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#GIRLBOSS  By  cover art

#GIRLBOSS

By: Sophia Amoruso
Narrated by: Sara Jes Austell
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Publisher's summary

The first thing Sophia Amoruso sold online wasn’t fashion - it was a stolen book. She spent her teens hitchhiking, committing petty theft, and dumpster diving. By twenty-two, she had resigned herself to employment, but was still broke, directionless, and working a mediocre day job she’d taken for the health insurance.

It was there that Sophia decided to start selling vintage clothes on eBay. Eight years later, she is the founder, CEO, and creative director of Nasty Gal, a $100 million plus online fashion retailer with more than 350 employees. Sophia’s never been a typical CEO, or a typical anything, and she’s written #GIRLBOSS for outsiders (and insiders) seeking a unique path to success, even when that path is winding as all hell and lined with naysayers.

#GIRLBOSS includes Sophia’s story, yet is infinitely bigger than Sophia. It’s deeply personal yet universal. Filled with brazen wake-up calls (“You are not a special snowflake”), cunning and frank observations (“Failure is your invention”), and behind-the-scenes stories from Nasty Gal’s meteoric rise, #GIRLBOSS covers a lot of ground. It proves that being successful isn’t about how popular you were in high school or where you went to college (if you went to college). Rather, success is about trusting your instincts and following your gut, knowing which rules to follow and which to break.

A #GIRLBOSS takes her life seriously without taking herself too seriously. She takes chances and takes responsibility on her own terms. She knows when to throw punches and when to roll with them. When to button up and when to let her freak flag fly.

As Sophia writes, “I have three pieces of advice I want you to remember: Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore. Don’t let The Man get to you. OK? Cool. Then let’s do this.”

©2014 Sophia Amoruso (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Rather than present a get-rich-quick manual or a list of business tips, Amoruso teaches the innovative and entrepreneurial among us to play to our strengths, learn from our mistakes, and know when to break a few of the traditional rules." (Vanity Fair)

"A witty and cleverly told account ... It’s this kind of honest advice, plus the humorous ups and downs of her rise in online retail, that make the book so appealing." (Los Angeles Times)

"#GIRLBOSS is more than a book ... #GIRLBOSS is a movement." (Lena Dunham)

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What listeners say about #GIRLBOSS

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

For those who haven't done much

A lot of repetition driving home the points of "be yourself" and "don't care what people think". This is a good inspiration book for people just getting out of high school who are interested in doing something similar to the nasty gal vibe, or for someone who is a huge fan and wants to hear about all the examples of Sophia being a "badass bitch" from elementary onwards. No real business advice or trade secrets, just a lot of "fly your freak flag". What Sophia has done with the Nasty Gal brand is amazing and admirable but her talents lie in marketing, fashion and styling and this book should only be viewed as a promotional tool for her brand catering to the young women who shop there. Very very little practical advice and way too many stories of her being a crust punk, dropping out of school and still making it big.

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33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

#BossBook!

This was by far so much better than I anticipated. I never intended on listening to #GirlBoss because I couldn't get past how cheesy the title was, but Goodreads offered this audiobook for free. So hey, who can say no to free? At only a little over 4 hours long, I expected some boring tale of how some rich girl stayed rich. Well, don't judge a book by it's cover because if that's the kind of book you're looking for...keep looking!

I've never heard of NastyGal or Sophia Amoruso, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear she was just like me - a regular girl. She managed through hard work, diligence, and (she does not believe in luck) a persistent drive, to create a million dollar company - all before the age of 30!

Amoruso's candid advice of how to become a girlboss was not intimidating, unlike other self-help books that can be overwhelming. I think a big part of that was due to the fact that she is just like the average Jane - trying to make it and get by; but she did much more than that. She became it.

I'm definitely encouraged to become a girlboss after reading this. It is more than inspiring - it is encouraging and I feel as if my dreams are within my reach after listening to this book. The narrator also helped in this sentiment - because she sounded like a girl next door. I promise you will finish this book feeling like "If Sophia can do it, I know I can!".

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Red Bull to Sandberg's Skinny Vanilla Latte

This book is the Lean In for the Millenial Generation - fresh, bright, gritty, pragmatic, and fun. No less important than Lean In, and I bet Amouruso and Sandberg aren't too far apart in age - but worlds apart in perspective. Work ethic is the same. Women working their asses off, getting shit done.

Better narrator than Lean In, as well. No whining.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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I can't take her seriously

What disappointed you about #GIRLBOSS?

In the middle of listening to her book, I Googled her. I found negative information on her company. Nasty Gal went bankrupt in 2016. There are also several complains from her former employees. Lawsuits included. I'm disappointed. I can't take her book seriously anymore. I stopped listening to it.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Story, Inspiring - but not practical

Loved Sophia's story and came away feeling inspired but not necessarily equipped.

The central message is go balls to the wall on your own dream. Be your best self. The book was about how she did that. But it doesn't necessarily show you how you could do that. It's very anecdotal.

Great read for a Saturday.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

#BossedUp

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I initially bought this for my lady, but found myself listening daily.

What three words best describe Sara Jes Austell’s voice?

I enjoyed the narrators voice. It was an excellent selection. She brought the story to life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Sofia seems like such the anti-hero. I love how she's so cool without even trying. She kept it TO REAL at times, and I loved it.

Any additional comments?

I'd recommend this to all my Boss Ladies around the world. There are many paths and blueprints to success. This is one they should know about.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Semi interesting largely annoying

The story was interesting and somewhat informational but mostly self aggrandizing and kinda irritating/grating. I enjoyed about half of it but then finished it just to make sure I hadn't missed something everyone else seemed to love. I was annoyed by the tone/sass of the book and the author, but I guess that's the appeal as well. Didn't have a ton of substance.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

It's good and then it isn't

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Time listening was well spent if I could avoid cringing when she used the term "girl boss" so often.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending simply spent too much time repeating the same theories over and over again.

What does Sara Jes Austell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed the narrator in this book. Well spoken.

Any additional comments?

The book IS worth reading, but after the first 2/3rds of the book, you might as well stop listening. It repeats itself.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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#girlboss

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Loved hearing the story of Sophia's journey! Inspiring and entertaining. My only complaint is I wish Sophia would have narrated the book herself. Although, I felt the narrarator did a great job!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

This book really annoyed me

What disappointed you about #GIRLBOSS?

This story wasn't original or interesting. What 20 something... or 30 or 40 or whatever hasn't at one time or another experienced a "shitty" job. Big deal! She makes it sound like working from a tiny cramped apartment in PJ's all day and night was horrific and somehow was preparing her for the ultimate game changer which was in her case actually succeeding. In this book, she moves along from day to day doing everything everyone else is doing, but maybe with a bit different flair. Difference was, she succeeded every step of the way. Congratulations sister, now what part of this story do you actually enlighten me on anything to do with being a "Girl Boss"? Because what I got from it was everything just kind fell into your pretty little "not so vintage" lap. The so called problems she experienced in this book, I would be elated to have, "it was taking off", "we grew out of our 2 thousand square foot facility", "well known photographers and designers wanted to come work with us", "I was so busy I got an assistant", "investors are interested", boo hoo.
The point I'm getting at here is this chick fell into the right thing at the right time experiencing little to no drama getting there. Happy for you, I really am, but it does not by any way shape or form make her an authority on being a "Girl Boss".

Has #GIRLBOSS turned you off from other books in this genre?

No... Just the author

How could the performance have been better?

No. The voice was perfectly annoying to match the story.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Idk, are we done yet?

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3 people found this helpful