Book Corner: Insights from Michelle Obama’s The Light We Carry

Hello there. Molweni. Molweni 😊

Happy Monday!

For this Book Corner, I’d like to share my thoughts on a book I recently finished reading: The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama. Right off the bat, I loved the way this book is written. It feels almost like a collection of Michelle’s personal reflections : intimate, thoughtful, and carefully unpacked. Each idea is explored thoroughly, without leaving the reader feeling lost or unsure of her point. Overall, I’d give this book a solid 7/10. Below are some of the themes that resonated most with me.

Navigating Fear

One of the most insightful themes in the book is how we navigate fear. Michelle speaks candidly about the importance of understanding fear rather than pretending it doesn’t exist. I found this chapter especially impactful because when we look at people like Michelle (people who have achieved so much, particularly in the public eye) we often assume that success came easily or naturally to them.

This chapter reminded me that fear is both real and, at times, valid. However, it should not be allowed to control our lives or stop us from pursuing the things we truly want. What I appreciated most is that Michelle doesn’t simply say, “Stop being fearful.” Instead, she invites us into her thought process, showing us how she approaches fear. She emphasizes confronting fear rather than avoiding it; unpacking it layer by layer and examining the emotions and worries beneath it.

Reading this made me reflect on how often I interrogate my own fears. Do I ask myself why I’m afraid? Do I try to understand the root of it, or do I simply retreat? My key takeaway from this chapter was this: if we don’t unpack our fear, we won’t understand it, and if we don’t understand it, we won’t know how to manage it. Left unchecked, fear can become limiting, and rob us of opportunities.

This chapter encouraged me to stop avoiding the things that scare me and instead become more intentional about understanding why they do, and how I can manage them better.

Representation Matters

We’ve heard this phrase countless times, and reading about it in this book simply reaffirmed why representation truly matters. I think most of us are aware of what Michelle Obama and her family have meant to people of colour as the first Black family in the White House. Their presence alone shifted narratives and challenged long-standing assumptions about who gets to occupy spaces of power.

Beyond representation in terms of race, their visibility helped many people of colour see themselves in places and positions they may never have considered possible before. While I don’t aspire to be the First Lady of any nation, seeing someone who looks like me occupy such an influential and highly visible role has undeniably expanded my sense of what’s possible; not just in general, but what’s possible for me.

Michelle makes a statement in the book that really stayed with me: “It’s hard to dream about what’s not visible. You can’t readily strive toward what you don’t see.” That line perfectly captures the power of representation. When we see ourselves reflected in leadership, excellence, and success, it quietly but profoundly reshapes our own ambitions.

This is a topic I plan to explore further in a future blog post, where I’ll expand on these thoughts in more detail, so keep an eye out for that.

The Importance of Deep, Meaningful Friendships (Community)

This chapter, titled My Kitchen Table, left a lasting impression on me. Michelle articulates the importance of deep, meaningful relationships so beautifully, and I resonated deeply with her reflections on community. It’s easy to assume that once someone reaches a certain level of success, they no longer need people, but nothing could be further from the truth.

We need people. We need our people. We need those we can let us show up as our most authentic selves, the ones with whom we can share our complicated thoughts, quiet fears, and unfiltered joy. These are the people who help keep us grounded when the world demands so much of us.

Michelle emphasizes the value of quality friendships. We move through life wearing many hats and showing up in different roles, but there is something deeply restorative about having a small circle of people you can always return to; people with whom you can simply be, leaving titles, expectations, and responsibilities at the door.

Reading this chapter made me imagine sitting at my mom’s kitchen table at home, having deep, meaningful conversations with the people closest to me, wrapped in a sense of safety and belonging. It left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling and a deep sense of gratitude for my own “kitchen table.” Some of the people who sit at mine live in different cities, but there’s comfort in knowing they’re still part of that table, no matter the distance.

Who sits at your kitchen table, and what do you love most about the way they make you feel?

A Mother’s Love: We Never Stop Needing Our Moms

Oh, this chapter touched me so deeply. There is so much pressure on women to “have it all together,” and the mistake we often make is assuming that those who are successful do, and even worse, that they do it all alone. Michelle’s chapter on her mother shows a different reality: the importance of leaning on loved ones and accepting help when you need it.

I was particularly moved by how her mother literally left her own life to move into the White House to assist Michelle with her two daughters. This was such a profound expression of love, illustrating the depth and selflessness of a mother’s care. It reminded me that no matter how capable we are, we never truly stop needing our mothers or the people in our lives who support us.

Reading this chapter also shifted my perspective on the pressure to “have it all together.” Sometimes, strength isn’t doing everything alone; it’s acknowledging that you need help and accepting it. I imagined the gift it must have been for Michelle to have her mom sacrifice her time, comfort, and personal life so that Michelle could show up fully in one of the biggest roles she would ever occupy. It underscored for me the importance of recognizing and appreciating the people who truly support us, helping us become everything we are meant to be. Indeed, it truly takes a village.

Before reading this chapter, I had never considered what it must have been like for Michelle to navigate all her roles as First Lady while being a mom. She shares it with such honesty, giving us a glimpse into parts of her life we rarely see.

Reading this book put so many things into perspective for me. Of course, there’s more in the book than I’ve covered here, but these were the chapters that stood out most for me. The chapters are long, but I appreciated the depth. They each feel complete, exploring everything that needed to be addressed. This book is deeply personal, focusing on Michelle’s life, so if you’re not into that type of memoir, it might not be for you. But if you enjoy seeing life through another person’s lens, you’ll likely enjoy it as much as I did.

I hope this review inspires you to add The Light We Carry to your reading list. And if you do read it, please share your thoughts with me, I’d love to hear them.

Have an intentional and blessed week.

Lots of love,

Zizo