The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times
Michelle Obama
#1 NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER - ONE OF TIME'S 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF 2022 - In an inspiring follow-up to her critically acclaimed, #1 bestselling memoir Becoming, former First Lady Michelle Obama shares practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today's highly uncertain world. There may be no tidy solutions or pithy answers to life's big challenges, but Michelle Obama believes that we can all locate and lean on a set of tools to help us better navigate change and remain steady within flux. In The Light We Carry, she opens a frank and honest dialogue with readers, considering the questions many of us wrestle with: How do we build enduring and honest relationships. more
319 pages, Hardcover
First published Crown
4.27
Rating
76821
Ratings
7302
Reviews
Michelle Obama
41 books 107751 followers
Michelle Obama served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Mrs. Obama started her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She later worked in the Chicago mayor’s office, at the University of Chicago, and at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mrs. Obama also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an organization that prepares young people for careers in public service. She is the author of the #1 global bestseller Becoming and the #1 national bestseller American Grown. The Obamas currently live in Washington, D.C., and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.Community reviews
“It’s not always enough to lean in because that s*** doesn’t work. ” – Michelle ObamaLast night, I had the great privilege and honor to see Michelle Obama at The Chicago Theatre as she promotes her new book, The Light We Carry. It was an emotional night. Our country has faced great turmoil recently. Over a million Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19. more
A book about relationships, diversity, race, gender, and visibility is what we all need in this current world. I am so excited to see from the blurb that this book by Michelle Obama discusses all these vital topics and much more. I loved reading her memoir, Becoming, and I love to know more about Michelle's take on the concept of unity in diversity (unity without uniformity and diversity without fragmentation) discussed in this book. What is the relevance of this book. This book has an important role in helping people, especially despondent young children and the abject, when the world is going through a phase of recuperating from a crisis now. more
I love this woman. She could publish her grocery list and I would buy it. But I will say one thing. Michelle Obama is a much better person than me. She is able to shake off the nonstop racism directed at her and her husband. more
Audiobook…. read by Michelle Obama …. 9 hours and 59 minutes Obama polished her tools from her *Life-Toolbox*. She shared with us how her tools lay the foundation for what’s productive and what’s not. She shared about:…. more
Courageous. Candid. Classy. Compassionate. Clever. more
I love Michelle Obama but I only kinda liked this book. It’s a typical self help book that reiterates a lot of the same information we all are used to hearing by now. Even with the personal anecdotes, I couldn’t fully get into the book. Similar to other self-help books, it left me unsatisfied and wanting more. Here’s one quote though that really resonated with me:“We keep learning even when we’re tired of learning, changing even when we’re exhausted by change. more
Just rating it because of the trolls giving 1 star before it has been released. I’ll update when I do actually read it. more
I’ve been a big fan of Michelle Obama since Barack’s early days as President. I loved Becoming and really liked The Light We Carry too. In TLWC, Michelle acknowledges the deep uncertainty and major challenges we’ve all faced over the last few (few, too many. ) years, sharing her insight and tools for dealing with this. Of course, every tool won’t work for everyone in every situation, but it’s comforting to know even someone as smart, successful, and grounded as Michelle contends with these same feelings. more
I thoroughly enjoyed Michelle Obama's book, Becoming, and looked forward to reading The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. Initially, I was worried that The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times was too much of a self-help book that wouldn't hold my interest, But as I read each page, I was sucked into her prose, transparency, and poignant insights. We have all been impacted by the pandemic and the continual chaos and changes in our lives and relationships over the past several years. Michelle offers insights into what has made her so strong, resilient, and determined to always "go high" even when it is daunting. Her voice and suggestions are like a steadying rudder on a boat being tossed about during an intense storm. more
I absolutely adore Michelle Obama, I’ll read anything she writes. Instead of a biography, this was more of a helpful facts book intermixed with examples from real life. If you’ve already read Becoming, it can be a little bit repetitive. But ultimately this book is meant to empower those who read it and I hope it helps a lot of people find their light. more
Blog | Instagram Rating: 4 stars Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The clean, white design nicely reflects the content and message of this book. I also love Michelle's smiling photo and how its colours match the text colours. Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The conversational writing style incorporates creative metaphors and captivating stories to maximize the impact of the content. Repetition is also used to drive home key concepts, and a positive, uplifting atmosphere keeps the book engaging throughout. "In clinging only to what you know, you are making your world small. more
“When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don't stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high. ”Michelle Obama at the 2016 Democratic National ConventionIn 2020 in the middle of a Global Pandemic, with a maniac for president sitting in the White House, many people faced a period of uncertainty. Causal hugs, unmasked smiles and easy interactions with others were lost. There were unarmed Black men being killed by police officers kneeling on their necks until they were dead, and various groups of people like Asian Americans or members of the LGBTQ community were attacked on the streets, or our president had police officers attack people with tear gas peacefully protesting for some photo opportunity, or that same president extorting a mob of rioters to attack our capital to overturn an election. more
Das Buch hat mich über die Feiertage begleitet und es hätte kein besseres sein können. Michelle Obama offenbart den Leser auf knapp 370 Seiten ihre Gedankengänge, um große Probleme besser bewältigen zu können. Vor allem in Zeiten von Pandemien, Kriegen und/oder persönlichen Krisen ist es wichtig stark zu bleiben. Mit Hilfe von Fähigkeiten zeigt die Autorin anhand ihrer persönlichen Erlebnisse, wie sie es schafft weiterhin ausgeglichen und positiv nach vorne zu schauen. Das heißt natürlich auch, dass es nicht DIE eine Lösung gibt, trotzdem fand ich vor allem ihre ehrlichen und authentischen Reflexionen sehr interessant. more
I believe that each of us carries a bit of inner brightness, something entirely unique and individual. A flame that's worth protecting. When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it. When we learn to foster what's unique in the people around us, we become better able to build compassionate communities and make meaningful change. The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times ~~ Michelle ObamaPlease pardon my gushing review. more
I LOVE the Obama's. Everything about them is classy, intelligent, and eloquent. This was no exception to Michelle Obama's follow up to Becoming. Her writing style and even her speaking (I listened to the audiobook) was so comforting and strong. However, I feel that this second book really paled in comparison with her memoir, Becoming. more
I absolutely loved Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming, especially listening to her read the audiobook. So I was excited to listen to another book from her which is more of a self-improvement, non-fiction rather than a personal history. Though I will say I was pleasantly surprised that a large portion of this book is still memoir-esque. She takes the reader through 10 different lessons or ideas for how we overcome obstacles in life and embrace the messiness, while relaying stories of her life and using her own experience as examples. I enjoyed this book a lot but I didn't love it, mostly because self-help isn't really my thing. more
Be inspired. “My goal was always to do serious work in a joyful way, to show people what’s possible if we keep choosing to go high,” Obama writes. In this book she does more. She gives us the tools to show us how we can carry the light from within - and Be more. Sometimes people expect more because of her presence. more
I will always appreciate books that delve into the topics I have wrestled and am currently wrestling with. And Michelle Obama discusses these important things with skill and humor. more
This wasn’t it for me. It’s very basic advice and info most people know. The stories are already in the zeitgeist. I was disappointed by this. . more
You fall you get up you carry on. An inspiring and motivating book. I believe Michelle Obama is one of those people whose mere presence and company would make you feel better no matter how stressed or dejected you feel. more
so much better than Becoming. I love hearing her insights on life. more
Coming as absolutely zero surprise, I absolutely loved this book. I chose audio because listening to Michelle speak to me is one of the best things ever and feels like a warm hug or a phone conversation with your very favorite aunt. Somehow every single chapter and theme landed at precisely the right time for me to hear it too. I loved it all but the chapters on fear, parenting and going high were my very favorites. I also loved what she had to say about sharing your truth to let others know they aren’t alone. more
Michelle Obama is so inspiring to me. She has achieved so much, yet speaks in such a down to earth way about feeling different, race, gender, being the only one, feelings of alienation and loneliness so many of us contend with, developing friendships, marriage and relationships, feeling fear, and being true to oneself. She does a great job of describing how having your own toolbox to draw from is so important since that is the way we can get through trying times. We develop skills over time and it is often not easy, but those tools stay with us and can be a great area of strength. It makes us competent and that deflates fear, making it possible to live comfortably fearful. more
This was an enjoyable read overall and there were several nuggets of wisdom that I took note of. While I didn't feel I was learning anything new I appreciated Michelle's eloquent way of explaining various topics, especially on personal relationships. For example, I liked the analogy of our homes being an "emotional sandbox" for our children to release their feelings safely. A place for them to learn about their emotions and how to control them in a caring and trusting environment. She further explains that, we can give our children the "opportunity to be heard and seen. more
Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE Michelle Obama (total girl crush) and I was so excited for this book because I absolutely loved Becoming. This book was not Becoming. The messages were very Michelle typical, but it lacked a throughline and often felt disjointed. In some parts it read like a self help book, and in others it just felt like she was recalling a story that didn't necessarily follow the topic. Overall, I'm glad I read it but it won't go on my top recommendation list. more
love you Miche but this book. did not need to exist . more
insightful book from the former 1st lady in her coping mechanisms in these uncertain terms and more background of her family and herself. more
'When they go low, we go high'Audiobook - It was so great to hear Michelle talk/read again. I find her words both calming and thought provoking and wasn't disappointed with this book. more
It's sad when people aka trolls are so jealous of a successful Black woman that they rate a book poorly which they haven't even read or if they have they can't justify why they don't like it. I haven't read it yet but I plan to as soon as it's released. And, given all the negative ratings from those who haven't read it, while I haven't read it yet, I'm giving it 5 stars to offset those negative Nellies who have nothing better to do with their time. :( After I read it, I will be back to provide my assessment. Stay tuned. more