Nice Girls Don't Win

How I Burned It All Down to Claim My Power

De: Parvati Shallow

Narrado por: Parvati Shallow

“A bible for badass women.”—SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR

“Gripping and liberating.”—ADAM GRANT, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again

“Survivor legend and gay icon, Parvati Shallow has won my heart all over again.”—BOWEN YANG

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A bold, eye-opening memoir about survival, trauma, and healing, from one of reality television’s most talked-about stars

At twenty-five years old, Parvati Shallow was plunged into fame and fortune after becoming the million-dollar winner of the reality television series Survivor. But despite her success, the ghosts of her traumatic past, coupled with the harsh glare of the public eye, kept her locked in a survival cycle of fear and shame that sabotaged her self-confidence and eroded her self-trust. It wasn’t until a series of painful life events, including the death of her younger brother and a challenging divorce, that she found herself on a path of healing that would awaken her true power and reset the course of her life.

In Nice Girls Don’t Win, Shallow shares the stories that allowed her to transform her most difficult moments into potent catalysts for empowerment. From her childhood growing up in a Florida commune run by a tyrannical female guru, to her journey out of the South and into the L.A. casting rooms that would eventually drop her in the lush but brutal landscapes of Survivor, Shallow shows readers what it took to build herself into the ultimate survivor—for better and, more often, for worse. She then reveals what it took to rebuild herself into something much greater.

As harrowing as it is healing, Parvati Shallow’s story is a testament to the profound lessons that can be found in radical self-acceptance and self-love.

You don’t need to be “good” to be loved

Loved her honesty and self awareness. I found a lot of themes really relatable - as a fan and fellow recovering people pleaser, this one hits home. Brava x

Parvati is such an inspiration!

I loved her stories, both in and out of the games. She has reached a level of self knowledge I can only dream of…. But inspires me to try and learn!

Love Her Story

I could relisten to this several more times! This story has unique perspectives, life skills, behind the scenes of reality TV, and much more. Truly enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing your story, Parvati!

5/5

Raw and honest life story that centers around becoming our best self. Well worth the listen. She may not be the black widow anymore but I’ll always be cheering her on.

The honesty she shares is beautiful…

I have always been a huge fan of Parvati and always thought everyone gave her such a bad rap about how she played Survivor. Dubbing her the Black Widow and always talking about her like this is who she was in her day to day life when they never said that about any other player that did some lying and manipulating to win the game. This book she shares her real self, her real truth, her personal failures and wins, and how she worked through some of the worst tragedies a person is handed. I lost my sister to a hit and run drunk driver and it too, just like Parvati, dropped me hard in a cycle of grief that it affected every waking moment and every choice and decision I had to make. It is so inspiring how she shares that journey, and her self discovering Journey to become the stronger more confident and loving person she is today. Anyone who is a fan of Survivor should read this book. It is phenomenally well written and goes straight to your heart. Thank you for sharing your true self Parvati. Your words will go with me through the rest of my journey through this life. You are a true gift to this world.

A New Reality Star

Parvati Shallow has always felt like a person, not a character. Seeing the character development changed my reality of her as a person. I learned a lot through this book and feel eager to repeat the transition of transformation as a person, character and reality star. Thank you, Parv

Real, Raw, and Riveting

Parvati left it all on the table with this book. Those who are seeking (or even fearing) a deeper understanding of their own inner psyche will find refuge in her words.

From Reality TV to Real-Life Growth

I really loved this book! Nice Girls Don’t Win gave such powerful insight into how playing Survivor impacted Parvati Shallow’s life - far beyond what we saw on TV. From the grueling physical challenges and navigating complex personalities on the island, to the harsh scrutiny she faced from viewers and the media, her reflections were raw, honest, and eye-opening.

What surprised me most was learning about her upbringing and family dynamics. It added so much depth and context to the Parvati I thought I knew from the show. Her story reframed my perception of her entirely, and I walked away with a greater appreciation for her resilience, growth, and strength.

Highly recommend for any Survivor fan - or anyone interested in stories of self-discovery and redefining your narrative.

loved it

highly recommend. learned a lot. could I love her anymore.....???? Yes!!! thank you for this book!

The GOAT

Nice Girls Don’t Win by Parvati Shallow floored me. Fresh off watching Australian Survivor: Australia vs the World—one of the best seasons of television I’ve ever seen—this memoir felt like the perfect companion. Parvati dominated that season, cementing herself as one of the greatest to ever play, and seeing her release a book just after felt almost too perfect. Listening to her narrate it herself only elevated the experience.

Her writing is eloquent and sharp, but also deeply personal. The way she weaves her story makes you feel like you’re right there with her: in the chaos of Survivor, in the heartbreak of her failed marriage, in the honesty of navigating motherhood, and in the raw reflections on her family’s struggles with addiction. It’s vulnerable, powerful, and inspiring all at once.

I’ve never fully finished a memoir before (still picking at Steve-O’s years later), but this one had me locked in. It reminded me of Project Hail Mary in the sense that it set a new bar for me—one of those “dangerous” firsts that ruins everything else by being so damn good.

Whether you’re a fan of memoirs or not, if you’ve ever rooted for the Black Widow on your screen, you owe it to yourself to pick this up.