#GIRLBOSS

By: Sophia Amoruso

Narrated by: Sara Jes Austell

Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins

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

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.

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.

#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!".

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.

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.

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.

#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.

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.

Didn't know who she was before I read this book

What made the experience of listening to #GIRLBOSS the most enjoyable?

The narrator did a great job with her voice. she sounded like the real sophia. All though I was upset to find out that sophia didnt read the book herself. Because the narrator sounded so real. It would have been better if sophia read it herself

Who was your favorite character and why?

sophia

Have you listened to any of Sara Jes Austell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

What insight do you think you’ll apply from #GIRLBOSS?

to be my own entrepenuer

Any additional comments?

Sophia sounds like a bad ass. It was very interesting to hear where she came from and how she started. Because those are my neck of the woods

Great book for women ready to kick ass

Would you listen to #GIRLBOSS again? Why?

Yes, this book is motivating & inspiring ...who doesn't need that

What was one of the most memorable moments of #GIRLBOSS?

This 50 dollars mean more to me than you..... This moment showed the author had guts before she had a dime

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

Great tone, she made the book feel like you were hearing a story from your girlfriend over lunch!

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

There were many moments that moved me.... Sorry I can't pick just one but overall the book just shows there is more than one way to become a boss

Any additional comments?

Great read for young women trying to figure it out