I
am always skeptical about books written by celebrities. Usually, I do not buy
books which became bestsellers because of author’s well-known name and
expensive promotion campaign rather than its value. Lean In is another book proving my theory. It was good decision to
borrow it from company library rather than to buy it. Big disappointment…
Lean In
is about need for social and structural changes to fights against inequality
between men and women in a workplace. Sheryl Sandberg tells women to change
their behavior and to believe in themselves, if they want to succeed in their
professional life.
While
Lean In is very readable book and
includes references to many important studies on women in work market, it has
serious flaws and does not deserve the praise it gets. Despite Sandberg’s
position, experience and knowledge she did not succeed with this publication. What
she offers is self-gratification and call for social and structural changes
without suggestions how to introduce them. She created a long list of “we
should”, “we must”, “we can” without explaining how to change people’s behaviors.
I guess many of us have long list of should- be- done things, but we do not
become best-selling authors. Sandberg became one because of her celebrity
status. I could not believe when I was reading review of Lean In in one of “reputable” newspapers; the author was praising
Sandberg like she was a writer of the decade!
She
graduated from Harvard, worked for American government, then for Google, and
currently she is a chief operating officer of Facebook. She says she wants to
transform the role of women in the workplace. With all due respect, what does
she know about situation of average woman in the workplace? Does she have any
idea what life looks like when you are not graduated from Harvard, you do not
have millions on your bank account, and you do not work for Google Schmoogle or
Facebook? There is a huge rift between her, the privileged and rich, and women
around the world who need to fight like lions to succeed in their lives.
Sandberg reveals that she got admitted to Harvard not because of her intellect
but personality. Well, maybe her personality made her successful at Harvard but
it did not help her to write avaluable book.
For
me, Lean In is about Sandberg’s
privileged and fabulous life, perfect husband, and prestigious companies she
have worked for. She did not meet my expectations, she was not even close to
that. How she wants to change the workplace for women, while she is unable to
offer any practical advice for working women? Sure we “should”, “must” and “can”
a lot but the question is how to do this???
What
really surprised me is that she never mentioned how she became such a
successful woman. When I was reading the book I was thinking that her life was so
easy: she got to Harvard, then worked for government, Google and Facebook. Why
she did tell us about her struggle? What was her way to do all of this? Or, maybe
it is all about being privileged. You get everything so easily and then you
cannot even explain your fight because there wasn’t any fight actually. Maybe
that is why the book lacks of depth; it is just simply superficial.
I
believe she has good intentions and vision of change but she does not have the
slightest idea how to introduce the social and structural changes into life.
I
want Sandberg to consider all reviews and comments and rewrite the book after
few years. If she really wants to transform workplace for women so instead of
making long list of wishes, she should propose the solutions. So many women
admire and respect her, she should not disappoint them.
And
a few words as a conclusion. What is really annoying is that there are so many
female writers who actually have something important to say and they do not get
enough attention. We live in the world of celebrities, where nobody cares about
those who are wise and smart. People cherish what is shallow and what doesn’t
have any value. Actually, it is not annoying, it is pathetic.
