Ambition Is Not a Dirty Word: A Woman's Guide to Earning Her Worth and Achieving Her Dreams (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: sanctioned self sabotage, ambitious women, Ambition Rule, New York, Business Alliance (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Debra Condren and for Ambition is Not a Dirty Word :

Ambition Is Not A Dirty Word is a Recommended Book on OprahSelects.com. (Originally published in hard cover under the title, amBITCHous: Let’s Reclaim Ambition As a Virtue.)

"A defiant charge to women to 'reclaim ambition as a virtue'… 'Wouldn't it be inspiring if you could acknowledge straight up, to yourself and to others, that you have big, wild and precious professional goals?' Condren's corrective manifesto urges women to pry apart the bars of 'common self-imposed traps' which cause ambitious women to 'sell themselves short'… " – The New York Times

“Debra Condren’s book is something I wish I had twenty years ago. Having learned from my mistakes, being a person who self-sabotaged for many years, afraid of the A-word, life as a mother, a filmmaker, and an actor has made me come to terms with the word ambition. It’s okay and I’m proud of who I am today. Read this book so you can avoid the long road of self-sabotage and embrace ambition as a powerful virtue.” –Rosanna Arquette, actress

“Dr. Debra Condren is a dedicated advocate for empowering women to break traditional boundaries and achieve personal and professional success.”
—Barbara Boxer, U.S. senator

“Debra Condren nails ways in which professional women—even accomplished ones—sell themselves short. She offers precise, innovative guidelines for how women can turn self-imposed blocks and inhibitions into motivation to outrun inner doubt and win back their worth.”
—Sheldon Siegel, New York Times bestselling author, Special Circumstances and Incriminating Evidence

“This is an inspiring, empowering, and practical book. Give it to your friends, sisters, and daughters.”
—Tanya Styblo Beder, CEO of... --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review

Praise for Debra Condren and for Ambition is Not a Dirty Word :

Ambition Is Not A Dirty Word is a Recommended Book on OprahSelects.com. (Originally published in hard cover under the title, amBITCHous: Let’s Reclaim Ambition As a Virtue.)

"A defiant charge to women to 'reclaim ambition as a virtue'… 'Wouldn't it be inspiring if you could acknowledge straight up, to yourself and to others, that you have big, wild and precious professional goals?' Condren's corrective manifesto urges women to pry apart the bars of 'common self-imposed traps' which cause ambitious women to 'sell themselves short'… " – The New York Times

“Debra Condren’s book is something I wish I had twenty years ago. Having learned from my mistakes, being a person who self-sabotaged for many years, afraid of the A-word, life as a mother, a filmmaker, and an actor has made me come to terms with the word ambition. It’s okay and I’m proud of who I am today. Read this book so you can avoid the long road of self-sabotage and embrace ambition as a powerful virtue.” –Rosanna Arquette, actress

“Dr. Debra Condren is a dedicated advocate for empowering women to break traditional boundaries and achieve personal and professional success.”
—Barbara Boxer, U.S. senator

“Debra Condren nails ways in which professional women—even accomplished ones—sell themselves short. She offers precise, innovative guidelines for how women can turn self-imposed blocks and inhibitions into motivation to outrun inner doubt and win back their worth.”
—Sheldon Siegel, New York Times bestselling author, Special Circumstances and Incriminating Evidence

“This is an inspiring, empowering, and practical book. Give it to your friends, sisters, and daughters.”
—Tanya Styblo Beder, CEO of Citigroup Alternative Investments' multistrategy, proprietary hedge fund, Tribeca Global Management LLC

“Positive in tone, loaded with strategies and solutions, this engaging book charts a compelling, clear, and accessible course for getting comfortable with passion for your work and transforming inner obstacles into success and power.”
—Elizabeth Roberts, first vice president of Wealth Management, Smith Barney

“Dr. Debra Condren has been a guiding light to many women business owners and young women in realizing their potential.”
—Dianne Feinstein, U.S. senator

“Irreverent, ferocious, funny, and wise! Any woman who has ever felt conflicted about feeling passionate about her work should read this book cover to cover.”
—Barbara Corcoran, real estate magnate, author of national bestseller If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (February 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767923146
• ISBN-13: 978-0767923149
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #380,618 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!, October 8, 2008

By	Andrea Henderson "CEO, Renaissance Staffing" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Debra writes in the voice of your best girlfriend who can tell you the "real deal." Ambition is Not a Dirty Word is "laugh-out-loud" funny in places and "pound-your-fist on the boardroom table" serious in others. You feel like you are getting the good, common sense of your grandmother, executive coaching from a seasoned professional and the things only your closest confidant would whisper in your ear, all in one book. I feel so strongly that Ambition is Not a Dirty Word is a "must read," that I gifted my personal copy many times while I was reading it. I recommended the book to friends and complete strangers I meet at networking events because the content is so relevant to the issues we are discussing.

Furthermore, Debra's voice helped me at a very difficult time - when my father passed away. When I couldn't function, her words gave me permission to return to the world of the living and continue to pursue my dreams. I was able to embrace my ambition even while grieving and when nothing else made sense I was able to concentrate on things that I could control and feel good about.......building my business. AMBITION IS NOT A DIRTY WORD. Ambition helped me out of the abyss. For this I will be eternally grateful.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational!, July 15, 2008

By	A. Dehnert "Bombergirl" (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has inspired me to get out there in the world and pursue my dreams. I do not want to be a women who just gets by 50% - that is not enough and is only limiting my potential. Societal views of women place us in a more confined place then we realize. This book was eye opening to cultural brainwashing I had not even realized. It gives a great sense of community through this fight and is an essential guidebook for all women trying to make their way in this male dominated career world. Condren writes with clarity and also a familiarity which is really that little voice we all tune out in our head. I highly recommend this book to anyone questioning why they are doing and where they are going.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of positive affirmations, October 28, 2008

By	Cynthia Cornell "Life and Executive Coach" (Fairfield County, CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's not easy for many women to speak up for themselves or to acknowledge themselves for accomplishments. Dr. Condren puts the challenge out to each of us in a very direct yet generous way, encouraging greater self awareness and ambition. Celebrate who you are, what you can do and plan for bigger and better things in the future based on an enlightened view of your own potential. Written from a personal perspective and including others' stories and perspectives, this book is an easy read that includes helpful exercises to help readers to create some new thinking habits and achieve new results for themselves. As a coach, I think this is a great learning tool for women facing these challenges. www.cindycornell.com