Elizabeth R. (esjro) -
Helpful Score: 3
I read a lot about this book before actually reading this book. Here is my two cents about the book itself and the most prominent criticism surrounding it, which is that Sheryl Sandberg puts too much ownness on individual women to change things, as opposed to advocating changing institutional and societal barriers to the advancement of women in the workplace. In a way that is valid, because Lean In is clearly a call to individual self-reflection and action. However, I do think her critics are missing the point: to chronicle every impediment to womens' advancement up the corporate ladder and propose solutions for each would take thousands of pages. Rather than trying to tackle every issue, Sandberg is trying to appeal to individual women (and the men who know them at work and live with them at home) to make individual changes in their attitudes and behaviors, in the hope that individual effort will lead to a larger change.
If one can respect why the scope of this book is limited, there is some valuable practical advice to be gained from this book. Sandberg is a smart, funny, yet down to earth and candid narrator. She acknowledges multiple times that she has the advantages of a supportive husband, (mostly) forward-thinking bosses, and the financial resources to afford quality child care. That doesn't make her message any less valid; there is enough here that I would imagine any woman will find something to relate to.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. Sandberg says at the conclusion that she wishes her book to be conversation starter, and at that she has surely succeeded. (Even with people who have never read the book but bash it anyway).
If one can respect why the scope of this book is limited, there is some valuable practical advice to be gained from this book. Sandberg is a smart, funny, yet down to earth and candid narrator. She acknowledges multiple times that she has the advantages of a supportive husband, (mostly) forward-thinking bosses, and the financial resources to afford quality child care. That doesn't make her message any less valid; there is enough here that I would imagine any woman will find something to relate to.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. Sandberg says at the conclusion that she wishes her book to be conversation starter, and at that she has surely succeeded. (Even with people who have never read the book but bash it anyway).
This book is an echo of other people's voices about being a woman in this time. She has the opportunity of working and being mentor/sponsor by powerful-influence people. As a female professional with a master degree sometimes I think is not what you know but who you know to give you the opportunities to develop your skills. Overall I give five stars because is easy interesting to read with clear points and good research to support her points if you want clarification.
For some reason when I was made aware of this book, I ordered the audio CD version immediately. I don't usually buy one I hear of quite so quickly. I received it one day, and began listening to it the next day. I kept expecting to hear something that would make me feel guilty for not either being a CEO of a big corporation, or for not being able to raise my children single-handedly and be their only caregiver for all those years they were in daycare. This book was none of those things. This book was truly a breath of fresh air. No blaming, no guilt, no shame, no pointing of fingers for not being able to do it all exactly as we'd planned. Sadly, I realized after listening to the entire book that I, too, have been on the receiving end, as well as on the giving end, of gender bias. Some of the absolute worst bosses I've ever had were women. We compete, we judge, we hold each other to higher expectations than those of men. I realized, while listening to this book, that I had bought into the stereotypes and harmful views of what a mommy "should do" or what daddy "can't do" at home. Also, that a daddy "should be" the breadwinner and mommy "should" raise her own children, without the help of outsiders. This book is chock full of data and facts that just don't add up to all the guilt-laced innuendos and raised eyebrows we've been fed for so many years. I loved this book, and a tiny part of me wanted to jump back into the corporate world and take on the dreams I'd held, but relinquished, a very long time ago. A Small Business Owner in TX.
