Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg & Nell Scovell Book Review

Title: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
Authors: Sheryl Sandberg & Nell Scovell 
Publisher: Knopf 
Release Date: March 11, 2013 
Pages: 217 

Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In is a massive cultural phenomenon and its title has become an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of bestseller lists internationally, igniting global conversations about women and ambition. Sandberg packed theatres, dominated opinion pages, appeared on every major television show and on the cover of Time magazine, and sparked ferocious debate about women and leadership. Ask most women whether they have the right to equality at work and the answer will be a resounding yes, but ask the same women whether they'd feel confident asking for a raise, a promotion, or equal pay, and some reticence creeps in. The statistics, although an improvement on previous decades, are certainly not in women's favour – of 197 heads of state, only twenty-two are women. Women hold just 20 percent of seats in parliaments globally, and in the world of big business, a meagre eighteen of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg – Facebook COO and one of Fortune magazine's Most Powerful Women in Business – draws on her own experience of working in some of the world's most successful businesses and looks at what women can do to help themselves, and make the small changes in their life that can effect change on a more universal scale. 

Buy it on Barnes & Noble or Amazon 

My Thoughts

For me, this book has two ways you can look at it. Before I get into that, I want to say that I normally don't pick up books about one person's road to success but this book was actually pretty interesting to read. Thank you Mom, for recommending this book!

Many reviews say that this book was written by a woman in the upper class so her experiences are different from theirs. For example, being fortunate enough to hire nannies to help take care of the children. This is true but we shouldn't forget that it also gives us another viewpoint of the world from a different perspective. 

Fortune does favor the bold and you'll never know what you're capable of if you don't try.

Those with a better background do have room to be able to try this and that without worrying too much about money because they already have financial support versus those who have to find a stable job to support their family. Sandberg did have more resources growing up though people say it makes her look like a snob, I think different. Someone who has opportunities can waste them, but because she had the opportunities, she used them wisely made her mark. Instead of wasting the opportunities, her success did come from her hard work. 

We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.

The other way to look at this book is to say it's good and that's not completely wrong. For some parts, I agree with splitting the responsibility of childcare and housework, but I can't say the same when it comes to diversity. Women of color were underrepresented in the book and as someone who is of color, it kind of left me out. 

Yes, even though women in the United States are paid less than men, the income gap isn't as big as it is in other countries. Women in the United States already have a lot of rights and freedom that we sometimes take for granted. For example, if you look in Asia where my parents grew up, the gender inequality gap is even bigger. 

Motivation comes from working on things we care about. It also comes from working with people we care about.

Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5)

I am very lucky to have my parents. They both set a very good example for my sister and me, so this book didn't completely blow me away because my parents already do the things the author mentioned like splitting the household work responsibility. For instance in my house, my mom does the cooking and laundry but my dad does the dishes and cleans the house. 

I know that I have a lot of support from my family and I'm lucky because of it. It sometimes slips my mind but it's these small things like reading a book that brings me back to reality. Whenever I am presented with a chance, I really do try my best because I know that it might not always be there. 

What I've learned from life so far and this book is that many opportunities will come and pass, but they won't wait for you. It's up to you to hold on to them and use them to the best of your ability. Time comes quickly and leaves quickly but once it's passed, there's no way to get it back. Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but it's up to us to decide what we accomplish every day. 

About the Authors

SHERYL SANDBERG is chief operating officer at Facebook and international best-selling author of Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Prior to Facebook, she was vice president of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google. She previously served as chief of staff for the United States Treasury Department and began her career as an economist with the World Bank. She received B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University. Sandberg serves on the boards of Facebook, The Walt Disney Company, Survey Monkey, ONE, and Women for Women International, and chairs the board of LeanIn.Org. 

Scovell is a television and magazine writer, producer, director and collaborator on the #1 New York Times bestseller Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. She is the creator of the televisions series Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and her TV writing credits include The Simpsons, Coach, Monk, Murphy Brown, Charmed and NCIS. She has directed two movies for cable television and an episode of Awkward. She has contributed to Vanity Fair, Vogue, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times.  She lives in Los Angeles and Boston.