The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

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Categories	Community & Culture
Author	Michelle Obama
Publisher	Crown (April 16, 2024)
Language	English
Paperback	336 pages
Item Weight	2.31 pounds
Dimensions	5.47 x 0.85 x 8.22 inches

I. Book introduction

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times is a nonfiction book written by Michelle Obama and published on November 15, 2022, by Crown Publishing. According to the Associated Press, the author “shares the contents of her ‘personal toolbox’ – the habits and practices, attitudes and beliefs, and even physical objects that she uses to overcome her feelings of fear, helplessness and self-doubt.” The Light We Carry has generally received positive reviews from book critics. In February 2023, it was announced that a podcast series by Obama based on topics in the book and the live book tour called Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast was released on March 7 by Audible.

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.

Synopsis

The Light We Carry deals with uncertainty in the world such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Obama describes times where she felt uncertain or out of place such as being a rare African American undergraduate at Princeton in the 1980s or becoming the first African American First Lady of the United States.

About the Author (Michelle Obama)

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (née Robinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.

Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband. She subsequently worked in nonprofits and as the associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago. Later, she served as vice president for community and external affairs of the University of Chicago Medical Center. Michelle married Barack in 1992, and they have two daughters.

Michelle Obama campaigned for her husband’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. She was the first African-American woman to serve as first lady. As first lady, Obama worked as an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She has written three books including her The New York Times best selling memoir Becoming (2018) and The Light We Carry (2022).

II. Reviewer: The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

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1. ERIN reviews The Light We Carry

I love this woman. She could publish her grocery list and I would buy it.

But I will say one thing.

Michelle Obama is a much better person than me. She is able to shake off the nonstop racism directed at her and her husband….me…ya girl would not be as forgiving. We know her infamous phrase “When they low, we go high”, Michelle does discuss what this phrase actually means but it basically comes down to don’t act in an emotional way. Which I understand but also if you are attacking my family, it’s your ass. Maybe that’s why no handsome future President has married me, because I would be making the news everyday.

The Light We Carry isn’t a memoir in the vain of her book Becoming. This book is more of a “Self Help” book….I know guys, you know I hate “Self Help” but my girl Michelle isn’t trying to tell YOU how to do things. She’s simply telling us how she was taught by her mother to handle things and some things she’s learned through making mistakes.

If you love My Forever First Lady Michelle Obama, than pick this up.

If you like “Self Help, pick it up.

My review is totally biased so take it with a huge grain of salt.

2. CATHERINE reviews The Light We Carry

Courageous. Candid. Classy. Compassionate. Clever.

In Becoming, we got a chance to learn Michelle Obama’s backstory and the life of times of a First Lady during her husband Barack’s presidency. But in The Light We Carry, Michelle takes us one step further into her personal journey through the years since the COVID-19 pandemic began and shares with the reader the contents of her toolkit. But there are no socket wrenches to be found here: this is Michelle Obama’s MENTAL toolkit…which is nothing more or less than a toolkit for survival.

This book reads a bit like self-help, but also has the feel of a memoir: Michelle takes you through some of what she was feeling at different points (after the results of the presidential election following Obama’s term, the beginning of the pandemic and all of the uncertainty, and also some great anecdotes from her childhood and interactions with her wise and wonderful mother) and also presents some fundamental strategies that have helped her quell her personal anxiety.

You’d never believe that a woman as strong, intelligent, and poised as Michelle could have felt some of the insecurities she describes in these pages, but this is part of Michelle’s gift as both an orator and a human: her words make you feel seen AND give you hope, but never sugarcoat the enormity of the work that lies ahead. Some of Michelle’s personal strategies involve creating (she picked up knitting as a hobby during COVID) and some lie in the strength of the personal relationships around her (her Kitchen Table friends that are true blue, the joy and strength she finds in being a mother and in her marriage) and of course the lessons imbued in her from a young age from a mother that taught her confidence, resilience, and class in the face of adversity and hate.

It’s sometimes easy for self-help books to feel canned, or like they often consist of recycled advice, but I would argue the best advice IS recycled: the formulas tend to repeat because they WORK. What Michelle Obama does so masterfully in The Light We Carry, however, is to remind us that even in a world that no longer seems to possess ANY sort of baseline or provide any type of security…WE are the baseline. Our humanity, our kindness, our hope…and above all, our light.

4.5 stars

Now available in paperback!

3. BRANDICE reviews The Light We Carry

I’ve been a big fan of Michelle Obama since Barack’s early days as President. I loved Becoming and really liked The Light We Carry too.

In TLWC, Michelle acknowledges the deep uncertainty and major challenges we’ve all faced over the last few (few, too many?) years, sharing her insight and tools for dealing with this. Of course, every tool won’t work for everyone in every situation, but it’s comforting to know even someone as smart, successful, and grounded as Michelle contends with these same feelings.

Unsurprisingly, the whole book is great and worth reading or listening to, but the first 2 chapters “The Power of Small” and “Decoding Fear” resonated with me the most. Michelle turned to knitting as a hobby during the pandemic, finding solace in something small alongside the larger battles she works through regularly. She also encourages us to evaluate our fears, some which can be legitimate, while others often are not.

“In trying to spare yourself the worry and discomfort of taking a risk, you’re potentially costing yourself an opportunity. In clinging only to what you know, you are making your world small. You are robbing yourself of chances to grow.”

I listened to The Light We Carry because it’s hard to beat hearing from Michelle herself, but also bought a physical copy to keep and refer back to. Highly recommend — 4.5 stars

4. RACHEL L reviews The Light We Carry

I absolutely adore Michelle Obama, I’ll read anything she writes. Instead of a biography, this was more of a helpful facts book intermixed with examples from real life. If you’ve already read Becoming, it can be a little bit repetitive. But ultimately this book is meant to empower those who read it and I hope it helps a lot of people find their light.

5. DELORES BOSTIC reviews The Light We Carry

Great Read

Michelle will always be my First Lady. Loved this book, very well written and thought provoking. Helps you to look at things from another point of view, come out of the darkness and into the light. Looking forward to more life lessons from. Mrs. Obama

6. MAX reviews The Light We Carry

A great read.

I’m into about 50 pages, where Michelle talks about how she coped during Covid and dealing with Donald Trump. She is thoughtful and insightful.

Have read her sections on Covid and dealing with Donald Trump. She is insightful and thoughtful. Great so far!!!

7. HANNA SMITH reviews The Light We Carry

An Inspiring and Uplifting Read

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama is a powerful and moving book that offers a deep dive into the former First Lady’s life, wisdom, and personal growth. Through heartfelt anecdotes and reflections, Obama shares her journey of finding strength and hope in challenging times.

Her writing is both candid and encouraging, providing readers with valuable insights into resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of community. The book is filled with practical advice and inspirational stories that resonate on a personal level. Michelle Obama’s authenticity shines through, making this book not only an inspiring read but also a source of motivation for anyone looking to overcome obstacles and embrace their own light.

Whether you’re a long-time admirer or new to her work, The Light We Carry is a testament to Michelle Obama’s enduring impact and an essential read for anyone seeking inspiration and empowerment.

8. J CASE reviews The Light We Carry

Life changing experiences shared…

I am not much of a book reviewer but I did want to share how much I appreciate Mrs Obama writing this book. Sharing her wisdom and life experiences, I feel everyone will take something from the book to better themselves. I have recommended it to friends and my adult children.

9. KAREN reviews The Light We Carry

Be inspired.

“My goal was always to do serious work in a joyful way, to show people what’s possible if we keep choosing to go high,” Obama writes.

In this book she does more. She gives us the tools to show us how we can carry the light from within – and Be more.

Sometimes people expect more because of her presence. But…

Her gift is that she is More. And she reminds us that so are We.

10. KENNY reviews The Light We Carry

I believe that each of us carries a bit of inner brightness, something entirely unique and individual. A flame that’s worth protecting. When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it. When we learn to foster what’s unique in the people around us, we become better able to build compassionate communities and make meaningful change.
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times ~~ Michelle Obama

Please pardon my gushing review. I love Michelle and Barack Obama. I think she the greatest first lady of my lifetime, and he the greatest president of my lifetime. They are both amazing.

Reading The Light We Carry feels like a best friend has wrapped her arms around me & is giving me a huge hug.

Obama’s new book is part self-help and part memoir. Here, Obama shares personal life stories shared with her readers to give advice to others who might be facing similar challenges in these uncertain times. The Light We Carry is insightful, engagingly written and funny ~~ it is all things Michelle.

Obama shares this ~~ The practice I’ve had in finding and appreciating the light inside other people has become perhaps my most valuable tool for overcoming uncertainty and keeping my hopefulness intact. As one of the brightest lights in America, Michelle Obama helps shine the way for us all along our shared route.

Highly recommended.

III. The Light We Carry Quotes by Michelle Obama

The best book quotes from The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

“Being different conditions you toward cautiousness, even as it demands that you be bold.”

“Go forth with a spoonful of fear and return with a wagonful of competence.”

“He helped me remember that anxiety was a natural part of doing something new and big.”

“I believe that each of us carries a bit of inner brightness, something entirely unique and individual. A flame that’s worth protecting. When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it. When we learn to foster what’s unique in the people around us, we become better able to build compassionate communities and make meaningful change.”

“Our hurts become our fears. Our fears become our limits. For many of us, this can be a heavy inheritance, carried by generations. It’s a lot to try to push back against, to try to unlearn.”

“If you choose to try to make a life with another person, you will live by that choice. You’d find yourself having to choose again and again to remain rather than run. It helps if you enter into a committed relationship prepared to work, ready to be humbled and willing to accept and even enjoy living in that in-between space, bouncing between the poles of beautiful and horrible, sometimes in the span of a single conversation, sometimes over the course of years. And inside of that choice and those years you’ll almost certainly come to see that there is no such thing as a 50-50 balance, instead it will be like beads on an abacus, sliding back and forth, the maths rarely tidy, the equation never quite solved….”

“Life has shown me that strong friendships are most often the result of strong intentions. Your table needs to be deliberately built, deliberately populated, and deliberately tended to.”

“When we allow ourselves to celebrate tiny victories as important and meaningful, we start to understand the incremental nature of change—how one vote can help change our democracy; how raising a child who is whole and loved can help change a nation; how educating one girl can change a whole village for the better.”

“Going high is about learning to keep the poison out and the power in.”

“One light feeds another. One strong family lends strength to more. One engaged community can ignite those around it. This is the power of the light we carry.”

“Read books by people whose perspective is different from yours, listen to voices you haven’t heard before, look for narratives that are new to you. In them and with them, you might end up finding more room for yourself.”

“Being different conditions you toward cautiousness, even as it demands being bold.”

“There’s no way to eliminate the ache of being human, but I do think we can diminish it. This starts when we challenge ourselves to become less afraid to share, more ready to listen—when the wholeness of your story adds to the wholeness of mine. I see a little of you. You see a little of me. We can’t know all of it, but we’re better off as familiars.
Any time we grip hands with another soul and recognize some piece of the story they’re trying to tell, we are acknowledging and affirming two truths at once: We’re lonely and yet we’re not alone.”

“I lean on each individual at different times and in different ways. Which is another thing worth recognizing about friendship. No one person, no one relationship will fulfill your every need. Not every friend can offer you safety or support on every day. Not every one can or will show up precisely when or how you need them to. And this is why it’s good to continue always making room at your table, to keep yourself open to gathering more friends. You will never not need them, and you will never stop learning from them.”

“When someone chooses to lift the curtain on a perceived imperfection in her story, on a circumstance or condition that traditionally might be considered to be a weakness, what she’s often actually revealing is the source code for her steadiness and strength.”

“We only hurt ourselves when we hide our realness away.”

“It’s okay to pace yourself, get a little rest, and speak of your struggles out loud. It’s okay to prioritize your wellness,”

“Going high is about learning to keep the poison out and the power in. It means that you have to be judicious with your energy and clear in your convictions. You push ahead in some instances and pull back in others, giving yourself opportunities to rest and restore. It helps to recognize that you are operating on a budget, as all of us are. When it comes to our attention, our time, our credibility, our goodwill toward and from others, we work with a limited but renewable set of resources.”

“worry and discomfort of taking a risk, you’re potentially costing yourself an opportunity. In clinging only to what you know, you are making your world small. You are robbing yourself of chances to grow.”

“There’s nothing easy about finding your way through a world loaded with obstacles that others can’t or don’t see. When you are different, you can feel as if you’re operating with a different map, a different set of navigational challenges, than those around you. Sometimes, you feel like you have no map at all. Your differentness will often precede you into a room; people see it before they see you. Which leaves you with the task of overcoming”

“Real-world connections most often tend to cut against stereotypes. They can be remarkably calming, in fact—a small but potent way to reset a bad mood or challenge broader feelings of mistrust. The only thing is that in order to get there, you do first need to lay down your shield.”

“Our differences are treasures and they’re also tools. They are useful, valid, worthy, and important to share. Recognizing this, not only in ourselves but in the people around us, we begin to rewrite more and more stories of not-mattering. We start to change the paradigms around who belongs, creating more space for more people. Step by step by step, we can lessen the loneliness of not-belonging.”

“Going high is something you do rather than merely feel. It’s not some call to be complacent and wait around for change, or to sit on the sidelines as others struggle. It is not about accepting the conditions of oppression or letting cruelty and power go unchallenged. The notion of going high shouldn’t raise any questions about whether we are obligated to fight for more fairness, decency, and justice in this world; rather, it’s about how we fight, how we go about trying to solve the problems we encounter, and how we sustain ourselves long enough to be effective rather than burn out.”

“I’ve progressed only slowly to where I am today. If you are a young person reading this, please remember to be patient with yourself. You are at the beginning of a long and interesting journey, one that will not always be comfortable. You will spend years gathering data about who you are and how you operate and only slowly will you find your way towards more certainty and a stronger sense of self. Only gradually will you begin to discover and use your light!”

“when it does work, it can feel like an actual, honest-to-god miracle, which is what love is, after all. That’s the whole point. Any long-term partnership, really, is an act of stubborn faith.”

“Friends will come and go, taking on more or less importance as you move through different phases of life. You may have a small group of friends, or just a few one-on-one friendships. All of that is okay. What matters most is the quality of your relationships. It’s good to be discerning about who you trust, who you bring close. With new relationships, I find myself quietly assessing whether I feel safe and whether, inside the context of a budding friendship, I feel seen and appreciated for who I am. With our friends, we are always looking for very simple reassurances that we matter, that our light is recognized and our voice is heard—and we owe our friends the same. I want to say, too, that it’s okay to step back from or downsize a difficult friendship. Sometimes we have to let certain friends go, or at least diminish our reliance on them.”

“The only love story I know, is the one I happen to live inside everyday. Your path towards certainty, if that’s even what you’re after, will look different from mine. Just as your conception of home and who belongs there with you, will always be unique to you. Only slowly do most of us figure out what we need in intimate relationships and what we’re able to give to them. We practice, we learn, we mess up. We sometimes acquire tools that don’t actually serve us. …we obsess, overthink and misplace our energy…we retreat when hurt, we armor up when scared, we might attack when provoked, or yield when ashamed.”

“Our hurts become our fears. Our fears become our limits.”

“Because here’s the thing: Emotions are not plans. They don’t solve problems or right any wrongs. You can feel them—you will feel them, inevitably—but be careful about letting them guide you. Rage can be a dirty windshield. Hurt is like a broken steering wheel. Disappointment will only ride, sulking and unhelpful, in the back seat. If you don’t do something constructive with them, they’ll take you straight into a ditch. My power has always hinged on my ability to keep myself out of the ditch.”

“The goal, instead, is to find someone who will do the work with you, not for you, contributing on all fronts and in all ways.”

“That’s what tools are for. They help keep us upright and balanced, better able to coexist with uncertainty. They help us deal with flux, to manage when life feels out of control. And they help us continue onward, even while in discomfort, even as we live with our strands exposed.”

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.”

“The same might be said of an exceptional friend. If you’re lucky, you might end up with at least a few melded into your life, people who become stalwart and unshakable, the friends who accept you without judgment, show up for the hard stuff, and give you joy—not just for a semester, or for the two years you live in the same city, but over the course of many years. Barnacles are not showy, either, which I see as also true of the best friendships. They need no witnesses. They are not trying to accomplish something that can be measured or cashed in upon; the substance mostly happens behind the scenes.”

“What does it mean to be comfortably afraid? For me, the idea is simple. It’s about learning to deal wisely with fear, finding a way to let your nerves guide you rather than stop you. It’s settling yourself in the presence of life’s inevitable zombies and monsters so that you may contend with them more rationally, and trusting your own assessment of what’s harmful and what’s not. When you live this way, you are neither fully comfortable nor fully afraid. You accept that there’s a middle zone and learn to operate inside of it, awake and aware, but not held back.”

“Your table needs to be deliberately built, deliberately populated, and deliberately tended to.”

Excerpted from The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

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