What Would Michelle Do?: A Modern-Day Guide to Living with Substance and Style [Hardcover]

One doesn't have to share the same political beliefs as Michelle Obama or even get into politics (I don't) at all to read What Would Michelle Do?: A Modern-Day Guide to Living with Substance and Style. This book features a myriad of inspiring and helpful tips on different subjects. One of my top favorite chapters is the first chapter. It talks about improving your self-esteem and your outlooks on life. It also goes on to talk about moving forward in life, and not letting people and or/things affect you - whether it is current or in the past.

Michelle is known for her unwavering confidence and down-to-earth personality, but she also has an impeccable sense of style that the media outlets can't help but notice! I put her in the ranks with people such as Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly when it comes to style and grace. As a fashion lover myself, the Fashion Forward chapter is another top favorite. I find Michelle Obama to be one the most inspirational fashionistas. I love that even though she can easily afford to buy top notch brands, she doesn't have any shame when it comes to shopping at stores such as Target, J.Crew, White House | Black Market, H&M, and Gap. This makes her style attainable and affordable for those who don't have the budget to dole out hundreds, or even thousands for couture brands.

This is only just a couple things about the book. The author managed to include a myriad of interesting topics. Her writing style will lure in people who don't like to read or hardly have any time to do so at all. I'm the latter. Needless to say, I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

I could tell from the very title of the book that WHAT WOULD MICHELLE DO? was going to be something fun and entertaining for individuals looking for examples of what was possible in life---and Allison Samuels didn't disappoint.

The book uses the example of the First Lady of the United States to show how you can be the best of yourself, regardless of where you are from, just by making smart decisions and knowing who you are. Though there are fun tips inside the book such as things to help you in shopping smart, looking your best and even going for what you want, there is really more on the level of showcasing the importance of making yourself noticeable and using your gifts to get where you desire to go.

In the case of Mrs. Obama she was taught early on to make a difference. Don't just follow the trends. Be a trailblazer yourself. You can be your best professionally and still be able to be the mate and parent that you want to be. You can have it all, but you have to be willing to work for it.

Men can learn alot from this as well. You have to surround yourself with individuals who want the best for you, that will be honest with you at all times and want to see you prosper. Along the way difficult choices will be made, but you have to be willing to rise up to meet them in order to get to the next level.

All of this is included in Samuels' book that should prove inspirational to anyone who has a desire to be the best of themselves. It's not about a political party. It's about a belief in yourself and what is possible. If you can focus on that, there is no way this book won't prove a resource for you.

"What Would Michelle Do?" is a book by Allison Samuels of the life, upbringing and nuances of the U.S. First Lady, Michelle Robinson Obama. It is not a book written by Obama, but her supposed in-depth attitudes, attributes and thoughts, crafted through an expert writer's eyes and ears along with knowledgeable resources.

This hard bound book has a pale lavender jacket cover with the First Lady smiling at the reader in her dark purple dress. The back jacket has two paragraphs about the book with no reviews. The inside front and back jacket briefly depict topics discussed along with a photograph of the writer and her short biography. The book is written in casual format with no obvious grammatical or typographical errors. Each chapter has a purple drawing of Michelle Obama at different stages of her life, which reminds the reader of Simplicity sewing pattern designs in the 1960s (young, too thin-waist Barbie-doll icons). Besides several fonts being used, the color purple highlights topics, special themes, tips or rules to remember.

This is virtually a self-help book for any woman who wants to excel, look or act like Michelle Obama. It breaks down to sections about the First Lady's idealistic childhood, her feeling of self-worth, her close relationships with girlfriends, mother and husband, her beauty tips including hair, make-up and clothing, attitudes about exercising, finding a soul-mate, marriage challenges, and parenting along with entertaining. It is a step-by-step, topic-by-topic compilation to achieve grace, class, style, etc - everything that Michelle Obama emulates.

Although Samuels does not know Mrs. Obama personally, she writes based on her sources, research and publications and pulls it off fairly well. The author is cheerleader, tutor, advisor, and go-to person if one wants to idolize and be like the President's wife. Several times you as the reader are comparing your own life, history, traits and beliefs to Obama, even when the topic does not mention the First Lady.

As per the author, the key to Obama's success is her valued belief in being sane, organized and structured in all facets of life. This is seen throughout the book's discussions of her upbringing and choices she makes for herself in regard to employment changes, selecting a spouse, better ways to parent and maintaining her public image. From hair wigs, make-up tips and types of shoes to protecting her morals or dealing with a weekend-only husband/father during early married life, Samuels applies her understanding of Michelle's core beliefs and morals. Obama's supposed favorite websites for clothes and make-up, Chicago restaurants, Facebook and texting tips, and home decoration along with favorite food recipes are included. There are several quotes from not only Obama but friends, teachers, stylist and others.

This book is an easy read and a perfect gift for the young woman entering adulthood or one in their twenties as it not only can help navigate, confirm and encourage maturity, grace, class and style in the reader, but also establish and ground her own beliefs, healthy attributes and realistic attitudes.