Hi everyone! I'm so excited to begin our conversation about this AMAZING book! I'll be posting questions here, a few at a time, and you can feel free to answer and discuss as you are ready to do so. Please note, all questions will be posted no later than Tuesday, March 24th and the discussion for this book will close on Tuesday, March 31st. Also, the questions that are being posted serve as a guideline only, so feel free to answer some or them, all of them, or respond with feedback to the book that wasn't captured in one of the questions. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's responses!
1. Michelle Obama writes, "Now I think it's one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child -- What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that's the end." How many different things has Michelle Obama "become," and how has each of these "becomings" changed her and the way she sees the world?
2. Michelle's upbringing in the South Side of Chicago is a significant part of her story. What does this particular place signify to her, and how did it shape her identity? How does any childhood hometown affect identity?
3. One of the most noteworthy (pardon the pun) stories from Michelle Obama's childhood is her first piano recital. After practicing on a worn down piano with a chipped key, Michelle finds it difficult to remember what to play on a pristine piano. Obama writes that in this moment, "disparities of the world had just quietly shown themselves to me for the first time." What about this moment was so important to her? How do you think her awareness of privilege in this moment, and throughout the memoir, affected her outlook on life?
Hey everyone! I'm posting questions 4-6, and tomorrow I'll post the remaining questions! I hope everyone is still enjoying the book. I know that times are uncertain right now, so hopefully this book and chat can help us all to focus ourselves on something positive while we are staying in.
4. Of her parents, Michelle Obama says that they treated her and her brother Craig like adults, starting a a very young age. This meant taking Michelle and Craig's questions and concerns seriously and answering them honestly (even questions about sex, drugs, and racism). Do you think this is an effective way of parenting, or is there something to be said for shielding children from some parts of life?
5. Obviously, a significant moment in the memoir is when Michelle Obama meets her future husband (and future president) Barack Obama. What did you think of her first impressions of Obama? How did her opinions of him change as they got to know each other? What did you learn about their relationship from this memoir that you didn't know before?
6. Another difficult topic Michelle Obama covers frankly is her personal struggles with infertility and motherhood. How did her journey to motherhood affect her identity, her priorities, and her goals?
In response to question 1, I say, she became a lawyer, wife , mother and each has role helped in finally helping her to understand that she has always felt Something else inside but was never brave enough to accept it as she was too conscious and bent on becoming the best and finally she became just that, what she has always silently yearned to be , a person helping others to do better and be better .
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Hey everyone! Can't wait to read your thoughts on the book!
Hi everyone! I'm so excited to begin our conversation about this AMAZING book! I'll be posting questions here, a few at a time, and you can feel free to answer and discuss as you are ready to do so. Please note, all questions will be posted no later than Tuesday, March 24th and the discussion for this book will close on Tuesday, March 31st. Also, the questions that are being posted serve as a guideline only, so feel free to answer some or them, all of them, or respond with feedback to the book that wasn't captured in one of the questions. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's responses!
1. Michelle Obama writes, "Now I think it's one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child -- What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that's the end." How many different things has Michelle Obama "become," and how has each of these "becomings" changed her and the way she sees the world?
2. Michelle's upbringing in the South Side of Chicago is a significant part of her story. What does this particular place signify to her, and how did it shape her identity? How does any childhood hometown affect identity?
3. One of the most noteworthy (pardon the pun) stories from Michelle Obama's childhood is her first piano recital. After practicing on a worn down piano with a chipped key, Michelle finds it difficult to remember what to play on a pristine piano. Obama writes that in this moment, "disparities of the world had just quietly shown themselves to me for the first time." What about this moment was so important to her? How do you think her awareness of privilege in this moment, and throughout the memoir, affected her outlook on life?
Hey everyone! I'm posting questions 4-6, and tomorrow I'll post the remaining questions! I hope everyone is still enjoying the book. I know that times are uncertain right now, so hopefully this book and chat can help us all to focus ourselves on something positive while we are staying in.
4. Of her parents, Michelle Obama says that they treated her and her brother Craig like adults, starting a a very young age. This meant taking Michelle and Craig's questions and concerns seriously and answering them honestly (even questions about sex, drugs, and racism). Do you think this is an effective way of parenting, or is there something to be said for shielding children from some parts of life?
5. Obviously, a significant moment in the memoir is when Michelle Obama meets her future husband (and future president) Barack Obama. What did you think of her first impressions of Obama? How did her opinions of him change as they got to know each other? What did you learn about their relationship from this memoir that you didn't know before?
6. Another difficult topic Michelle Obama covers frankly is her personal struggles with infertility and motherhood. How did her journey to motherhood affect her identity, her priorities, and her goals?
In response to question 1, I say, she became a lawyer, wife , mother and each has role helped in finally helping her to understand that she has always felt Something else inside but was never brave enough to accept it as she was too conscious and bent on becoming the best and finally she became just that, what she has always silently yearned to be , a person helping others to do better and be better .