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)

Excellent leadership advice

Truly enjoyable. I’ve been recommended this book numerous times and finally leaned in. How refreshing to hear from the author about things we all struggle with but more importantly with ideas of how to do better without creating more stress.

I battled with the narration

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narration was fine most of the time. The narrator often had a voice that sounded like she was a doll or consoling a child. It just felt like she was trying to sound extra girly and her voice was an octave higher than it should be. The topic of this book made me feel like that kind of sound was not appropriate for the book. The editing made it so it was sway between these different tones, I didn't love it. I didn't let these feelings ruin the book for me. I just would have preferred a different narrator.

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

Due to the statistics and facts that accompany each anecdote it would make it a bit painful to listen to in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

For the most part, I really liked her message. I like the stuff about work, but things related to having kids doesn't apply to me right now, so I found it less interesting. I think this book is definitely worth the read.

enjoyed the book....narrator sounded a bit young

Where does Lean In rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very good memoir and useful advice.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Elisa Donovan?

I found that Elisa had an engaging voice and style. However, for a book from a woman who is an industry leader, Elisa's voice did not portray a seasoned professional....she sounded like a young woman just out of college....

Equal Opportunities for Women...and Men!

Far from a dull book about women in business, “Lean In” is about women’s final push for equality at work and at home. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg paints a compelling portrait of the women’s movement as it stands today. Sandberg pays homage to how far women have come, and articulates where women need to go to make it all the way.

This book is organized into chapters that bring to light some of the common mistakes women make, such as choosing not to “sit at the table” at work, asking strangers to be their mentors, “leaving before they leave” by allowing future family plans to impact how far they advance in their careers and attempting to “do it all” when they have partners and spouses who are willing and able to assist.

While the message of this book seems tailored to women, Sandberg stresses that these lessons are equally important for men to learn. She sympathizes with the plight of men that they are expected to be the primary breadwinners of the home, thus reducing the time they have to spend with their children. If women and men could be equal partners at home, Sandberg suggests, men would enjoy equal opportunities for childrearing and women would not be cornered into feeling they must “do it all.”

What keeps this book interesting is Sandberg’s willingness to share her own personal anecdotes. Her experiences will make you laugh, cringe and applaud. She tells one story about meeting the speaker of the house, who belittles her by patting her on the head, telling her she is pretty and asking if she is a “pom pom girl.” Sandberg indignantly replies, “I study too much for that!”

Narrator Elisa Donovan reads this book with conviction and emotion. Her performance is so convincing that if I didn’t know better I would have believed that Sandberg herself did the narration.

Whether you are a working woman, a working mother, a stay-at-home mother or a man who loves one, this book is for you. It will open your eyes not just to women’s fight for equality, but also to men’s. This book will make you a better mother, father, woman and man.

explores the issues well, very PC

Sandberg does a great job exploring the issue and raises most of the arguments on all the sides. While I understand that her thesis is "how do we get more women to pursue leadership roles?" I felt that she formulates an argument that let's working moms off the hook in regards to their infants.

She tells stories about important women pumping breast milk during conference calls and she mentions how many women, herself included, did things differently when they had a second child, but she doesn't explore this change of heart in depth. Why did these women take their entire maternity leave the second time, why did they unplug the second time?

Sandberg's messge, in the face of this question, is to be selfish if you want to be. She supports every woman's decisions whole heartedly and never wags a finger at anybody.

I wish she told younger women like me and my friends that the infancy is precious and short lived. That the baby needs mama in a very raw, instinctual ways. Women need role models who say "enjoy the baby while you can, then go back to work". We need voices who say "don't be afraid to relish in motherhood for a few months then get back on the tread mill." We need permission! Too many women are putting their infants in institutions like daycare or stranger care. They are missing out on that incredible bond and time of life for both mom and baby that lasts for the first 6 months.

This book is about ambition and how you can have it all...even if she says you can't have it all, that's still what she's selling. It's not a book about life, it's a book about career. It doesn't teach hard lessons that are out of your control, it doesn't tell you what you don't want to hear. It says any decision you make is the right one, you do have control and you can make it happen - even if you regret it later, miss soulful opportunities or are too distracted by work to experience all that life has to offer.

A great read for all especially millennials

This was a good read.
I would recommend all women and men to read this book. Especially, women who are fresh out of college, on the journey to finding a career and considering parenthood. This book was definitely an eye opener for me. A lot of things that I am currently dealing with were covered in this book. I am that person who wants to have children, but also wants to have a career making a substantial amount of money.

Must Read!!

I honestly am guilty of many of the things that are pointed out in this book. I have always played it safe and leaned back into my seat, waiting for someone else to be braver than I thought I was. This book shows how we need to not judge women in power but uplift them and uplift our peers as well, men and women alike. This is a very well written book that will tug on your heartstrings, not because it's cute, but because it's all true.

Uplifting

I was told about this book at a leadership conference. I have nothing but good things to say about this book. Definitely a must for both men and women to listen to. I love that she brings research into the book instead of just opinions. Definitely worth the listen - is on my list to listen to a 2nd time.

Good read

Needed this!!! I plan to LEND IN! Will re-read again soon Thank you very much
22 words done lol

Perfect for introverts afraid of a career.

Any additional comments?

Inspiring for anyone who doubts their ability to live a fulfilling professional and family life.