Customer Reviews

The Naked Truth: A Working Woman's Manifesto on Business and What Really Matters

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Margaret Heffernan has never been afraid to talk about the ugliness that can happen for women in Corporate America. Her new book is no different. It brings up almost every important issue for women trying to climb the traditional corporate ladder. In some cases she offers solutions, either from her own experience and research, or through the shared stories of women she interviewed for the book.

Two things in particular in the book stuck with me. In one section she discusses women and their "relationship" with work. I really liked the use of that word, "relationship." Because I do have a relationship with my work, just like I have a relationship with the people in my life or with money. (I had never really thought about it in that way before.) The second item that struck me was after I read one woman's description of something very sexist that happened in the workplace, I expected the next line to say, "that was ten years ago." Instead, the line was "that was in 2004." I think we need reminding that not everything has changed, and in fact, anything going on now is even worse than ten years ago, because it's 2005, and we all (including the boys) know better.

Regardless of your career, your career aspirations, your status in the job market, or your status in life, READ THIS BOOK. The author pinpoints those vague, somewhat ambiguous feelings we have all had at our job, affirms that we aren't going crazy, and provides concrete and helpful examples of how to deal with a variety of situations. Most of all, this book gave me hope that there is hope to find a respectful, honest and dynamic place of business that will help me be me.

Author and executive Margaret Heffernan fearlessly declares that decades of advice telling business women to act like men, follow traditional rules and cleave to heartless stereotypes are wrong. Breathe a sigh of relief. It's not you; "It's the system, stupid!" In her eyes, the business world inherently does not welcome, respect or value women. Refreshingly, instead of blaming women, the author conveys the advice of hundreds of female survey respondents who say men hold the aces in the business world and don't want to share. Honest, funny and sometimes disconcerting, she offers advice, inspiring examples and helpful stories. She explains how to find or create a humane, cooperative, supportive workplace that fits your principles - and how to make a realistic appraisal if you are at the change-it-or-quit stage. The one shortcoming is the author's absolute unstated assumption that women are innately, inevitably more cooperative, honest and caring than men. This stereotype is a two-edged sword, wounding those men who do have sound values, and reinforcing the typecasting that women ought to be sweet and nurturing because it's in their genes. That aside, we recommend Heffernan's clear view of the hurdles that block a woman's path to business success and work-life balance. She confronts painful realities and adapts them, or adapts to them, even if in nontraditional ways. If you have to be one person at work and someone different at home, her dynamic vision can help you pull it all together.

I thought this book was great and loaned it to a few friends who have also like it. The most important message in the book for many people will be the fact that "it isn't just you." One friend commented that she felt the entire book was telling her story, helping her understand that what had been happening to her in the workplace was not about her as an individual but reflected a culture that was steeped in old biases.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in how many women are perceived and treated in the workplace.

5 stars for certain and a must read for business women. My hat is off to margaret who speaks directly to issues and DOESN'T ask women to be more like men. She presents many different ideas - some her own and some presented by other women. Its wonderful to read a book that speaks to you and you feel involved in. Well done indeed.

I normally borrow my books from the Library--if its good enough, I buy my own copy. This book definitely has a space on my shelf. It speaks to every woman who wants to build a career. The best piece of advice I got from the book is that "a peacock that sits on its tail is just a turkey" -

Margaret doesn't sugarcoat the realities of being an executive female. But she's not on a rant, either, and provides plenty of upside and solid strategies. The Naked Truth is recommended reading for women on every rung on the ladder.