Lean In

Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

By: Sheryl Sandberg

Narrated by: Elisa Donovan

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • “A landmark manifesto" (The New York Times) that's a revelatory, inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth that will empower women around the world to achieve their full potential.

In her famed TED talk, Sheryl Sandberg described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which has been viewed more than eleven million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto. Lean In continues that conversation, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can. Sandberg, COO of Meta (previously called Facebook) from 2008-2022, provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career. She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment, and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women both in the workplace and at home.

©2013 Sheryl Sandberg; 2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Lean In is an inauguration more than a last word, and an occasion for celebration ... Many, many women, young and old, elite and otherwise, will find it prescriptive, refreshing, and perhaps even revolutionary.” (Anna Holmes, The New Yorker)

“A landmark manifesto ... Fifty years after The Feminine Mystique ... Sandberg addresses 21st-century issues that never entered Betty Friedan’s wildest dreams ... Lean In will be an influential book. It will open the eyes of women who grew up thinking that feminism was ancient history, who recoil at the word but walk heedlessly through the doors it opened. And it will encourage those women to persevere in their professional lives.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

“I approached it wearing two hats—one as CEO [and] the other as the parent of a nine-year-old daughter. In both capacities, I feel that Lean In is a must read.” (Mohamed El-Erian, CEO of PIMCO, in Fortune)

Inspiring and Practically Instrtcucruve

I related to so many concepts and experiences in this book - it was refreshingly validating. The new concepts and recommendations rang true for me as well. Loved it. I tell every working woman I know about this book now.

Loved it!

Such an accurate depiction of how so many of us act, think & feel as women.

Highly recommend listening

As a working woman with great ambition to continue working while raising kids, this book was just what I needed to maintain that drive.

Surprisingly good!

It's been on my wish list for a while but I never had much interest in reading. As I'm expecting my second child and kind of stressing about how I will function and run my biz I decided the time was right to listen. It was great! A really nice perspective and very validating that you are not harming your child if you work, and are in fact helping your child. The end gets a bit mushy but a solid 4 stars.

Started out interesting.

Too much on motherhood. Narrator with a voice like a little girl, high pitched, barely tolerable.

Inspiring!

I am really glad I read this book. It has encouraged me to stay in the workforce. I realize that sometimes you have to take two steps back in your career to move forward. Also, I am more willing to take risks to succeed.

Sheryl is true to herself and her story

What did you love best about Lean In?

The book talked to me and my current professional situation. I am not a mother and the book can probably help many women have children however there is a whole aspect of leaning in that any woman should listen and this book really helps.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It's about incentive. Women do not believe they are ready for the job whereas men are always ready even if they are not. This book tell us to be brave and to believe in ourselves. Sheryl also gives very interesting data to prove her points, which supports her arguments very well.

What does Elisa Donovan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice really gives the emotion to the story. It reads is in a very engaging way.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's a easy reading/listening. it would take only 6 hours and 30 min to go through it, so I am sure you can listen in one go.

Important and Entertaining

Apparently I live in a cave or something, because I didn't know who Sheryl Sandberg was before listening. I felt like this book helped me understand myself and the world better, and it made me feel encouraged about my future.

Sandberg strikes a good blend of research, personal experience (vulnerable, relatable, and sometimes funny), stories of friends, and ideas that pull it all together. The book was fun to listen to.

It would be nice if books like this were used for high school and college reading.

I thought the narration was pretty good.

A must-read for all

How amazing it would be to have a world where we embrace our existence and celebrate individuality and diversity. May we all find the courage to Lean In and help others do the same.

You don't have to be a woman to read this book

If you could sum up Lean In in three words, what would they be?

Life Learning Lessons

What did you like best about this story?

The way Sheryl was able to bring her personal experience in a relate-able fashion helped me understand, a lot of people go through this.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I was recommended this book and I was surprised to find myself not wanting to stop listening. If I could have listened to it in one sitting, I would have.

Any additional comments?

This book is one that should be read in high school. The lessons are not simply those that one should learn when we are young however the sooner you embrace these shared experiences the more likely you will be to Lean In and take control of your life.