The Light We Carry – Overcoming in Uncertain Times
By Michelle Obama
Crown
ISBN: 9780593237465
336pp.

It is not easy being the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS). It is not easy being Michelle Obama. It is not easy being the wife of Barack Obama. Glamorous, yes. Fantastic, even more so. Easy? No.

In a stirring and intimate follow-up to her critically acclaimed, bestselling memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama, in The Light We Carry – Overcoming in Uncertain Times, imparts hands-on insight and powerful stratagems, based on her personal journey, for staying optimistic, hopeful and composed in today’s constantly prevailing chaos and uncertainty.

Michelle Obama served as FLOTUS from 2009 to 2017. A graduate of Princeton University (after being told by a high school counsellor that she wasn’t “Princeton material” — a statement that lives rent-free in her head to date) and Harvard Law School, Mrs Obama began her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm Sidley Austin.

She went on to work in the Chicago mayor’s office, at the University of Chicago, and at the University of Chicago Medical Centre. She also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an AmeriCorps programme that prepares young people for careers in public service.

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama’s second book imparts insight and powerful stratagems for staying optimistic, hopeful and composed in today’s constantly prevailing chaos and uncertainty

She wishes that she had bullet-pointed, clear, one-size-fits-all formulae or solutions or acute answers to life’s enormous challenges — because, sometimes, she too second-thinks if she’s good enough. That’s Michelle Obama for you. But she does believe that all of us can primarily fall on the basic tools to enable us to navigate well through life and stay steadfast in an ecosystem that perpetually features instability. Reflecting on her life experiences and the impact they have had on her trajectory, she offers valuable lessons and inspiration to readers.

The book, divided into three parts, begins by exploring Obama’s childhood on the South Side of Chicago, where she struggled through the convolutions of race, education, gender, diversity, visibility and family dynamics. With a deep dive into her formative years, she relays the influences of her parents and the community that helped to shape her character and values.

Throughout the memoir, Obama mentions the challenges she faced when she transitioned from her comfort zone in a successful career as a lawyer to becoming the First Lady of the United States. “I’m not a leaper or a flyer, but a deliberate, rung-by-rung ladder climber,” she writes.

With her sharing her joys and trials of her time in the White House, and the wonderful initiatives she championed — such as the ‘Let’s Move!’ campaign to combat childhood obesity, ‘Let Girls Learn’ campaign to advocate girls’ education, and the ‘Reach Higher’ initiative to promote higher education — the book is nothing short of a compelling read.

Obama’s candid, unfiltered storytelling transports the readers to the moments that shaped her, from her struggles as a young woman seeking her path, to her transformation years at Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

On a personal journey, Obama also delves into her role as a wife and mother, emphasising on the balance one must strike between being a public figure and having a private life. With an honest and vivid narrative, she addresses the pressures, sacrifices, and triumphs that accompanied her role during motherhood (Malia and Natasha — Sasha — are the couple’s two daughters), while also being a supportive partner. She also provides an insider’s perspective on her time in the White House alongside her husband, Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.

Through her talks and interviews, I have known how carefully Obama chooses her words, despite being candid and honest about her experiences. So, imagine my surprise when, in a chapter on friendship, titled ‘My Kitchen Table’, Obama discusses the importance of having a kitchen table of girlfriends.

Though none of us is likely to face the issue of fostering friendships while being surrounded by the Secret Service, we do not realise the privilege we possess of casual venting. We don’t have to worry about our tweets being splashed across social media. And this chapter candidly talks about the worries and awkwardness she faced.

In the first chapter titled, ‘The Power of Small’, she explains that, when the circumstances seem overwhelming, tiny triumphs can be a sliver of hope. For instance, she mentions that, for her, it was knitting: “Shaken by the enormity of everything that was happening, I needed my hands to introduce me to what was good, simple and accomplishable.” Through YouTube videos, she taught herself the skill.

Going beyond her personal journey, Obama also dives beyond her own experiences. The book is a guide on social disorders caused by issues such as identity, race and empowerment. She inspires readers to embrace their own stories and to find their unique voice, with a dire need to focus on the importance of empathy and community in creating positive change within oneself.

One of the chapters is dedicated to kindness, ‘Starting Kind’, where she mentions the importance of leading a life with kindness. There are others on ‘Partnering Well’ and ‘Decoding Fear’. In the chapter ‘Meet My Mom’, she talks about parenting and being parented, offering advice from Toni Morrison: “When a kid walks in the room, your child or anybody else’s, does your face light up? That’s what they’re looking for.” The book also features beautiful, unseen photos of her childhood and more.

The Light We Carry is not just a memoir of one of America’s most influential, beloved and prominent figures. It is a testimony to Michelle Obama’s resilience, acumen and grace. Through her powerful narration, she invites readers to self-reflect and recognise the light they carry within themselves. With sincerity and truth, she inspires individuals to embrace their passions, find their purpose, overcome adversity, and leave a positive impact in the world.

By and large, the memoir serves as an enriching and empowering reminder of the strength of the human spirit. It reminds us that, despite all odds, we must persevere and stay determined to create a brighter future for ourselves and others.

The writer is a content lead at an agency.
She can be reached at sara.amj@hotmail.co.uk

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, August 13th, 2023