Becoming

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Obama describes feeling like an outsider at Princeton, where she was part of a minority population. Have you ever experienced being an "outsider" in an important setting? How did you handle it?

2. Throughout the memoir, Obama grapples with balancing her professional ambitions with family life. How does this resonate with your own experiences of managing different life roles?

3. Obama writes about the importance of having female mentors and friends throughout her journey. Who are the women who have shaped your life's path, and how did they impact you?

4. The author describes several pivotal moments that changed her trajectory, such as meeting Barack and leaving corporate law. What turning points in your life have led to significant personal growth?

5. How do Obama's descriptions of her father Fraser's influence on her life connect to your own experiences with parent-child relationships?

Examine the book's relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.

1. How does Obama's memoir illuminate the challenges faced by professional women of color in America? What has or hasn't changed since her early career days?

2. In what ways does the book address the intersection of race, class, and education in American society? How do these factors still impact social mobility today?

3. How does Obama's perspective on the American presidency differ from traditional narratives about the White House and its occupants?

Dive into the book's structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.

1. Examine Obama's use of the garden metaphor throughout the book. How does it reflect both her initiatives as First Lady and larger themes about change and growth?

2. How does Obama use humor throughout the memoir? What purpose does it serve in her storytelling?

3. Consider the role of setting in the memoir. How do places like Chicago's South Side, Princeton, and the White House shape both Obama's story and her character?

4. Analyze Obama's portrayal of her relationship with Barack. How does she balance showing both their personal and political partnership?

5. How does Obama's writing style change when discussing personal matters versus political events? What might this suggest about her priorities?