The Centre for Army Leadership (CAL) is the

British Army’s custodian of leadership debate,

thinking and doctrine. It seeks to stimulate
discussion about leadership and so further the
institution’s knowledge of best practice and
experience.
Book Review Book Reviews are written by and for serving
No.1 soldiers and officers, summarising a wide
November 2019 range of notable leadership-related books.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Reviewed by Lt Col Sue Pope RAMC
Department of Defence Rehabilitation

Michelle Robinson 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 organisation that prepares young people for careers in
public service. The Obamas currently live in Washington D.C., and
have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.

“Becoming” is an autobiography detailing the highs and lows of Michelle Obama’s incredible
journey from humble beginnings in the less glamourous South Side of Chicago, to the
grandeur of the White House and life as America’s first African-American First Lady. It takes
the reader seamlessly through three distinct phases of her life, “Becoming me, becoming us
and becoming more.” It is not meant as an overt leadership text, but her memoirs are packed
with parallels for leading in everyday situations and not just for those in assigned leadership
roles.

The first section gives fascinating insights into her early life, growing up as a black female in
the tough suburbs. How she dreams of becoming a paediatrician, an impressive way to fulfil

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her potential. We see how the young Michelle is shaped by her parents’ strong family values,
providing a stable loving home to nurture her and her brother. She was taught to respect
herself and others, to work hard, be tenacious, have integrity and to use her voice. No doubt
you are already seeing the parallels with the Army Leadership code! These themes come
through the book again and again, illustrating lessons in life and leadership for us all to reflect
upon.

“Failure is a feeling long before it’s an actual result”

Michelle aspires to achieve an ivy league education but is devastated by her school college
counsellor not being convinced she is “Princeton material”. Here we start to understand her
ambitious drive and sheer determination. Using a great expression, “Failure is a feeling long
before it’s an actual result” she describes how she defied the seed of doubt that saw her not
only gaining a place at Princeton but going on from there to Harvard Law School. However,
Michelle admits never totally being able to shake the fear of “Am I good enough?”. This is
something many of us struggle with daily, being a human trait. It’s what you do about that
question that matters.

Being at college was a serious adjustment to a white male-dominated world, likening it to

being “poppy seeds in a bowl full of rice”. It’s easy to see why she became an even harder
working, serious student, compelled to show what a working-class black female from Chicago
was capable of. This mindset continues straight on to landing her first job as a junior associate
in a big law firm. Her dedication to the daily grind and ambition is hardly dented by the
sudden early tragic death of her wild college friend, although she wrestles with her
perspective on life and reflecting there is more than one way to live. Here enters one Mr
Barack Obama who is hired as a summer associate and assigned to Michelle as her mentee.
The book recounts how their relationship eventually blossoms with this charming,
sophisticated and talented law student who wins her heart and starts to show her another
way to “be”.

Unhappy and unfulfilled, Michelle realised that the approval she was clearly seeking from the
world by collecting status and material things was not compatible with what was important to
her. Michelle used her own trusted mentors to guide her in these important decisions and life
changes, encouraging us all to seek the people in our lives that can help provide this support.
It leads her to taking a new job in a different direction with half the salary and the new Mr &
Mrs Obama become a team. Fast forward to the stage where she is a busy CEO, trying to juggle
her work, family life and husband’s political career. This internal conflict continues
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throughout the narrative, flying the flag for busy working mums across the globe. One feels
the pain and the weight of balancing expectations that multiple identities place upon
individuals. I can totally identify with that, as I am sure can most of our military in one form or
another.

The final part of the book skips through the political and Presidential phases of their life. How
Michelle jumped right behind her husband on the campaign trail to successfully becoming the
44th US President and the first African-American family to take residence in the White House.
We glimpse the barriers and challenges the couple face, leading the country and especially her
using their position to champion good causes. Her “voice” was put to good effect in several
projects including military families, healthy eating and lifestyles for children and giving young
people the inspiration and opportunities to dream big and develop themselves.

“This book is a call to action for those who aspire to become more”

Michelle Obama paints a vivid picture whilst reflecting on the highs and lows of public life and
sticking to the mission with integrity despite facing harsh criticism. This is not an obvious
leadership book at a superficial glance. The story-telling is compelling, the insights fascinating
and the clear dislike for President Trump grabbing some headlines. However, within the thick
hard-back cover there lies some treasures of leadership lessons that everyone can take away.
The book is more than an autobiography, or an inside story, it is a call to action for those who
aspire to become more. That there is room for everyone despite lacking privilege or position.
This rings true within our hierarchical structure of military life but one can life a meaningful
life in serving to help others. She says in her own words:

“There is still a lot I don’t know about America, about life or about what the future
might bring, but I do know myself”.

Her message is one of strengthening our inner convictions, inspiring self-mastery and
encouraging authentic leadership; to lead by example, aim for the highest standards and work
hard to achieve them. This book is a warm, honest account of her life experiences, told in a
way that invites the reader right in. Selling a vision, mobilising others’ energies and co-
ordinating group efforts, a powerful message told through a good story is a skill important in
any leader. I certainly enjoyed this book, and most importantly I reflected on its title:
“Becoming”. It suggests that we are all a work in progress; that leadership is a journey and
that we probably will never reach a final destination.

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Michelle Obama
Becoming
Penguin Random House, 2018

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