• Drop the Ball

  • Achieving More by Doing Less
  • By: Tiffany Dufu
  • Narrated by: Tiffany Dufu
  • Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (632 ratings)

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Drop the Ball  By  cover art

Drop the Ball

By: Tiffany Dufu
Narrated by: Tiffany Dufu
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Publisher's summary

“We won’t reach equality in the workplace without equality in the home. Drop the Ball shows how our relationships and our lives are richer when we lean in together.” — Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook

This program is read by the author.

Tiffany Dufu's Drop the Ball is a bold and inspiring memoir and manifesto from a renowned voice in the women's leadership movement that shows women how to cultivate the single skill they really need in order to thrive: the ability to let go.

Once the poster girl for doing it all, after she had her first child, Tiffany Dufu struggled to accomplish everything she thought she needed to in order to succeed. Like so many driven and talented women who have been brought up to believe that to have it all, they must do it all, Dufu began to feel that achieving her career and personal goals was an impossibility. Eventually, she discovered the solution: letting go. In Drop the Ball, Dufu recounts how she learned to reevaluate expectations, shrink her to-do list, and meaningfully engage the assistance of others—freeing the space she needed to flourish at work and to develop deeper, more meaningful relationships at home.

Even though women are half the workforce, they still represent only eighteen per cent of the highest level leaders. The reasons are obvious: just as women reach middle management they are also starting families. Mounting responsibilities at work and home leave them with no bandwidth to do what will most lead to their success. Offering new perspective on why the women’s leadership movement has stalled, and packed with actionable advice, Tiffany Dufu’s Drop the Ball urges women to embrace imperfection, to expect less of themselves and more from others—only then can they focus on what they truly care about, devote the necessary energy to achieving their real goals, and create the type of rich, rewarding life we all desire.

More praise for Drop the Ball:

"If you could follow a path to a stronger marriage, a happier family, and greater economic and emotional security, would you be interested? I thought so. Tiffany Dufu’s Drop the Ball is that path. And she’s awfully good company along the way." — Susan Cain, co-founder of Quiet Revolution and New York Times bestselling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

©2017 Tiffany Dufu (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Drop the Ball is a must read for all women and girls. Tiffany Dufu reminds us that we must focus on what truly matters and let go of rest. She gives us specific tools and techniques to help us achieve our goals and live authentic lives free of guilt and regret." --Reshma Saujani, Founder & CEO, Girls Who Code

"Tiffany Dufu's wise personal story offers real solutions for women who are struggling to be all things to everyone -- both at home and at work. I would have loved to have had Tiffany's warm, funny, brilliant voice in my ear when I was getting started in my career and juggling the demands of a growing family. DROP THE BALL is full of useful advice and it is an empowering manifesto for all women looking to lead balanced, happy, successful lives." --Soledad O'Brien, CEO Starfish Media and host of Matter Of Fact TV

"In sharing her moving personal story, Tiffany Dufu offers many practical suggestions for women to achieve their goals. But what influenced me the most about this book was the wisdom she imparts to men about how to be better partners in supporting the leadership journeys of the women in their lives. Drop the Ball is a refreshingly honest, remarkably inspiring read.” --Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

Featured Article: 35+ Inspirational Entrepreneur Quotes to Kickstart Your Goals


The world of entrepreneurship is filled with high hurdles, long nights, and hard-earned wins. Deciding to launch your own business is a huge risk, and it requires a lot of support, luck, and sheer grit to stick with it long enough to see it pay off. Whether you’re considering heading into an independent career or are already running your own company, you know how important it is to seek out the wisdom of those with thriving ventures.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Only for the affluent

Nothing in the description implied this book is only for working women with housekeepers. This doesn’t translate for single mothers or those couples without the means to have an at home nanny. I didn’t find this helpful at all. The more chapters I listened to the angrier I got! No helpful tips.

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26 people found this helpful

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  • TD
  • 01-29-18

Couldn't Even Finish It

Would you try another book from Tiffany Dufu and/or Tiffany Dufu?

Unlikely

Would you ever listen to anything by Tiffany Dufu again?

Unlikely

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Tiffany Dufu?

No. She did fine. A bit slow but otherwise fine.

Any additional comments?

I desperately wanted to listen to this book. The title is "Drop the Ball. Achieving More by Doing Less". I've been gritting my teeth waiting for something substantive to be said. Anything. But I've now wasted 4+ hours of invaluable "reading" time and so far this is simply a story about her life. Which, by the way, seems to consist of more self-inflicted OCD hangups and an incredible inability to communicate her thoughts, feelings and needs to her husband, than anything that's remotely relatable by most women. I didn't expect or need her to overcome adversity on any level. Heck, I didn't even need to hear the minutia of her life. BUT I did hope to hear something related to dropping the ball and how to achieve more by doing less. Again, I'm in chapter 9 and I've got nothing. Don't waste your credit. I'm going to try to return this.

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20 people found this helpful

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

Entertaining but not relatable

Any additional comments?

Well, I have been called uptight and extremely driven by my friends/husband/family and the main thing I got from this book is that I am pretty chill for a career-driven working mom. Honestly, I couldn't relate to much of Tiffany's issues (can't leave the house without matching bra and panties - who is going to see it?!, a terrible communicator, extremely controlling). My husband and I laughed about making and maintaining a spreadsheet of household duties, just way too over the top. She's clearly done some deep self-reflection but she doesn't really go into detail about how her marriage survived through all her issues, as I found giving smiley face stickers for complete chores to her husband a divorce-worthy offense or at least worthy of extensive couples therapy.

There is something dishonest about the book in that it really wasn't so much about Tiffany needing to drop the ball but really need to work on the poor communication issues between her and her husband and her Home Control Disease (HCD, as she calls it). I can't imagine her years of infantilizing her husband were fixed with a spreadsheet. If you are a compulsive, controlling person maybe you will find this book useful but I don't think it offers practical advice or insight for most working mothers.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Finally! Someone who understands....

As a professional woman working in the financial services industry with a 5 month old, I found this book absolutely refreshing. While the idea of "dropping the ball" didn't sound all that original I found her story interesting and decided to give it a chance. I'm very happy that I did, because what she speaks of is more than simply passing tasks off, or letting your personal life explode to pursue success. She's talking about managing your expectations and the immense amount of pressure that is placed on mothers. Her performance was pleasant, I could listen to her during my commute and while folding clothes and never found it annoying. That is a big issue for me with many of the audio books, but I breezed through this one. Also, the stories she told are very relatable. Overall I felt inspired after finishing it and would highly recommend this to anyone feeling overwhelmed with expectations that you never seem to be able to meet, to do lists that never seem to get shorter, and partners that you love but don't feel they pull their weight. Bravo Tiffany. I am a fan.

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4 people found this helpful

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NEXT

I'm not going to finish this book. The book title should be "Drop the ball: as long as you have a husband or partner who can pick it up." As a single mother, working and going to school full time, I really tried to find something for me in this book. It's just not there. Next.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Makes sense for the right audience

This is a very good book and I like what Tiffany has to say however I felt the book it more geared towards working moms ... unfortunately that's not me. That all said, I can use some of the tips/tricks in my career.

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2 people found this helpful

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

All partnered women should read

A detailed explanation of how the author created an all-in partnership with her husband so that her career could skyrocket. Do it before your kids turn 1 or it's too late. Or after divorce, in preparation for your next partnership if you desire one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Drop the ball

Love it very transparent great read and listen very informative and inspiring I really enjoyed it and will read it again and I recommend to many other women

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • LP
  • 11-07-23

An intentional read

I loved the backstory and the lead up. Although you don’t understand some the details at first it makes sense when the author puts it all together. Truly an inspiration and motivator to change perspective on what it means to have a partner, to have passion for something , and work toward what you envision.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good read

This book has great personal stories, actionable steps, and facts to back up why it’s important that we women need to “drop the ball”. It was a great book!

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