Published: 2022
Author: Michelle Obama
Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Adult, Inspirational, Political, Self-Help, Biography, Autobiography
Audience (Grade Levels): Adult
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)
Goodreads Link: The Light We Carry
Triggers: Political issues, racism
Review By: Sarah Williams
Publisher’s Summary:
#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? How can we discover strength and community inside our differences? What tools do we use to address feelings of self-doubt or helplessness? What do we do when it all starts to feel like too much?
Michelle Obama offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles–the earned wisdom that helps her continue to “become.” She details her most valuable practices, like “starting kind,” “going high,” and assembling a “kitchen table” of trusted friends and mentors. With trademark humor, candor, and compassion, she also explores issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, encouraging readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and live with boldness.
“When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it,” writes Michelle Obama. A rewarding blend of powerful stories and profound advice that will ignite conversation, The Light We Carry inspires readers to examine their own lives, identify their sources of gladness, and connect meaningfully in a turbulent world.
Review:
Last year I read Michelle Obama’s book Becoming, and since I enjoyed her writing style I decided to read this book, her newest. In this book Obama once again captivates readers while taking us on a discovery of herself, sharing stories of resilience, and giving us hope for the future. Her signature grace, wisdom, and authenticity shine through in this text and I enjoyed it a great deal.
From the first page it is evident that this book is a book of stories. Each “chapter” focuses on a different aspect of her life and world, allowing the reader to feel like you are right there with Michelle as she shares her struggles and successes. From Euclid Avenue to the White House, she shares stories of those who helped her and how she helped herself to persevere through tough times as well as enjoyed the good times, and her lessons from all that are good ones for us as readers to take away. She connects with her readers via her authentic voice and realistic stories, giving us a glimpse into who she truly is through her words.
What sets this book apart from her first one is the way Michelle Obama fearlessly tackles complex topics such as identity, race, and social justice. She does so with an unwavering commitment to truth, making sure her voice echoes through the pages and resonates with readers from all walks of life. Through her candid reflections, she encourages us to confront our own biases, embrace diversity, and actively work towards building a more inclusive society.
This book also includes vivid anecdotes that provide invaluable insight into Michelle Obama’s personal experiences as the First Lady of the United States. She delves into the immense pressures she faced, the highs and lows of her journey, and the profound impact she sought to make on the lives of others. Her vulnerability and unwavering commitment to public service serve as a reminder of the true power of leadership. I really enjoyed these parts of the book the most, especially when she wrote about her own mother living with the family at the White House for the eight years they were there.
Overall Obama’s book is a beacon of hope for young people around the world, urging them to dream big, speak up, and embrace their own light. Her commitment to education, health, and social causes shines through each page, igniting a sense of optimism and empowerment for her readers. I did, though, rank it only a 4 because some of the chapters become repetitive to me. Maybe it is because I read her earlier book so recently, but some of the ideas were not new to me. I also found some of the chapters to be a bit long and preachy, but overall I enjoyed the book and found it motivating.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social Studies & Civics: Provides firsthand insight into modern American political life, leadership, and public service through personal anecdotes about navigating the immense pressures of serving as First Lady of the United States.
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Offers clear entry points for examining strategies of personal resilience, overcoming self-doubt, uncovering individual strengths, and adaptive habits like “starting kind” and “going high”.
- Language Arts / Memoir Studies: Serves as a useful tool for analyzing adult autobiographical narratives, focusing on how a writer establishes authenticity, voice, vulnerability, and conversational pacing across episodic chapters.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- “Kitchen Table” Mentorship Map: Inspired by Michelle Obama’s practice of assembling a “kitchen table” of trusted friends and mentors, have students map out their own network of supportive community members, educators, or peers who help them stay steady and navigate personal obstacles.
- Vulnerability & Bias Reflection Journal: Prompt an adult library book club or high school independent reading group to engage with the author’s reflections on race and social justice. Participants can write responses examining how they confront personal biases and actively foster inclusivity within their own immediate circles.
Diversity & Representation:
The book offers powerful representation by elevating Black voices and focusing directly on the lived experiences of Black families in America. By fearlessly and candidly addressing intersecting issues tied to race, gender, identity, visibility, and social justice, the text models an inclusive framework that validates readers from all walks of life while fostering empathy and deeper cross-cultural community connections.
Readalikes:
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
- Find Your Light by Cleo Wade
