What do you think?
Rate this book
Michelle Obama: Speeches on Life, Love, and American Values
Michelle Obama has quickly become one of the most influential and respected women in America. This book represents a moving collection of her most personal and inspirational speeches, given over the course of a year and a half, on the Obama's historic journey to the White House. In her own words, Michelle Obama talks about her beliefs, her upbringing, and her values.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
130 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2009
About the author
Michelle Obama
48 books111k followersMichelle 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 11, 2017
This was a very quick and easy read and it was the perfect book to start 2017 off with because I really do adore everything that Michelle Obama stands for. Her speeches are simple and easy to follow, and although the book is a mere 132 pages, it was an inspiring read that made me realize that she really understands what Americans are going through, especially American women.
Michelle and Barack started out poor. They were community outreach workers for years on the South Side of Chicago. They have never really sought the limelight, and they have both worked tirelessly on many campaigns to improve the lives of Americans in many different ways - together, and in their own separate ways.
Now that I have read Michelle Obama: Speeches on Life, Love, and American Values, I am even more impressed with the Obamas than I was before. When Barack Obama was elected, I read both of his books as well, The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.
I am going to miss this family so much.
This book is positive, compassionate, and it will resonate with me throughout this year. As one of the most inspirational women in America, it was my pleasure to read about Michelle's own beliefs and upbringing. Some of the topics that she touches upon in her speeches remind me very much of the beliefs and values that my own parents instilled in me and my siblings when we were young.
As Michelle continually says throughout her speeches, we all need to be better citizens and we need to serve the world as we serve ourselves. We should also encourage people to serve their communities and their neighbors. That is what being a global citizen is all about. This is why I respect her so much.
Here are some of my favorite passages from her book. I'm not going to lie. I highlighted almost everything she said, but these were my favorite passages that I wanted to share with you:
"You learn that you treat people with respect and decency, even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them. Because that’s the right way to treat your neighbor."
"We learn that there is nothing more important in this life than commitment to your family and your community."
"Things like truth and honesty matter in life, all the time. Your word is your bond. When you say you’re going to do something, you do it to the best of your ability. And that when you’re a working class kid in this society, you don’t feel entitled to anything."
"We need leadership. We need people with judgment. We need decent people—people with common sense, people with strong family values, people who understand the world."
"As people talked to us about it, the question that came up again and again, the question that people were most concerned about—they were afraid. It was fear. Fear again raising its ugly head. During one of the most important decisions that we would make—fear. Fear of everything. Fear that we would lose. Fear that we might get hurt. Fear that this would be ugly. Fear that it might hurt our family. Fear."
“We’re at a point in time in society where life has gotten increasingly harder for folks. I think because of that, it is difficult to reflect on life and to think through these issues because we’re all struggling so very, very much just keeping our heads above water. At least regular people are."
Please don't forget: YES, WE CAN.
Michelle and Barack started out poor. They were community outreach workers for years on the South Side of Chicago. They have never really sought the limelight, and they have both worked tirelessly on many campaigns to improve the lives of Americans in many different ways - together, and in their own separate ways.
Now that I have read Michelle Obama: Speeches on Life, Love, and American Values, I am even more impressed with the Obamas than I was before. When Barack Obama was elected, I read both of his books as well, The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.
I am going to miss this family so much.
This book is positive, compassionate, and it will resonate with me throughout this year. As one of the most inspirational women in America, it was my pleasure to read about Michelle's own beliefs and upbringing. Some of the topics that she touches upon in her speeches remind me very much of the beliefs and values that my own parents instilled in me and my siblings when we were young.
As Michelle continually says throughout her speeches, we all need to be better citizens and we need to serve the world as we serve ourselves. We should also encourage people to serve their communities and their neighbors. That is what being a global citizen is all about. This is why I respect her so much.
Here are some of my favorite passages from her book. I'm not going to lie. I highlighted almost everything she said, but these were my favorite passages that I wanted to share with you:
"You learn that you treat people with respect and decency, even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them. Because that’s the right way to treat your neighbor."
"We learn that there is nothing more important in this life than commitment to your family and your community."
"Things like truth and honesty matter in life, all the time. Your word is your bond. When you say you’re going to do something, you do it to the best of your ability. And that when you’re a working class kid in this society, you don’t feel entitled to anything."
"We need leadership. We need people with judgment. We need decent people—people with common sense, people with strong family values, people who understand the world."
"As people talked to us about it, the question that came up again and again, the question that people were most concerned about—they were afraid. It was fear. Fear again raising its ugly head. During one of the most important decisions that we would make—fear. Fear of everything. Fear that we would lose. Fear that we might get hurt. Fear that this would be ugly. Fear that it might hurt our family. Fear."
“We’re at a point in time in society where life has gotten increasingly harder for folks. I think because of that, it is difficult to reflect on life and to think through these issues because we’re all struggling so very, very much just keeping our heads above water. At least regular people are."
Please don't forget: YES, WE CAN.
June 6, 2017
Great collection
Great collection of speeches showing the progression of the Obama campaign and vision. Interesting to go back and read now that Barack has left office.
Great collection of speeches showing the progression of the Obama campaign and vision. Interesting to go back and read now that Barack has left office.
September 23, 2018
Excellent collection of Michelle Obama's speeches. Her language is simple, evocative and connects with the everyday concerns of Americans, particularly working moms. Ms. Obama talks about her experiences as a mom and her struggles to juggle everything in her busy schedule. She talks about growing up in the Southside of Chicago in a working-class family and the values her father passed down to her as a shift worker struggling with health issues but who worked hard his whole life to support his family and never complained. Her speeches urged listeners to focus on unity, caring about one another and making a difference in their own communities. She eloquently spoke about American values and that it is possible to create a more perfect union where all people have the opportunity to realize their dreams and contribute to this country.
November 6, 2018
What she has to say - great, how the book is organized and edited - not so much...
January 27, 2020
I have read this book, and it has been wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews