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What we're reading: The most compelling excerpts from Michelle Obama's new memoir

Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama. Photo: Steven Ferdman/WireImage via Getty Images

Michelle Obama's highly anticipated new memoir "Becoming" hit shelves on Tuesday, quickly propelling to a number one best seller on Amazon, the New York Times reports.

Driving the news: The former first lady's book was a revealing look at her life before her husband ran for president, her time in the White House and how she felt when it was time to exit after the 2016 presidential election. She also dived into personal experiences including how she conceived her daughters and insights on her marriage.

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The details

  • Obama revealed she had a miscarriage and talked about her struggles with infertility. After the initial miscarriage she felt "lost and alone" and felt like she failed, Obama told Robin Roberts in an interview when talking about her struggles with childbirth.
  • She also discussed how she used in vitro fertilization to conceive her two daughters, Sasha and Malia, and had to administer hormone shots while Barack Obama was serving the state legislature.
  • Obama said she was surprised when then-candidate Trump won the 2016 presidential nomination and tried to "block it all out" after it happened. She revealed that she'd never forgive Trump for putting her family at risk and for his "birther" campaign questioning Barack's citizenship and said he ignited the campaign to rile up "wingnuts and kooks."
  • Michelle said never thought Barack Obama would win the presidency, though she supported him running. "Barack was a black man in America, after all. I didn't really think he could win."
  • She revealed the complexities of being America's first black first lady. Obama said she knew she wouldn't get the same "grace" assigned to her white counterparts previously in her role. "I'd learned through the campaign stumbles that I had to be better, faster, smarter and stronger than ever. My grace would have to be earned."
Michelle Obama