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| Author | Michelle Obama |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre |
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| Published | November 13, 2018 (2018-11-13) |
| Publisher | Crown (North America) Viking Press (Commonwealth) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 448 |
| ISBN | 978-1-5247-6313-8 (Hardcover) |
| Preceded by | American Grown |
| Followed by | The Light We Carry |
| Website | becomingmichelleobama |
Becoming is thememoir by formerFirst Lady of the United StatesMichelle Obama, published on November 13, 2018.[1][2] Described by the author as a deeply personal experience,[3] the book talks about her roots and how she found her voice, as well as her time in theWhite House, her public health campaign, and her role as a mother.[4] The book is published byCrown and was released in 24 languages.[4] One million copies were donated toFirst Book, an American nonprofit organization which provides books to children.[4]
It was the highest-selling book published in the United States in 2018, setting the record 15 days after its publication, with over two million copies sold.[5]
The 448-page memoir was published on November 13, 2018.[6]Barack Obama said Michelle had aghostwriter.[7][8] TheObserver notes thatBecoming's acknowledgments section thanks a team of people involved in finishing the book.[9]
The book's 24 chapters (plus a preface and epilogue) are divided into three sections: Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More.
The preface sets the stage for Michelle Obama's story to open by sketching a scene in her post-First Lady life. Becoming Me traces Obama's early life growing up on theSouth Side ofChicago with her parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson, in an upstairs apartment where she got her first piano lessons and learnt to be an independent girl under the nurturing care of her parents. There, Obama shared a bedroom with her brother Craig.[10] The book continues through her education atPrinceton University andHarvard Law School to her early career as a lawyer at the law firmSidley Austin, where she metBarack Obama. While this section talks considerably at length about Obama's Princeton experience and Sidley Austin, Harvard Law school's experiences are mentioned marginally by comparison.[11]
Becoming Us departs from the beginning of the Obamas' romantic relationship and follows their marriage and the beginning of his political career in the Illinois State Senate. This section also notes Obama's career "swerve" from corporate law to the non-profit realm as she continued to work while raising her daughters and speaking at political events, becoming gradually more involved in her husband's campaign. The book shares Obama's balance between her position as the firstAfrican AmericanFirst Lady of the United States of America, her motherly duties, and her marital commitments.[10] The section ends with election night in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States.
Becoming More takes the readers through Barack Obama's presidency, Michelle Obama's focus on herLet's Move campaign, and her role of "head mom in chief" to her two daughters -Malia andSasha Obama, along with the other aspects of the Obama's life asfirst family.[12] The Epilogue talks about the last day of Obamas in the White House which was also Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony and Michelle Obama's reflection on Optimism. She also expresses her lack of desire to ever run for office.[5]
Total book sales, including hardcover, audio, and e-book editions, sold around 725,000 copies in the United States and Canada during its first day, making it the second best-selling debut for any book in 2018.[13][14]Bob Woodward'sFear: Trump in the White House holds the record after selling around 900,000 copies during its first day.[13][14][15] However, Barnes and Noble reported thatBecoming surpassedFear in first-week sales and had more first-week sales of any adult book sinceGo Set a Watchman in 2015.[16] The book sold 1.4 million copies in its first week.[17] After 15 days, the book became the best-selling book in the US for the year 2018.[5]
By March 26, 2019,Becoming had sold 10 million copies.[18] According toThe New York Times, as of November 2020, the book has "sold 14 million copies worldwide, including more than 8 million in the U.S. and Canada".[19]
It was anOprah's Book Club 2.0 selection.[20]
Hannah Giogris, a writer fromThe Atlantic, used the words "refreshing" and "striking" to describe the book.[21]
In 2020, theaudiobook edition won theGrammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album[22] and was named one of the top tenAmazing Audiobooks for Young Adults by theAmerican Library Association.[23]
American musicianQuestlove curated a soundtrack for the book calledThe Michelle Obama Musiaqualogy.[24]
In November 2018, Michelle Obama went on a national book tour conducted in arenas, often to sold-out crowds starting in Chicago at theUnited Center.[25] Obama previewed the book and tour on Chicago'sWindy City Live daytime television show at her alma mater,Whitney M. Young Magnet High School on Chicago'sNear West Side.[26]
The initial tour included 12 venues in 10 cities[27] but expanded with its popularity; as of February 2019, another 21 cities had been added, including six in Europe and four in Canada.[28]
In May 2020, adocumentary film based on the book was released onNetflix, following Obama through her book tour.[29] The documentary features footage of Obama's travels behind-the-scenes of the tour and clips of her interviews onstage with moderators, includingOprah Winfrey andStephen Colbert.[30]
"She had a ghostwriter," Mr. Obama told a friend who asked about his wife's speedy work
he'll occasionally point out in conversation that he's writing this book himself, while Michelle used a ghostwriter
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