Becoming

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism and gender discrimination. 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does Obama's choice to structure her memoir into three sections ("Becoming Me," "Becoming Us," and "Becoming More") enhance our understanding of her journey? What does this structure suggest about identity and personal growth?

2. Compare Obama's memoir to other political memoirs you've read (e.g., Hillary Clinton's Living History). How does Obama's approach to telling her story differ from more traditional political memoirs?

3. What were your initial expectations of this memoir, and how did the actual book either fulfill or challenge those expectations?

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.