10 Books to Read If You Love Becoming: Inspiring Life Stories, Black Women Memoirs, and Women in Leadership Books
Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming has become a cultural phenomenon, captivating millions worldwide with its honest, heartfelt, and personal story. This memoir traces her journey from Chicago’s South Side to the White House, revealing her growth, struggles, and triumphs along the way. It’s more than just a biography; Becoming is an inspiring life story that resonates deeply with women, especially women of color. It touches on themes of identity, ambition, self-doubt, and what it means to be a groundbreaking woman in leadership.
At its core, Becoming stands as an empowering call to resilience, offering a model for leadership and self-actualization that many readers find uplifting. It’s no surprise that this memoir has sparked interest in similar books — books like Becoming that share stories of empowerment, transformative journeys, and women who have conquered barriers in their lives and careers.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into such narratives, this post shares 10 books to read if you love Becoming. These selected memoirs and biographies highlight black women memoirs and women in leadership books that echo Michelle Obama’s themes of empowerment, perseverance, and leadership. Prepare to explore these inspiring life stories that will motivate and enrich your understanding of women’s journeys toward influence and change.
What Are These Book Recommendations Based On?
The 10 books to read if you love Becoming were chosen for their strong thematic connections to Michelle Obama’s memoir. Each book falls under the category of books like Becoming, sharing powerful narratives of empowerment, personal growth, overcoming adversity, resilience, and leadership.
These memoirs provide genuine insights into the lived experiences of black women and influential female leaders. They explore the complexities of identity, societal expectations, ambition, and shattering cultural or gender barriers. The recommended works delve deeply into leadership journeys, activism, public service, and self-actualization — all crucial to readers seeking inspiring life stories from women who have profoundly impacted society.
This list is rich with diverse perspectives, each rooted in cultural, social, and political contexts that make these black women memoirs and women in leadership books not just compelling but essential for understanding the broader narrative of female influence today.
By reading these memoirs, you will gain a panoramic view of what it means to navigate life and leadership as a woman of color in various fields and epochs — exactly the kind of inspiring life stories that continue the legacy of Becoming.
Top 10 Books Like Becoming: Inspiring Life Stories and Black Women Memoirs
1. The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama (2022)
Genre: Memoir / Inspirational
Themes: Resilience, self-discovery, adaptation, empowerment
One-Sentence Review: A profound follow-up to Becoming, offering practical wisdom and hope for facing uncertain times with strength and balance.
What to Expect:
- Insightful anecdotes from Michelle Obama’s life after the White House
- Lessons on resilience, mental health, and overcoming self-doubt
- Reflection on balancing public life with personal growth
- Messages of empowerment deeply relevant across women’s leadership journeys
This memoir complements Becoming by deepening the narrative around thriving amid adversity, continuing the empowering legacy of black women memoirs focused on leadership and resilience.
2. Just as I Am by Cicely Tyson (2021)
Genre: Memoir
Themes: Perseverance, black excellence, legacy, dignity
One-Sentence Review: Tyson’s memoir chronicles a groundbreaking career shaped by courage and an unwavering commitment to authenticity and grace.
What to Expect:
- A detailed journey through decades of racial and gender barriers in entertainment
- Reflections on legacy building and professional resilience
- Rich cultural and social context from the mid-20th century to now
- Lessons on maintaining artistic integrity and personal strength
For fans of Becoming, this memoir offers a vital perspective on black women’s leadership beyond politics, illustrating perseverance in breaking barriers with poise and power.
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (1969)
Genre: Memoir
Themes: Identity, trauma, resilience, voice, empowerment
One-Sentence Review: Angelou’s poetic and raw memoir provides a powerful narrative of overcoming childhood trauma and finding one’s voice against overwhelming odds.
What to Expect:
- An intimate exploration of personal and societal trauma
- Reflections on racial and gender identity in America
- Stories of resilience that shaped Angelou’s leadership as an artist and activist
- Deep cultural insights into black womanhood
This foundational black women memoir continues to influence generations, mirroring the empowering spirit of Becoming with its timeless message of self-acceptance and strength.
4. My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King (2017)
Genre: Memoir / Biography
Themes: Leadership, activism, civil rights, moral courage
One-Sentence Review: King reveals her pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement and her unwavering leadership that sustained the fight for equality and justice.
What to Expect:
- A behind-the-scenes view of social justice activism from a woman’s lens
- Insights into the partnership and personal story behind Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy
- Exploration of women’s crucial contributions to leadership in activism
- Lessons on moral strength and perseverance in the face of systemic oppression
This memoir highlights how women’s leadership shapes history—perfect for readers seeking inspiring life stories entwined with social justice activism and black women memoirs.
5. The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris (2019)
Genre: Memoir / Political
Themes: Ambition, public service, breaking barriers, identity
One-Sentence Review: Harris chronicles her rise from the daughter of immigrants to the first woman of color Vice President, demonstrating both determination and hope.
What to Expect:
- Honest reflections on politics, identity, and race
- Narratives of leadership in male-dominated spaces
- Lessons on resilience amid public scrutiny
- Detailed context on challenges faced by women in leadership roles
As one of today’s most prominent women in leadership books, this memoir inspires anyone drawn to books like Becoming for its powerful example of breaking systemic barriers.
6. This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins (2018)
Genre: Memoir / Essay Collection
Themes: Intersectionality, race, self-acceptance, contemporary black womanhood
One-Sentence Review: A sharp, insightful collection of essays addressing the complexities of identity and empowerment for black women today.
What to Expect:
- Candid conversations blending personal stories with social critique
- Exploration of identity, self-worth, and societal expectations
- A bold voice challenging stereotypes
- Powerful reflections on acceptance and growth
This compelling memoir fits perfectly within books like Becoming by portraying authentic, modern narratives that illuminate the nuances of black women’s leadership and self-empowerment.
7. More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth (2019)
Genre: Memoir / Inspirational
Themes: Ambition, breaking barriers, diversity in media, self-worth
One-Sentence Review: Welteroth’s journey to becoming Teen Vogue’s editor-in-chief is a sensitive and uplifting story of ambition and redefining success.
What to Expect:
- Behind-the-scenes insights into media and fashion industries
- Lessons on overcoming impostor syndrome
- Strategies for embracing one’s identity and leadership potential
- Encouragement for young women of color stepping into creative spaces
An empowering addition to women in leadership books, this memoir resonates with Becoming fans who cherish narratives of breaking glass ceilings and cultural transformation.
8. Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement by Tarana Burke (2021)
Genre: Memoir / Activism
Themes: Trauma, activism, collective healing, empowerment
One-Sentence Review: Burke’s memoir is a courageous account of trauma transformed into activism, sparking a global movement for survivors’ voices.
What to Expect:
- Personal history intertwined with social justice advocacy
- Insight into the origins and impact of the Me Too movement
- A call to collective empowerment and healing
- Lessons in courage and leadership through vulnerability
An essential read among black women memoirs, Burke’s story amplifies the message of resilience and leadership found in Becoming, inspiring activism and transformation.
9. Lead from the Outside by Stacey Abrams (2018)
Genre: Memoir / Leadership
Themes: Political leadership, social equity, overcoming obstacles
One-Sentence Review: Abrams offers practical advice and personal reflections on navigating power and politics as a woman of color dedicated to fighting inequity.
What to Expect:
- Insight into political strategy and grassroots mobilization
- Motivational lessons on resilience and strategic leadership
- Reflections on race, gender, and public service challenges
- Guideposts for aspiring leaders breaking systemic barriers
This memoir stands alongside women in leadership books for those drawn to books like Becoming, offering actionable wisdom from a trailblazer devoted to change.
10. The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya (2018)
Genre: Memoir
Themes: Survival, displacement, rebuilding, hope, identity
One-Sentence Review: Wamariya’s deeply moving tale of escaping genocide and rebuilding her life shines as a testament to resilience and the search for belonging.
What to Expect:
- A vivid account of refugee experience and survival
- Exploration of trauma, healing, and identity reconstruction
- Reflections on cultural displacement and personal renewal
- Universal themes of hope and transformation
This memoir enriches the spectrum of inspiring life stories and black women memoirs linked to Becoming, emphasizing survival and self-discovery as powerful forces in leadership.
Conclusion
These 10 books to read if you love Becoming offer a rich collection of powerful stories marked by resilience, leadership, and transformation—core attributes that made Michelle Obama’s Becoming such a beloved and inspiring read. Together, they showcase a diverse spectrum of inspiring life stories, with a focus on black women memoirs and women in leadership books who challenge barriers and shape history.
For readers who admired Becoming, this list serves as a gateway to continuing your journey through impactful narratives of empowerment, ambition, and personal triumph. Embracing these stories will deepen your understanding of women’s vital roles in culture, society, and leadership today.
Explore these memoirs for their unfiltered truths and inspiring lessons; by doing so, you carry forward the legacy of books like Becoming—women’s stories that continue to inspire resilience, hope, and transformation across generations. Also, for a different genre but equally empowering journey of identity and empowerment, consider checking out our curated picks of 10 Books to Read If You Love The Love Hypothesis for insights into STEM romance and enabling women in science.
