Lean In

Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

By: Sheryl Sandberg

Narrated by: Elisa Donovan

#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.

Shouldn't judge until you've read it

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I didn't like how high-pitched the narrator's voice was. It sounded too young, almost girlish. After a while, I got used to it. It wasn't so bad that I stopped listening, but it was annoying.

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

It actually takes a while to digest and consider some of the points Sheryl Sandberg makes. I just finished it this week, and may go through and read it again soon. I don't agree with all of the points she makes, but some of them are definitely worth considering and discussing with others in my workplace.

Any additional comments?

I remember when this came out and she was on the interview circuit. A lot of TV pundits criticized her or the book without actually reading what she said--both liberals and conservatives. They probably had an intern read it and made a book report. It's works better has a whole, rather than isolated bullet points. I would recommend it to anyone who shares a workplace or a home with a woman or mother. There are points for both men and women to consider.

Definitely Worthwhile

While I don’t agree with all of Sheryl’s advice, I definitely appreciate her sincerity and authenticity. I think her advice is easier for straight, well-educated, white women to act upon and that makes sense since that’s Sheryl’s experience. Still a good read/listen for all career women. I especially appreciated Chapter 2’s focus on confidence.

Surprisingly helpful and relatable

I really liked Sheryl's story and found it relatable and found good advice. I am a 26 year old trail worker and I wasn't sure if I could identify with the COO of Facebook. However, there was a lot of advice and things that she pointed out that made me audibly say "huh, that makes sense." Good read especially for women wanting to get a head and be taken seriously in the work place.

Great start - slow ending

I really enjoyed the first part of the book. I really felt the empowerment for women in all phases of life, but as it went along things started getting a little preachy... and then with the issues Facebook has been having as of late with privacy and whatnot I feel like Sheryl has completely lost touch with what it's like to be a normal person.

Glad I decided to get the book.

What did you love best about Lean In?

Sheryl Sandberg gave great and thoughtful advice. Overall the book was encouraging and full of interesting and thought provoking ideas.

What didn’t you like about Elisa Donovan’s performance?

Elisa definitely sounded too young - I kept replacing her pleading and questioning tone with a more confident and mentorish tone to get through the book. It was almost like Elisa would have been better reading something along the lines of "Shopaholic Ties the Knot". Not a horrible reader, there just seemed to be a misplaced/unconfident tone and demeanor that I did not expect.