BecomingBecoming
Score Modern
What it's about
Michelle Obama's memoir of her life, from growing up in a working-class family on Chicago's South Side, through Princeton, Harvard Law School and a corporate law career, to meeting a summer associate named Barack Obama. It follows their marriage, motherhood, his rise in politics, and her eight years as First Lady, including what it was like to be the first Black woman in that role under constant public scrutiny.
Why it's worth reading
It's warm, candid and funny, more about family, identity and finding your voice than about politics, and readers of all political views have embraced it. It's one of the best-selling memoirs ever published.
You'll love it if you liked
Educated: A Memoir
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
When Breath Becomes AirGood to know
It's 450 pages but reads quickly, and the audiobook is read by Michelle Obama herself.
By the numbers
- Readers97 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller92 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #14 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #37 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #69 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Michelle Obama
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Quick answers
Is Becoming worth reading?
Yes. It's warm, candid and funny, more about family, identity and finding your voice than about politics, and readers of all political views have embraced it. It ranks #69 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 87.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Becoming about?
Michelle Obama's memoir of her life, from growing up in a working-class family on Chicago's South Side, through Princeton, Harvard Law School and a corporate law career, to meeting a summer associate named Barack Obama. It follows their marriage, motherhood, his rise in politics, and her eight years as First Lady, including what it was like to be the first Black woman in that role under constant public scrutiny.
How long does it take to read Becoming?
About 11 hours (426 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Becoming?
If you liked it, try Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover, Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah or When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.