Very into silk scarves, German Pinot Noir and Michelle Obama’s Becoming rn.

If I’m being completely honest, I was afraid to read Becoming. I find most political memoirs to be heavy on incredibly bullshit-sounding anecdotes and the kind of aspiration quotes that your uncle who used to be a Marine likes to yell out in the middle of a junior high football games. “The difference between winning and losing is not quitting!” No thanks!

But Becoming isn’t like that at all. It’s an honest, moving, and incredibly thoughtful look at race, gentrification, opportunities (and who gets them), growing up, giving a shit, and love. I’ve teared up more times than I can count, so touched by how much she’s giving us in these pages. In many ways, Becoming reminds me of Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and I hope it has similar staying power on our cultural bookshelf because Michelle’s story is important, poignant, and well worth a read. I wish everyone would pick it up and read it.