Lean In for Graduates: With New Chapters by Experts, Including Find Your First Job, Negotiate Your Salary, and Own Who You Are

by Sheryl Sandberg

Expanded and updated exclusively for graduates just entering the workforce, this extraordinary edition of Lean In includes a letter to graduates from Sheryl Sandberg and six additional chapters from experts offering advice on finding and getting the most out of a first job; resume writing; best interviewing practices; negotiating your salary; listening to your inner voice; owning who you are; and leaning in for millennial men.

In 2013, Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In became a massive cultural phenomenon and its title became an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of best-seller lists both nationally and internationally, igniting global conversations about women and ambition. Sandberg packed theaters, dominated op-ed pages, appeared on every major television show and on the cover of TIME magazine, and sparked ferocious debate about women and leadership.

Now, this enhanced edition provides the entire text of the original book updated with more recent statistics and features a passionate letter from Sandberg encouraging graduates to find and commit to work they love. A combination of inspiration and practical advice, this new edition will speak directly to graduates and, like the original, will change lives.

New Material for the Graduate Edition:
- A Letter to Graduates from Sheryl Sandberg
- Find Your First Job, by Mindy Levy (Levy has more than twenty years of experience in all phases of organizational management and holds degrees from Wharton and Penn)
- Negotiate Your Salary, by Kim Keating (Keating is the founder and managing director of Keating Advisors)
- Man Up: Millennial Men and Equality, by Kunal Modi (Modi is a consultant at McKinsey & Company and a recent graduate of Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School)
- Leaning In Together, by Rachel Thomas (Thomas is the president of Lean In)
- Own Who You Are, by Mellody Hobson (Hobson is the president of Ariel Investments)
- Listen to Your Inner Voice, by Rachel Simmons (Simmons is cofounder of the Girls Leadership Institute)
- 12 Lean In stories (500-word essays), by readers around the world who have been inspired by Sandberg

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Feminism, Leadership, Audiobook, Womens

406 pages, Hardcover

First published April 8, 2014

About the author

SHERYL SANDBERG is chief operating officer at Facebook, overseeing the firm's business operations. Prior to Facebook, Sheryl was vice president of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google, chief of staff for the United States Treasury Department under President Clinton, a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, and an economist with the World Bank.

Sheryl received a BA summa cum laude from Harvard University and an MBA with highest distinction from Harvard Business School.

Sheryl is the co-author of Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy with Wharton professor and bestselling author Adam Grant, which will be released April 24, 2017. She is also the author of the bestsellers Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead and Lean In for Graduates. She is the founder of the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to build a more equal and resilient world through two key initiatives, LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org (launching April 2017). Sheryl serves on the boards of Facebook, the Walt Disney Company, Women for Women International, ONE, and SurveyMonkey.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I might not be graduating from university or looking for a job right now, but later I will. This book made me realize many things I dismissed before. I never even knew that even in the US, there's still a considerable discrimination between both genders. I support every word of her book and the next is to be bought. This was my first feminist book. And definitely not the last. I truly admire Sheryl Sandberg, this book helped me gain confidence to speak up. I even told my friends about it and encouraged them to lean in and try to achieve something since many don't dream big. I even told some my guy friends and one responded: "it's your fault, you don't take any chances." Well, he is kinda right. That's why this book should be read by everyone. Whatever is your gender, race, nationality, it doesn't matter. Reaching equality today will benefit both parties. Having the world where 50% of leaders, CEOs, managers, politicians... who are women is a deed that must be accomplished. Sure, it won't be easy, but the current records aren't satisfying at all and women gain more courage and confidence and demand their rights.

You can't ask how you would manage if you took this promotion between your home and work when you don't even have a boyfriend. Marissa Mayer, currently serving as the president and CEO of Yahoo! accepted this position when she was pregnant! She's an incredible woman. We all should follow her footsteps. But of course, everyone has his own ambitions. Some prefer staying home looking after their kids based on their own convictions and it's okay because that's what they want. Everybody should work hard to achieve what they want. Was it the president of their country or a teacher or a full-time mom.

And now this book left me wondering if women in the US and the UK still suffer from gender discrimination, in salaries, positions (especially leadership) and in many other domains, what will become of me in a country where only men with powerful backgrounds hold authority? It's time for a change, we are the change, our generation must lean in, not only women but also men. Somebody has to take a step forward and encourage the other women, so why don't every one of us try to be this someone?

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

IQ "'As black women, we know from early childhood that we are going to be discriminated against. It is a fact that runs through most of our lives. So when we get to corporate America, there are no surprises for us. White women, however, are in shock'. In this book, Sheryl writes that she graduated from college believing that equality would be achieved in our generation. I was raised to know we still had a long way to go." Mellody Hobson, 225

BUY THIS BOOK/CHECK IT OUT FROM THE LIBRARY IF ONLY TO READ MELLODY HOBSON's CHAPTER, "Own Who You Are" aka see color and embrace it. She is phenomenal and her chapter is so on-point and needed to be said to the audience that this book is trying to reach. That quote from her chapter is the absolute truth and the reason I read the book after getting into an argument with friends (one who was reading the book and the other one hadn't) about white feminism and how Black women don't have time to be mad every time we get discriminated against we just have to prove ourselves and make it better for the next. I could write a whole review on her chapter alone, it is just so damn good. Anyway after the argument I decided to read the book for myself so I would not just be spouting what other people who read the book said.

As a rising junior in college this was both relevant to me (the job search is coming up!) and terrifying (the job search is coming up!). I found the advice in here to be helpful, none of it seemed earth shattering although I would have had no idea how to negotiate my first salary (or even that I should) but I wonder if that's something my parents would have eventually told me/I would have read elsewhere when I was really doing my research. It's definitely a useful book although I don't think I subscribe to the notion of trickle down feminism and the author's whole chapter on having a great partner clearly doesn't apply to single moms (it could by relying on friends/extended family but she doesn't make that argument). But she tries to avoid controversial policies and manages that skillfully which makes the book helpful but kind of boring and I think, elitist. But it would have to be a whole 'nother book I guess to go into policy and how feminism needs to be applied to fighting poverty, improving education, reproductive health reform, immigration reform, etc etc. She is clearly only talking to the upper class/upper middle class in this book. My friends all come from working class backgrounds and out of 4 of them only 1 had ever heard of her and her book. So I don't think her message is spreading very far to the masses. But it's an important read for those who want to succeed in white collar jobs (corporate America, tech, the govt.). And I think I do fall in her demographic so I found the stories inspiring and encouraging (although I wish there had been more from those who work in the public sector!).

Another good quote: "You know that famous saying 'Do one thing every day that scares you'? Well, I can't stand it. It's a misleading statement that can hold you back. Who wants to be scared every day? How about 'Do one thing every day that makes you slightly nervous'? Not as catchy, I know, but that's actually the way real, meaningful change happens." Ty-Licia Hooker, pg. 267

[Naoms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Ultimately, very helpful. 2015 will be the year i Lean In.

[Valisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I feel bad for white women. As black women, we know from early childhood that we are going to be discriminated against. It is a fact that runs through most of our lives. So when we get to corporate America, there are no surprises for us. White women, however, are in shock." - Mellody Hobson.
The first 200+ pages didn't fully sit well with me until I read Mellody's chapter. I couldn't understand why I constantly kept thinking throughout the reading of this book, 'why are we discussing this or why are we discussing that?', but then I read Mellody's chapter and it all came together. The first half of the book comes off as Sheryl coming to terms that there are two form of white privilege: white male privilege and white female privilege, and unfortunately they are not equal. It was her first encounter with discrimination and it took her almost 20+ years to experience it while a black female experience it the moment she is born. I so desperately wanted to embrace this book to the fullest to feel empowered, but I was forcing myself to relate to Sheryl. She listed countless sources to support her claims, but most of the studies were done at Ivy League schools. The last time I checked Ivy League graduate students are not the best representation of general America, so I found the results a little hard to relate to. I almost gave up with the book and then at last moment new voices entered the book. People that didn't come from the most privileged of backgrounds told their stories, and even men were included in the conversation. I was finally able to relate to the writer. And most importantly, race was finally being acknowledge as part of the female struggle of equality in the working environment. Sheryl hinted at it here and there, but it was finally being addressed head on. At some point in the book Sheryl mentioned how female is a word used to describe her position, for example Female COO, she goes on to mention how she dreams of the day when female is no longer placed in front of the position she holds. I immediately thought how I dream of the day when only one adjective is used to describe a minority woman. More times then not when a minority woman holds a position she will have two adjectives placed in front of her position for example, the Indian female doctor. The last hundred pages of Lean in were its saving grace. It made it more relatable for the non-white female readers. It addressed topics that Sheryl didn't address for reasons unknown to me. I don't think Sheryl did a horrible job of writing this book at all. She did encourage me to lean in, it's just the constant illusion that the race of a woman doesn't effect her in the work environment as much as her gender bothered me. We cannot talk about equality for men and women if we don't address the inequality that occurs within women because of their race.

[Gary Beauregard Bottomley · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seemed to me this book was written by somebody who was out of touch with reality or clearly a reality that doesn’t intersect with the world I live in.

There are a lot of platitudes in this book. It reads often like one long TED lecture. I hate TED lectures because they see the world in simple terms through the one variable that the speaker is focused on and pretends is all important. The world is not one dimensional. The world never worlds in a vacuum and there are often moving parts that interact in unknown ways.

The author makes the fatal error of thinking that the ‘they’ of the world wants to reason and be rational in their considerations with you. In the world she was thrown into perhaps they did, perhaps when you get to have Larry Summers as your boss when you’re an intern, or you get to interview with Mark Zuckerberg for a career and so on the world is reasonable and rational, but the world I used to live in my starting premises were different and more realistic. Sometimes one was grateful to just have a job let alone a career with a path.

I really hate the author’s point that when she quoted Secretary of State Albright ‘that there is something wrong with a woman who doesn’t help other woman’. Sometimes the world is not reasonable and rational and it would be as if the trees said the axe is one of us because it is made of wood and we should help it just because it is like us. Seeing the world through rose colored glasses (‘la vie en rose’) makes the world a shade of rose that might not correspond to reality. I suspect the author’s concept of struggle is different from mine, and mere survival is not included in her definition.

I stopped this book at the 500 word first person essays. I don’t like anecdotal while trying to understand the world. Also, any time someone glowingly praises Colin Powell and quotes him as an authority, as this author did, I only wish they would also bring up his speech in front of the UN that led us into a war of choice because ‘in this vial I have in my hand there could be enough anthrax to kill’ and ‘those trucks in this picture in front of this base weren’t here the next day and could be used to transport weapons of mass destruction’, or later he would say ‘there will be weapons of mass destruction’ so he never had to answer what would it mean as they were not being found.

I sincerely believe society works best when we empower all members of society as the author says, and that valuing diversity is not only great for its own sake; it also makes the world run better. But, overall the author seemed to live in a different world than the one I exist in.

[Alireza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a valuable starting point for people who want to raise their awareness about the existing subconscious gender-based biases. It is not easy to to understand the depth of a problem without ever having experienced, something that is at least a bit similar, yourself; this might be an obstacle to men in the case of subjects relating to gender-based discriminations. Instead of jumping to the problems directly, the author takes you to a personal journey of her life after graduation and how different events have made her feel like. I think this approach allows development of sympathy and mutual understanding, and this unique perspective is what I value the most about this book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sheryl Sandberg! I'm going to have to buy this book so I can highlight just about every page. I have not read the original Lean In, which was an instant must read. This edition adds some career advice for graduates and personal anecdotes from prominent female leaders.

What I found completely fascinating about the book is how Sheryl takes every type of behavior, breaks it down and shows the ultimate consequence. For instance, don't quit your job until you are actually ready to leave. If you want to have a kid a few years from now, don't turn down opportunities because it will conflict with your future schedule.

The other thing that was actually nice was that is wasn't a man bashing book. Yes, there are plenty of examples on ingrained social behaviors that are infuriating. If men are aggressive, it's because they are getting things done. It's respectable. If women are aggressive, they are alienating bitches. But the overriding message is that to bring women up does not mean that we are keeping men down. When the majority of households need both spouses working to survive, equal wages and promotion opportunities benefit the whole family.

This is a valuable resource and encouraging read for women of any age. I will definitely use these tactics to help my own daughter succeed and to further my own ambitions.

[Jennifer (Insert Lit Pun) · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for the original Lean In, 2 for the extra material in this edition (more on that later). Sandberg talks in a down-to-earth way about the underrepresentation of women in positions of power, and uses statistics, studies, and personal anecdotes to give women advice on how to avoid holding themselves back in the workforce. I was worried that she’d overstate women’s abilities and responsibilities to affect change, but she does a great job of acknowledging systemic problems while encouraging women to recognize their agency. It all comes from a very corporate, heterosexual, traditional framework, but Sandberg is upfront about the limits of her perspective, and a lot of the lessons in this book can be applied well beyond the areas she explores. The extra material, although well-written, mostly consists of bland cheerleading and general life advice (because each contributor was given very little space to make his/her points, and most were overambitious in that space), so I definitely recommend the original Lean In without the supplementary sections. But overall, I can see why this book took the corporate world by storm, and it gave me a lot to consider as I continue my own job search.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only a great How-to book on navigating workplace obstacles like overt and subtle sexism, but also a great in depth discussion of what really happens as a powerful female. Sandberg uses examples from her personal life, as well as some of her colleagues and friends, that shed light on what women face every single day walking into the office. She also provides in depth examination on what built the expectations women face, and how they are still perpetuated today.

I've experienced similar grey area situations that make you uncomfortable and have no formal well known plan of action for standing up for yourself. Sandberg handles these situations with strength and demand for respect, but also an open and authentic approach that nods to her "femininity" as is expected by her male colleagues. While I have taken a more brazen "this is what i deserve" approach in the past, she explains why leaving the hard lining at home and taking a softer approach is better most of the time (and when demanding respect is necessary). As many of us expected the environments we walked in to to be further along in terms of equality, many of us are more angered by these situations than those who have prepared for it. She goes into how institutions in place prevent this dramatic of a shift to happen swiftly, and how we can help build each other up to contribute to progressing equality for the long haul.

This book is a realistic approach (because who would need this female specific book in a perfect world) to what women can do to feel more confident at work, what to be prepared for as you climb up the ladder, discussions to have with bosses/coworkers when you are accused of being "bossy" or "unlikable", and how to appeal to- but not necessarily succumb to- society expectations of how women should behave. Definitely a book every woman should read!

[Batzul Gerelsaikhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book sooner. Much sooner.

Sheryl Sandberg talks about successful women's career, life struggles, gender stratification, "coming back after maternity leave", marriage and family struggles, hate and jealousy in a hilarious writing! She is funny and can be related without any shame.

It is so saddening to hear that she lost her husband this year, which she often praised in her book as the best partner (husband, father to her kids and her best friend) she could have asked for.

I urge all the women out there to grab this book and read it with an open mind. Don't lie to yourself that the stories she tells are not relatable :)

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sheryl Sandberg made some incredible points about biases in the workplace. I enjoyed reading about her advice on getting a seat in the table. Her ideas about equal partnership in marriages and childbearing were insightful as well. However it’s very clear that a lot of her advice only applies to wealthy women. She acknowledges her privilege however she doesn’t really have any words for women who don’t share her elite status

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was AMAZING! 😍 I suggest this book for everyone! discusses about life in the workforce. I was deeply inspired to make a change for women in the workplace. I learned so many helpful tips that were so RELEVANT with my graduation date in December!

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given the original Lean In 4 stars, but the additions to the for graduates edition was not well done.

Maybe I feel this way because, although I read this as a recent graduate, I'm not a recent high school or undergraduate graduate. I just graduated from graduate school, after many years of having worked after undergrad. Although, I don't think that has really caused me to have a bias.

What I did not realize originally is that the first half of this book is the original Lean In, without any changes whatsoever. I loved this and when I saw that I still had the other half of the book left to read, I was so excited that there was still more to go!

Then I got to the second half. The second half is filled with random essays by random people, where they reflect on their professional lives and relate it back to themes mentioned in Sheryl Sandberg's portion of the book. This was boring. Had these essays been interjected within the original Lean In, allowing Lean In to be the text and these additions to serve as small notes to further illustrate points as they were made, it could have been better. But instead, it was a lazy appendage to the end of the original Lean In. I was expecting the second half to match the first half and instead it was an appendix that just kept going.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is partly about feminism and partly about working in general. It was a very interesting read, because in a few months I will (probably) start working in a male-dominated field. It is not often that you read a book exactly at the right moment in your life.
I would recommend the Graduate Edition to anyone in their 20s. The original book is supplemented with a letter from Sheryl and a collection of essays from various authors. I thought the essays at the end were at least as valuable as the book. The diversity of stories and voices was especially pleasant to read after reading Sandberg's monologue.

[Dakshata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a book that is a must read for all women ! The writing style is engaging and the author mentions anecdotes that every woman can relate to. I found the book a little more suitable for women who have been in the workforce for a few years, but the last few chapters are extremely useful for recent graduates. So all in all, if you're looking for an inspiring read, look no further !

[Kathy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

The added chapter contain very useful additional information as well as memorable testimonials from those who've participated in Lean In circles and similar support groups. The additional essays were especially thought-provoking; I encourage those who've read the original Lean In to peruse the added chapters if possible.

[Alysyn Reinhardt]

Getting this book because I follow Rosianna Halse Rojas on Youtube & she made a wonderful argument for it...as well as contributing to it.

[Nandita Damaraju · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give this 6 stars if I could. For a young woman who has just ventured out into the “real world”, navigating the labyrinth of your career and life (a.k.a. Adulting) can be quite daunting. This was just the book I needed! I spent two weeks reading this relatively small book, because every line struck a chord with me and sent me into a tangential train of thought. I could relate to so many things mentioned in the book, that I had previously dismissed as a personal flaw or had even failed to notice. For example; the dreaded impostor syndrome gnawing at you from time to time, the “tiara-effect” where you wait around to be recognized for your efforts, the societal push to start focusing on family and the umpteen biases that we as women have been normalized to accept and ignore. It was a consolation to learn that I was not alone, but it was also disheartening to realize that women at large are piqued by these challenges. The book also focused a great deal on raising children and “having it all”. As a recent graduate, these are challenges I do not yet face, but being surrounded by strong women with demanding careers throughout my life, I could sympathize with every word she wrote. And even though I couldn’t personally relate to those passages, they gave me a good idea of what I should expect in the years to come. The book concludes with wonderful personal anecdotes from WOMEN AND MEN, who despite numerous challenges, have been motivated to lean in and motivate others to lean in. I would highly recommend this book to EVERY young woman out there. Since we need to change attitudes as a society, I would also recommend this book to all young men out there.

[Sibrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Te da una buena perspectiva sobre lo que es ser mujer en el ambiente corporativo y bastante validación y copium (?) respecto a que las cosas son una realidad y no eres tú quien las imagina.

Dicho eso, está un poco cargado de echaleganismo, tiene un pov dentro de lo que cabe muy privilegiado y evita temas más incómodos y estructurales los cuales pueden ser la realidad de una importante mayoría en números, pero minoría en voz. No estoy segura de que a través de puras acciones individuales se pueda Vencer Al Sistema, y menos cuando se intenta de parte de el, sonriendo y bien portadita.

Bueno para entrar en materia y poner lo básico en la mesa, pero se queda un poco corto, o bien el ambiente ha evolucionado lo suficiente como para que no haya envejecido tan bien.

Comentario aparte, hay mucho que cuestionar porque hasta hace poco no sabía que por muchos años fue pareja de Bobby Kotick (quien conozca cualquier detalle sobre el fiasco de Acti-Blizz lo conocerá) y este año le abrieron una investigación por, -aparentemente-, amenazar medios para proteger la imagen del mismo. No estoy segura de qué pensar de que una representante tan famosa del movimiento esté involucrada de tal modo, y quizás no tengamos manera de saberlo pero no deja de ser un trago incómodo puesto en perspectiva para todo lo demás.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suggested reading for anyone stepping into the job world for the first timw for sure, but also for those who have been around for a while. I particularly liked the pro active attitude of Sheryl. Of course there's a still much to do, but knowing that you can still do somwthing to improve your situation, and that of future women, is such an empowering and calming feeling. Also the duality of gender equality / freedom of choice, whatever this may mean to you personally and whatever sex you might be, is something I will never be tired of hearing.

[Kagimu Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone of us can achieve their destiny regardless of their sex or race. We just need to work hard and support others.

[Leeann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, surprising myself. As a recent graduate, I didn't realize how much I was already holding myself back without even trying. I'm excited to start practicing ideas in this book.

[Shravani Sawant · Rating 4 out of 5]

~5/5
A few chapters in and I was already glad I'd picked this up. Worth it.

[Vaishnavi Kaveeshwar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book immediately after reading Lean in the original. I liked this book more than I liked the first one. This book also addresses the gender biases of the corporate world however it provides more insights as to how one can try to make the change and become one.
The book has many inspiring real life short stories from women around the world, excellent advice for new graduates. Must read for everyone.

[Sherry Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it the second time, I was able to relate to the stories at a much deeper level. The book really helped me with some of the issues I'm facing fresh out of college. Thanks Sheryl.

[Archit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Balderdash. This book is imbued with anecdotes & platitudes, garnished with a heavily biased & irritating narrative style.

The title of the book is a misnomer. One is better off reading books like Leadership BS, The Long View, & books by HBR, Peter Drucker etc.

[Serena Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for a second time and it’s still fantastic. A lot of the lessons and stats still ring true years later. A validating read

[Renee Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty similar to orig version

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

On a second read, the book is plain toxic. It is a pleasant read, and you can scroll down for the intial review.

The shortest version: if feminism is about equality between sexes, Sandberg is strongly against. Page after page she fights for giving enough entitlements to make the gap wider.

The book can be a source of misery. A woman acknowledges the whole society demands her an aberrant goal: to renounce to self and it's not just her traditional family. He has the living proof and example of her mother and grandmother who have become a lesser person in order to please the peers and serve the others. Altruism.

So what is the solution of the new generation? Well, you can sleep less, you can destroy your body and your mind through the miracle cure of "chasing two rabbits". And just like a 3 year old, Sandberg, knows where the toy is hidden: work hard, feel bad about not having already become a breeder, and somehow the tooth fairy will see your pure heart and grant you a good job and enough help you need to raise children and maybe spend some time with the people of your choice. Yes, she acknowledges in the introduction that many women can't hope for that even if the Cindarella story is true. But even for the United States, most women do not have the chained blind luck she had. Hell! There aren't enough jobs to afford the comfort and the child care for anything but a small minority of women.

So what Sandberg does in this book is leading into a new level of religiosity. The woman remains a breeder. The atomic family remains strong. This is just a turn back in time with the comfort of today. She is a strong supporter of the catholic view. Sure, the society has evolved to allow pregnant or menstruating women into the workplace. So she is ready to adapt: parking spaces for pregnant women!

First review: There might be one or two logical fallacies not employed by Sandberg as argument in this book. The text is shallow, yet the observations are excellent. I would have liked to keep the biographical part in as it is very good, and dump the generalizations and pseudo-reasoning that puffs a good article into a book.

Just because almost any argument made by Sandberg is fallacious, does not say anything about the observations, yet it makes the book at least three times larger than it should have been.

So Sandberg is a feminist, one that fights for the christian ideal of virtual Womanhood plus some Mommy time. And I guess it would have been a groundbreaking text back in the 1950s as an alternative to The Second Sex.

Certainly, the women can have a career and a family too, they can be helicopter parents and CEO, but there is nothing special, nothing innovative in the thinking employed in the book. For Sandberg the women have to work just as hard, meaning twice more than a man for half the recognition. Only they will get to eat at the big table and be answered when they ask a question. Or at least this is the vision repeated throughout the book. Chivalry plus. And I don't know if that is a step forward or just digging the hole deeper.

Sharing the personal moments is great, but once Sandberg steps aside she turns into a preacher describing the will of the chosen god. Chapter 2. "the impostor problem". "Women tend to experience it more intensely and be more limited by it". Than the footnote mentions 1970s "early research" that "suggested" prevalence among high achieving women. Not only she is cherry picking some maybe badly done studies, but the text does not mention it's about "high achieving women". And than the argument's tombstone to hit the disbelievers over the head: even Tina Fey has it!

Later a survey among political candidates "shows" that 60% more men were considering themselves qualified for the job. How about the whole thing being a twist of the "men have to be performers" so they express confidence even when it's not there. And somehow I see political candidates as not representative for the general population. And how many? 60% out of 40 is not relevant for a population of 300 million. And so on.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it very much. I cannot wait to start a career and lean in to my full potential.