Listen free for 30 days

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Becoming cover art

Becoming

Written by: Michelle Obama
Narrated by: Michelle Obama
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $44.75

Buy Now for $44.75

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former first lady of the United States.

Number one New York Times best seller 

Watch the Emmy-nominated Netflix original documentary

Oprah’s Book Club Pick

NAACP Image Award Winner

One of Essence’s 50 most impactful Black books of the past 50 years  

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As first lady of the United States of America - the first African American to serve in that role - she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the US and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations - and whose story inspires us to do the same.

©2018 Michelle Obama (P)2018 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“A serious work of candid reflection by a singular figure of early-twenty-first-century America... Becoming is refined and forthright, gracefully written and at times laugh-out-loud funny.” (Isabel Wilkerson, The New York Times Book Review)

Becoming is inspirational without trying to be. From the first words, the very warmth that permeates its author emanates from the pages.... Becoming manages to be a coming-of-age tale, a love story and a family saga all in one. More importantly, this book is a reminder that America is still a work-in-progress, and that hope can be an action word if we allow it to be. Becoming is a balm that America needs, from a woman America does not yet deserve.” (Angie Thomas, Time)

“Deeply personal and refreshingly honest... She’s thoughtful, humorous, bracingly revealing, and when it’s time, she does us all the favor of showing us the human side of a man worshipped by so many.... It’s human and genuine and welcoming to see the layers of humanity she holds open.... Michelle Obama’s story can maybe inspire you to find a path for your own story.” (Shonda Rhimes, Shondaland)

Featured Article: Great Podcast Moments with Michelle Obama


With the launch of Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, we're shining a light on the former First Lady’s special appearances as a guest on other podcasts. Unsurprisingly, the podcast world suits Mrs. Obama—she’s easy to talk to and a good listener. We’ve dug up some of her best podcast conversations, where she opens up about her childhood, life at the White House, parenting, and so much more. Needless to say, we’re definitely listening.

What listeners say about Becoming

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8,597
  • 4 Stars
    930
  • 3 Stars
    169
  • 2 Stars
    50
  • 1 Stars
    35
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7,654
  • 4 Stars
    678
  • 3 Stars
    121
  • 2 Stars
    27
  • 1 Stars
    27
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7,349
  • 4 Stars
    909
  • 3 Stars
    149
  • 2 Stars
    41
  • 1 Stars
    33

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I tried so hard to love this book...but couldn't..

I was so excited about this book, but after listening for about 2 hours I gave up---the utopian childhood, coupled with seemingly an endless amount of perfection (school, home, life) I stopped. I am partial to finding a kin to people's greatness and flaws---the flaws make it real and demonstrate the life we all truly live. I think Michelle Obama is amazing--I think this book made me feel less than perfect in comparison and therefore made me stop listening. It may actually be her real life was that perfect and that is amazing, it just didn't hold my attention or make me hope with her and care about her....

57 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Okay

I always find hearing about people’s lives and backgrounds interesting. And this is was. But- that’s all it was. I was kind of hoping for a deeper message, theme etc. Some commentary on... well anything. But it’s just an “and then this happened” type of biography, listing things she did and said.

31 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing woman!!

everyone young woman should read this book, it is powerful and could change your future.

19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Boring book with unnecessary details

Bought the book to learn about the life of Michael Obama but didn't know she would give such tiny details which are not even important such as her 3rd grade classmate full name. She goes on to tell her story with such details the entire time which gets really boring. Struggled to finish it. Not worth listening to if you want to know her inspiring story.

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

About BECOMING

This beautiful story is told so personally by this magnificent, “ordinary” woman.
I learned so much listening to it; about Chicago, where I, too grew up...more than twenty years earlier than Michelle. I learned about the evolving city; a thousand things I never knew or understood.
I have a new appreciation for the stories we all carry and how imperative it is to tell them. Michelle describes the many ways of becoming; that we’re never finished or finite— changes weave
backward and forward in our stories to give us more choices—better choices. Spending all these hours absorbing all she offers has been the greatest privilege. I miss hearing her talking to me already. Perhaps one of the most important gifts to me in hearing this is a new respect for—a new understanding of optimism. It’s not something we stand around waiting to feel — it’s something we grow and give.
Thank you Michelle. ❤️🤸🏿‍♀️

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

inspiring

This is the first book I finished on audible. It is so touching and inspiring that I look forward every time I have bits and pieces of time to listen to it. Michelle Obama told her story so authentically and passionately that I did not want it to end, also did not want to put it away. And I am not even American. Recommended to all.

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intimate and inspiring

Michelle Obama invites us through an honest, candid tour of her life, proving that she is a remarkable person, yet very human. I will look for more to come from this woman as she still has so much to share. Thank you for sharing your story so far.

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Saddening

I was actually saddened by this book, in how a person can view the world and her circumstances as negatively as she does. I'll account but one example here.

The first section of the book details her growing up in a two-parent middle-class home in the 1970's, in the United States. She accounts how the piano she took classes on was not tuned properly, and there may have been some broken keys, which she realized after playing later on a nice grande piano shortly after.

It is simply amazing that people before us set up a system of strings of particular length and thickness, aligning them in such a way for them to play particular tones at a keystroke, ordering them by semi-tone. It's amazing that people would develop a skill on top of that, to arrange the playing of notes in such a way as to create music with their hands off of those strings. It's amazing that people further developed a system of language to music, and that people before her birth designed musical pieces for others to play and to practice. The very fact that she was able to play the piano at night, with electricity, puts her above almost all humans in history in terms of opportunity and privilege.

Instead of seeing any of that and being grateful, she ends that section by pointing out how - she imagines - some of the other children probably had better pianos than she did, that they were probably tuned closer to that grande piano than hers was, and probably didn't have broken keys. Thus, she probably had less privilege than other people did, and for this we should really take note.

I really did view pianos that way (the positive way) when I was a kid. Heck, every day I was in continual amazement at how many things people set up for us. I was amazed that a stranger actually comes to our house every week to take our garbage away forever. I was amazed at the idea of a television. I didn't have access to a piano as she did, but their very existence on this earth was amazing to me, and I was grateful to be in a world where such things even existed.

I strongly urge potential readers not to learn from this person. There are far better ways to look at life than through the dance of mimetic desire, looking for crisis and scapegoats in the form of oppressors. The one value in this book is that she seems unaware of this condition of her character, giving us a brutally honest exposition because she does not know to guard it.

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Such an amazing human being.

Lovingly written and narrated. Smart and funny. Such a fierce and focused woman. Refreshingly candid. Everything I hoped for. Not only a good role model, but love the resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant First Lady, Brilliant Book

If you want to read this book to learn more about Barak Obama, don't. You will get some insights into the man's character and his story from the perspective of a loving wife, but that's anout it. This not what the book is about.

Mrs. Obama describes her journey and her family's journey eloquently and honestly. She shares enough to show you a glimpse into her life, but not so much as to endanger her family's privacy.

Throughout the book, I felt that I am listening to a brilliant mind, to a Harvard educated lawyer, to a loving wife and to "The Mother in Chief". Always compassionate, grounded, reasonable and caring.

My only gripe is that I wish the narration would have been done by a professional narrator. Mrs. Obama does great, but it could get a bit monotonous at times.

7 people found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kenneth Woodward
  • Kenneth Woodward
  • 2018-12-05

Didn't know what I was getting into

I highly recommend the audio format as it is read by the author.

I spent most of their eight years in office rebelling against anything the Obama's sought to accomplish. Sadly, I let the political pundits and partisan politics have too much influence on my thinking.

I was excited that we had our first African-American president, but I couldn't fully embrace all of the policies, and therefore was unwilling to embrace this presidency.

My last several years I have invested time and effort to connect with others. The greater the perceived difference, the better the conversation. I always learn more, appreciate others in new ways, and my life is richer as a result.

For those who are fans of the Obama's, this will be an enjoyable read to encounter the experience from Michelle's perspective.

It is more important for those like me to read. I am amazed at how the political machine works to divide and demonize people. It is difficult to witness and does nothing to build up our country.

I see how I have been complicit due to my silence or unwillingness to question what is being broadcast across the various media platforms.

Politics and religion should be talked about at the dinner table, because that is where we meet the humanity of others, and it's harder to hate those up close.

2,144 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for J. James-Long
  • J. James-Long
  • 2018-11-15

Thank you, Michelle. That was some speech!

I've been a member of Audible since 2002. I have 670 titles in my library and have listened to all but a handful. They cover almost every genre and I have to say that, while every biography has a unique angle with worthwhile message, Michelle Obama's story is exceptional.

How often are the words in an audiobook actually written by the subject, and not just written in first person by a ghostwriter? How often does an author read more than the first chapter, like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his book? A few. And mostly by actors or comedians who are used to the work.

I loved this book, not only for what Michelle had to say, but because SHE recorded her words in her own voice. This has an effect like no other. The only other book I can think of that stepped out of the audiobook formula was Ruth Bader Ginsburg's story, with its interjection of the actual recordings of events in her life. In Michelle's book you feel like she is sitting next to you, being her true self and telling you her sincerest thoughts over a cup of tea. It is like being in a room with doilies on the coffee table and her aunt playing piano downstairs.

On finishing "Becoming" I have to remind myself that she doesn't know me. If I see her on the street I can't just say "Hi Michelle!" But in this review I can at least say "thank you." Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your story so far. You still have so much good to offer the world, and this story is a great beginning. You are reaching a network of people through this book who are poised on the balls of their toes, ready for something. You are still young (yes!) and positioned to harness all the love and goodness to create something good. You show through example that the world can become a better place through one hand holding another, one mind inspiring empowerment in another. Now go build your own personal life work! Follow up on the plans you made to build your own career. Here is a hug for you!

Now I have to go find you on Twitter or wherever you are.

904 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Richard Sullivan
  • Richard Sullivan
  • 2018-12-22

Great story - from a 54 yo white republican man

I was not a fan of President Obama's policies and views, but I did think he and Michelle we really good people.

I just like good stories with good people; Michelle's life is very different from mine, and I appreciate her experiences and contributions to make us a better, more elevated society.

I only cringed a couple times when she got political and implied only the Republican party dig in their heals and are partisan. but it was infrequently enough for me to still consider this a great book.

For you democrats, since I read this, and since Michelle and W became good friends, 41 - A Portrait of My Father By: George W. Bush. I think you will be equally surprised - regardless of your political view,

548 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for WonderVee
  • WonderVee
  • 2019-10-31

Boring

I’ve read so many amazing memoirs and this one just didn’t capture me at all. This story sounds like a Disney fairytale for little girls. Everything Is just perfect in her life, perfect mom and dad and brother and husband. Even the arguments with her fiancé were perfect. Boring, boring, boring, had to stop reading.

294 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for lkm
  • lkm
  • 2018-11-13

Can't stop listening!

I could not wait for this to drop into my account - probably more than any other that I have had. I have had many books here, that the author has read, and it really does not turn out well...I was a little worried. I know Mrs. Obama is amazing, very sophisticated (as well as down to earth) but still - narrating is a real skill, as it is really like acting, but she nailed it.

As I started Becoming, I was absolutely drawn in. I was blown away by her writing and her narrative style. I had so much to do, yet could not stop listening! She has the kind of style that reaches down into your soul, like you are friends. I knew some about her early life, but it was nice to hear more. Mrs. Obama's descriptive style is really amazing; when she was talking about her life after and the freedom, I felt like I was there with there.

I absolutely loved this one - this is a don't miss!

251 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Steve Mac
  • Steve Mac
  • 2019-05-05

Wow What a Disappointment

I was and am a huge fan of President & Mrs. Obama and have always found them to be insightful inspirational people, so admittedly I came in with high expectations.

Boy, was this a massive disappointment. I'm not sure exactly what it was, maybe it was the poor my martyrdom she dragged on about. Wow, I sure thought she had a lot more good things in her life than bad stuff but those seem to be in passing. I'm a thrifty person so hearing her whining about taking a huge pay cut i 1989 from $120,000 to $60,000 to do something she wanted to do left me aghast. I fully appreciate the % cut, but she had a husband also making a low for lawyer but still a lawyer salary. I appreciate she took a big hit but she was still making a bunch of money compared to most Americans. Double that for her husband and she's in the very top of salary structure back then. Very off putting. There were all sorts of those stories. I thought he was a great transitional president and she was a great partner. I jsut don't feel sorry for her and that seemed like her #1 thesis in the story. Yuck.
One good thing about the story--while it started out awful it did move up to mediocre at the end.

211 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 2019-12-03

Whew. What a story.

From the South Side of Chicago to the WHITE HOUSE! Whew. Let that sink in. As a black woman, this book moved me differently than any other book I’ve read in recent memory. Letting me know it’s ok that I’m still “Becoming” and that I have the right to enter any space I want to! I loved Mrs. Obama before, but I was introduced to Michelle Robinson Obama and I love her even more. She read her own story like she was talking directly to me and I loved that. It was like sitting down at your Auntie House and she was telling you all tea over a good glass of wine! I’m so thankful for her sharing her story and being so open and honest about it all. What a story!

207 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Vedeena
  • Vedeena
  • 2019-07-27

Very Slow

I have to admit that I'm disappointed with this book. It's incredibly slow so I've been listening to it in double time. I've been trudging through it looking for the pearls of wisdom or deep insight, but it's mostly filled with the minutia of the day to day tasks. I've recently watched the documentary "fed up" and the ineffectiveness of the Move campaign. I was hoping to get Michelle's viewpoint on the challenges and why she gave up on her commitment to real change but she simply glossed over this topic only offering a high level synopsis.

202 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Shantaviae
  • Shantaviae
  • 2018-12-28

I thought I knew her, but I was sorely mistaken

I always approach the task of getting to know someone beyond their public facade with a bit of apprehension. Even though I pre-ordered Becoming without a moments hesitation, it took me sometime to get started and even to complete reading her story. In my mind, Michelle Obama has always been a porcelain figure held up by the black community as someone to admire and aspire to be like. I think that I was afraid to dig-in because I didn't want to learn whether or not my superwoman had a kryptonite. In the end, I came to the breathtaking realization that she and I had more in common than not. We share the same fears and doubts, and with our grit and the support of our loved ones we have been empowered to overcome them. I take the blame for holding her so far away from me all this time. Now I can truly embrace her as not only our FLOTUS, but as another little brown girl from the South side. Thank you Michelle for sharing your story with such grace and I'm looking forward to cheering you on from the sideline along the rest of your journey!

179 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kat Schurer
  • Kat Schurer
  • 2018-12-26

I really did give the benefit of doubt

I went into reading this book with the intent to be inspired and hoping to find a new level of respect for Michelle.... Open minded, I thought perhaps I was tainted by the media. I’m a 40 yr old, successful woman entrepreneur. I was left depressed, frustrated, appalled, and disappointed. Here is a woman who has excelled in every stage of her life (even in grade school) and was married to a man who held the most powerful job in our country, and still, someway, somehow, she still manages to portray herself at a “disadvantage.”

She has this enormous platform to be a change agent and an inspiring voice for women, and she completely missed the mark. Literally the only people who I believe could relate to this book are 1) her biological children who want a full history of Michelle’s life and 2) black women whose aspirations are to attend or already attend an Ivy League school.

Michele is angry. She is angry she was born a woman. She is angry she took a back seat to Obama. She at one point appears to be angry to have to go through the challenges of Motherhood. I’m really quite saddened for her. Truly. She has been afforded amazing opportunities that less than 1% of Americans receive, and still, she never overcame the victim mentality.







178 people found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Cheerioh
  • Cheerioh
  • 2019-05-04

Génial, passionnant, tellement éclairant

Je me souviens de mon plaisir à savoir qu'un homme noir avait enfin atteint les hauts sphères du pouvoir, je me souviens d'avoir apprécié le caractère exceptionnel de son épouse. C'était un vrai bonheur de la découvrir dans cette autobiographie, lue par elle qui plus est.

Le couple Obama est exceptionnel, nul doute après la lecture de ce livre audio. Je n'ose imaginer leur déception à l'arrivée putride de l'autre, l'erreur de parcours. Elle l'évoque à la fin, ça donne la nausée.

Le livre raconte son parcours à elle évidemment, petite fille de milieu très modeste, avec un père handicapé très courageux, sa rencontre avec Obama, leur vie de couple, l'éducation de leurs enfants.

J'adore son franc parler, même quand elle évoque les sacrifices consentis pour la carrière de son mari, les doutes, les frustrations. Elle évoque son engagement en tant que première dame.

Sa lecture est touchante, dynamique.

Non mais quelle bonne femme ! Un vrai modèle !

J'adore, je recommande. En plus on découvre les petits secrets d'arrière cuisine de la maison blanche, c'est très divertissant.

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Client d'Amazon
  • Client d'Amazon
  • 2019-07-11

Don't judge on the beginning

inspiring book which offers a different perspective. I stopped after the first chapters, but then picked up the listening again and DO NOT REGRET at all

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Pimpao
  • Pimpao
  • 2019-05-31

bof

raconte une vie d'abord en solo, puis à deux avec Obama.... sans aucun intérêt sauf pour des gens qui veulent savoir les petits détails

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 2019-01-22

Amazing !!

I feel so empowered after this book. It made me reflect on many aspects of life and was both fun and educational. Thanks for sharing your story, Michelle!!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Rose L'étoile
  • Rose L'étoile
  • 2022-12-18

Humble by exceptional life of an ordinary women

You can only like this book, very well written, enlightning to see the challenges faced by someone in extraordinary circonstances, trying to live up by her standard. if I had to summarize the book, I would say: Rigor, work, Optimism and allies are Key for your success! thank you Ms Obama

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for nmillot
  • nmillot
  • 2022-12-12

A wondefully inspiring memoir !

I loved every word, insight and emotion shared so genuinely by Michelle Obama. From beginning to end, I just could not stop listening to Michelle's account of her life from her early childhood until the last day in the White House. Her inspiring words will stay witj me for a long time.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for P. Laurence
  • P. Laurence
  • 2022-12-11

Interesting

I liked knowing more about her life, it was inspiring and very well read by Michelle herself.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 2022-10-30

so inspiring and motivating

longest audio book have ever have, and it took me the shortest time to finish.
"For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end."

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Spagnola
  • Spagnola
  • 2022-10-28

Inspirational

Easy to follow, very interesting. It's a good way to know more about what means to be exposed when you are in such an important job.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 2022-10-17

One of the most inspiring books I’ve ever read

‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama is a story of a woman who happened to live a really extraordinary life. A woman like any of us who took chances and risks, made mistakes and learnt from them, who’s living her life in dignity.