Book Review: Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know what I just finished reading. This puppy:

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
Sheryl Sandberg

“Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto.”

You know that’s what I just read, because I can’t shut up about it. And here I go again, proving that very thing.

But you guys, this book is just so good. So very, very good. Like, really good.

And if you ask me to describe why, I’m not sure I’ll be able to place a finger on it. But I’d argue that’s the very nature of what makes an amazing book amazing; it just has that extra…something.

This is not a business book, but it talks about business.

This is not a blind, gung-ho women power book, although it does cover feminism and women-related issues.

This is not a career advice book, but it does talk about suggestions for your career and its progression and overall success.

This is not an “every woman should be working” manifesto, although it talks about what our world might be like if more women were in the workforce.

This is also not an “every woman should be at home with their family” manifesto, although it talks a lot about what our world might be like if more women had that choice.

This is not a textbook, although it contains a lot of facts.

This is not a memoir, although it includes a ton of embarrassing, funny, and poignant personal stories from the author and her friends, family, and colleagues.

Here is what this book is: eye-opening, interesting, funny, easy to read, inspiring, and motivating.

Here is who this book is for: professional women (you define that how you wish).

Here is who this book is also for: anyone, men or women, who knows a professional woman.

So basically, like, everyone!

Pick up a copy of Lean In, you guys. You’ll be so glad you did.

So there you go. I didn’t even summarize the book for you, but hopefully you got a picture of what it’s all about. Perhaps enough to send the sample to your Kindle, or pick it up the next time you’re at the book store.

Happy reading, all. I took a couple day break to let this soul-searching read sink in, and this morning I just started this one. What’re you reading?

Hugs,
AS

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Tagged as: book reviews, books