The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times

Written by Michelle Obama

Narrated by Michelle Obama

2024 Grammy® Award Winner • #1 NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER • In an inspiring follow-up to her acclaimed 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9780593677889

Michelle Obama

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 New York Times #1 bestsellers The Light We Carry, Becoming, and American Grown. Through Higher Ground, which she co-founded with her husband in 2018, her work to share stories has won awards and accolades. At its release in 2020, The Michelle Obama Podcast was the most successful original in Spotify history. The Obamas currently live in Washington, D.C., and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.

Reviews for The Light We Carry

[corliss12000 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Love Michelle Obama; her Becoming was one of the best books I’ve ever read. This just doesn’t come close to that at all. Took me almost 2 months to finish

[mojomomma_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author speaks again about her early life and how it formed her. She speaks about her anger of Donald Trump winning the 2016 election and the January 6 takeover that he spearheaded. Her story about her first trip to Hawaii with Barack for Christmas before they married was telling of their future life.

[brianinbuffalo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What do you get when you blend an autobiography of a notable person with a self-help book? Obama provides the answer in “The Light We Carry.” I conducted an experiment and read the first half of the book, then listened to Obama narrate the second half. Both platforms had advantages. I liked being able to physically highlight and easily take notes from the printed edition. But her skilled narration created a more engaging experience. I agree with some readers who note that people who have read numerous personal growth books won’t discover much untrodden ground in this tome. Still, I enjoyed Obama’s ability to link her life experiences to some well-established tactics for personal development. For example, her strategies for overcoming anxiety in public speaking will provide reinforcement to college students who enroll in my oral communication class. Another helpful insight was provided as Obama recounted her love of knitting. She explained that a simple physical activity can “detour” our brains from going down anxiety-filled paths as our hands "drive the car" for a period, giving some relief to our “churning brains.” Again, there are no revolutionary ideas here, but it’s an interesting, anecdote-filled book that underscores a number of useful techniques for navigating difficult situations.

[livelylady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A cross between memoir and self-help depending on the age of the reader, I beieve. This is Michelle Obama's story, how she has approached life growing up, growing up black, and being in the limelight as an attorney and then as First Lady. One take away for the adult me is THE KITCHEN TABLE, the collection of people who have your back in your life. It does not have to be the same, and, in fact, changes as you and your life change. A very well written book, would be a good graduation gift for a girl.

[cherybear · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What to say about Michelle? She is a treasure. She has lived, and continues to live, an extraordinary life. She doesn't praise herself, or take special credit for who she has become. She seems to strive every day to be the best person she can be, for herself, her family, her community, her country. And that's what this book is about, I think. She calls upon all of us to do be our best selves, and offers tips on how to do that, with examples from her life, but doesn't claim to be an expert. Well written. Makes me want to be a better person.

[katyefk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was very inspired and felt supported by Michelle's writings. She is very authentic and down to earth and makes a huge positive difference in the world.

[kaulsu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In several ways, I think I enjoyed Obama's first book more. Yet, in other ways, this book speaks the message I think she was interested in giving, rather than the biography the first one in reality was.

There were times when I felt it was too "rah, rah," yet those messages were important for her to voice. From my studies (divinity) and just general living (I'm soon to turn 73), many of these I have heard, read, experienced myself. But good reminders! Many of her tips--from her mother, from Angelou, from her own experience/insight--I wish I had been exposed to at a younger age. One that I have incorporated into a "Resolution" for 2023, is to enter a room smiling. Smile upon greeting anyone. Encourage first and critically respond later.

[spinsterrevival · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Michelle Obama can do no wrong in my book, and I loved reading more about her here; this is a memoir with the focus on tools to get one through life. She’s very genuine in her sharing, and I appreciated her focus on mental health and what’s worked for her in living her life.