Every month, the Scoop hosts our 60-second book club, where we invite you to take a quick peek inside a buzzed-about new book and let us know what you think. This month’s pick: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.
Since you clearly have an Internet connection, we’re assuming you don’t live under a rock and that you’ve heard about (or maybe even started reading) Lean In, the career guide for women by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. Some people have applauded Sandberg’s candid approach, while others fault her for saying women often stand in the way of their own career success—but you can come to your own conclusion. Here’s a preview:
Imagine that a career is like a marathon—a long, grueling, and ultimately rewarding endeavor. Now imagine a marathon where both men and women arrive at the starting line equally fit and trained. The gun goes off. The men and women run side by side. The male marathoners are routinely cheered on: “Lookin’ strong! On your way!” But the female runners hear a different message. “You know you don’t have to do this!” the crowd shouts. Or “Good start—but you probably won’t want to finish.” The farther the marathoners run, the louder the cries grow for the men: “Keep going! You’ve got this!” But the women hear more and more doubts about their efforts. External voices, and often their own internal voice, repeatedly question their decision to keep running. The voices can even grow hostile. As the women struggle to endure the rigors of the race, spectators shout, “Why are you running when your children need you at home?”
What do you think? Does this quote make you want to read more? Did you already burn through the book? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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