Summary

For Obama, life in the White House meant living in a “bubble” (359). The details of her personal matters were managed by staffers. Trips to school functions or her daughter’s swim meets were designed to keep Obama as invisible as possible. A trip to Target, taken in disguise, was a special treat, especially because it allowed her to pick out an anniversary card for Barack by herself. Weekend “Boot Camps” with girlfriends at Camp David were a welcome reprieve.

Despite the challenges, Obama acknowledges the privilege their life entailed. Her daughters had “more advantages and more abundance than most families could ever begin to imagine having” (354). Travel around the world and meetings with international luminaries like Nelson Mandela were “surreal” (368).

Throughout the first two years as First Lady, Obama continued developing her own public initiatives, particularly those related to nutrition and...