it out of respect and I was genuinely interested and admire Michelle and her husband
9 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 19-11-18
As you’d expect
It’s beautifully written and read. There’s nothing startlingly new in the revelations but it’s her story and told in a cohesive way. It’s graceful and honorable. It’s as dignified as the author. I’m pleased I bought this book especially as a non-American white woman as the author’s words and message are unifying. I’d particularly recommend this book for women, and for young teenage women.
40 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 02-06-20
A book of the heart, for the mind and the soul
This is a book for 2020. I listened to it during the Covid19 pandemic and finished it during the time of the George F protests...D. Trump's most unbecoming hours. I came to better know and desire to emulate the Obamas in my 8-kid family. Michelle is a born storyteller. Her voice as she reads calming, truth telling. I don't read political or autobiographical texts but Michelle shows you around the political context, she connects her story with your family, with kids, with my own sense of growth, discovery and inner struggle. I am in awe. So pleased I decided to read it. I couldn't put it down. The issues covered are all the key ones for a woman, any child of mine, for those of us coming from a history of struggle and painful social minority, traumatic experiences. Thank you Michelle for the passion, the hard work and inspiration, the powerful message to keep striving
5 people found this helpful
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- Linda M
- 11-01-19
Very thought provoking
I really enjoyed this talking book. It was written in an easy to listen to way. My husband and I would listen before our evening meal and try to appreciate the behind the scene workings of the Whitehouse. I wish Michelle and her family all the best for the future.
17 people found this helpful
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- Resul
- 10-10-19
So looong!
I really struggled to continue to listen. There's too much unnecessary detail in my opinion.
4 people found this helpful
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- Julia Buckingham
- 13-09-19
Uninspiring
I expected more from the USA's first Black American First Lady. Her path to the White House was easy and somewhat boring. She didn't have to strive hard for anything in her life. She was blessed with a middle class upbringing,stable family and an amazing husband whose complexities contrasted with her blandness. The story covered all bases you would expect from an autobiography, the lengthy telling from her childhood to adulthood but left me wanting some sort of emotional response, or connection with Michelle Obama. Her story is cerebral. It didn't have heart.
4 people found this helpful
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- jan
- 06-09-19
Boring
Very edited, safe book. Boring. Didn’t finish it. Repetitive, yes she had a tough life and worked hard to achieve great success but how many times does she have to repeat that?
4 people found this helpful
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- Jenica
- 11-01-19
Thank you Michelle for sharing your incredible story.
Wonderful book! Michelle tells her story in a raw and real way. Enjoyed it thoroughly and had to rewind some parts so I could write down quotes of her wisdom! Her journey hasn’t been easy but she reflects in such a wonderfully detailed and measured way on all the ups, downs or challenges.
One of my favourite quotes...
“Becoming requires equal parts of patience and rigour. Becoming is never giving up on the idea that there’s more growing to be done.”
Highly recommend!
8 people found this helpful
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- Sharon
- 16-12-18
Honest, insightful and real, a must read for every woman
This is a true look inside Michelle’s life, she is open and unapologetic. This is the book that all woman should be reading. The narration by the author herself made is even more compelling. Having finished, I want to listen all over again. Thank you for sharing your story
15 people found this helpful