Michelle

Shecanbefunnyandsharp-tongued,warmandblunt,empathicanddemanding.WhoisthewomanBarackObamacallstheboss?InMichelle,WashingtonPostwriterLizaMundypaintsarevealingandintimateportrait,takingusinsidethemarriageofthemostdynamiccoupleinpoliticstoday.Sheshowshowwelltheycomplementeachother:Michelle,thehighlyorganized,sometimesintimidating,list-makingpragmatist;Barack,theintrospectivepoliticalcharmerwhowon'tpickuphissocksbutshootsforthestars.Theirrelationship,likethoseofmanycoupleswithtwocareersandtwochildren,hasbeensostrainedattimesthathehashadtopersuadehertosupporthisclimbupthepoliticalladder.Andyoucan'tblameherforoccasionallyregrettingit:Inthiscampaign,itisMichellewhohasabsorbedmuchoftheskepticismfromvotersaboutObama.OneconservativemagazineputheronthecoverundertheheadlineMrs.Grievance.Michelle'sstorycarrieswithitalltheextraordinaryachievementsandlingeringpainofAmericainthepost-civilrightsera.ShegrewuponthesouthsideofChicago,thedaughterofacityworkerandastay-at-homemominaneighborhoodrockedbywhiteflight.ShewasadmittedtoPrincetonamidanangrydebateaboutaffirmativeactionandwentontoHarvardLawSchool,whereshewasmorecomfortabledoingpro-bonoworkforthepoorthangunningforawardswiththerestofherpeers.Shebecameacorporatelawyer,thenlefttotraincommunityleaders.SheismoderninhertastesbutlikestowatchrerunsofTheDickVanDykeShowandTheBradyBunch.Inthiscarefullyreportedbiography,drawinguponinterviewswithmorethanonehundredpeople,includingonewithMichelleherself,Mundycapturesthecomplexityofthisremarkablewomanandtheremarkablelifeshehaslived.