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The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out Is Good Business Hardcover – June 17, 2014

by John Browne (Author)

21 customer reviews

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Part memoir and part social criticism, The Glass Closet addresses the issue of homophobia that still pervades corporations around the world and underscores the immense challenges faced by LGBT employees.

In The Glass Closet, Lord John Browne, former CEO of BP, seeks to unsettle business leaders by exposing the culture of homophobia that remains rampant in corporations around the world, and which prevents employees from showing their authentic selves.

Drawing on his own experiences, and those of prominent members of the LGBT community around the world, as well as insights from well-known business leaders and celebrities, Lord Browne illustrates why, despite the risks involved, self-disclosure is best for employees—and for the businesses that support them. Above all, The Glass Closet offers inspiration and support for those who too often worry that coming out will hinder their chances of professional success.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Personal and instructive, The Glass Closet provides a compelling roadmap to what, as a society and as individuals, we can achieve if LGBT men and women are completely free from prejudice and anxiety because of who they are.” (--Lloyd Blankfein, CEO, Goldman Sachs)

“The Glass Closet by John Browne is a brave and fascinating book that shows how businesses can lead the way in promoting gay rights and why being yourself is best for business and for you.” (--Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group)

“A courageous and salutary reminder that despite huge progress, we still have a long way to go to create the kind of tolerant and inclusive society of which business-as this book powerfully argues--must be a driving force.” (-- Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever)

“Culturally significant....[Browne] has taken pains to provide strikingly honest personal narratives and uses them to put a face on the problems at hand.” (Library Journal)

From the Back Cover

"I wish I had been brave enough to come out earlier during my tenure as the chief executive of BP. I regret it to this day. I know that if I had done so, I would have made more of an impact for other gay men and women. It is my hope that the stories in this book will give some of them the courage to make an impact of their own."
—John Browne

Today gay men and women in the Western world enjoy greater acceptance and more legal protections than ever before. Yet an alarming number of businesspeople choose to remain closeted at work. In The Glass Closet, John Browne, the former chief executive of BP, argues that whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or straight, it's better for you and your business when you bring your authentic self to work.

Browne draws on the latest research, his own experience as a closeted gay man in the oil industry, and interviews with gay and lesbian leaders to expose the lingering culture of homophobia in corporations around the world, and to inspire the LGBT community to share who they are with their employers and coworkers. Courageous and thought-provoking, this call to arms demonstrates that the hidden cost of hidden lives is far greater than we have previously thought.

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Product details

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: HarperBusiness (June 17, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062316974
ISBN-13: 978-0062316974
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 21 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #506 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > LGBT
- #1235 in Books > Business & Money > Business Culture > Workplace Culture
- #1614 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Business

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steadyprogress

Lord Browne turned a stressful outing experience into a positive by writing The Glass Closet

September 25, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Excellent. Very informative and helped me better understand why Lord Browne chose to remain closeted during his career at BP. By writing The Glass Closet, Lord Browne turned his stressful outing experience into a positive for society. He interviewed approximately 100 individuals from various sectors of business and shined a light on the many challenges LGBT people face at work. Some stories gave me hope while others were painful to read. The Glass Closet inspired me. The second chapter on the LGBT history was insightful and gave me a better perspective on how history has shaped events now unfolding. His story about the Warren Cup was so interesting. What a wonderful addition to The British Museum. My favorite part of the book was how Lord Browne met his partner. That is just synchronicity at work there.
Stephen Walker
Ferndale, MI
Ally to the LGBTQ community

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Marion McDonald

Brave and inspiring. I've taken action after reading it.

November 26, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

So inspiring that I have given the book to our Chief Talent Officer and offered to lead some company ideas in Hong Kong. It also prompted me to personally thank our Global CEO for making me feel so accepted when I was open about my lesbian orientation in initial interviews 7 years ago. It's never too late to let someone know how a positive experience has stayed with you.

A brave and encouraging book that is also really well researched. I tagged many pages to look up more info. Thankyou for writing it John.

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Michael Barwig

Not Enough Meat!

July 24, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I was hoping that John would give us more details of his personal life and some of the uncomfortable situations that he had been in to keep himself in the closet. I have not yet finished the book, but he has been rehashing a lot of gay history that any gay person in the USA would already be aware of. I have to admit, I do like his writing style and he keeps the old history interesting - but for me this is not new information. I bought the book to learn more about him!

PS - I am a gay man and in the Petroleum Business myself and happily OUT at work.

4 people found this helpful

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Hank

Live your true self

July 6, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Really like this book. No1 should have to hide who they are and who they love.

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Andy Orrock

John Browne's call for a "clear and consistent tone from the top...accompanied by stories that make the issue real."

February 21, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This excellent, thoughtful book from John Browne mixes parts of his personal history with stirring, well-crafted passages detailing the author's current passion project as founder of The Glass Closet. That organization seeks to convince business leaders that "any policy that fosters an inclusive environment makes good business sense." As Browne says:

"Paul Reed, my former colleague at BP and now a senior executive there, puts it best: `I don't want people saving a quarter of their brain to hide who they are. I want them to apply their whole brain to their job.' Inclusion creates a level playing field, which allows the best talent to rise to the top. Respecting diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity should therefore be recognised as a matter of strategic importance to every company competing in the global market for talent."

Browne further relates what Peter Sands, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, said to him:

"[Sands] explains that being trapped in the closet is `miserable for individuals and bad for business. In a world where business success is all about unleashing people's creative energy and imagination, it makes no sense to cripple so much talent.' The evidence points in one direction: people are more satisfied and more productive when they can bring their whole selves to work."

That's really what this book is about: issuing a call for inclusiveness that allows talent to flourish and personal productivity to be realized, regardless of sexual identity. Browne's thesis is that achieving these goals is going to take a combination of "clear and consistent tone from the top...accompanied by stories that make the issue real."

Browne's asks that "[e]mployees who have come out...talk about their experiences, because there is nothing more effective than real-life examples at dispelling fears." The author's call is tinged with regret that he did not have the opportunity to be one of those examples on his own terms. Instead, he was famously and publicly outed.

In this book, he recounts his life over that tumultuous period. The pain is still clearly raw. While he lays his soul bare, those you looking for real dirt from Browne will need to look elsewhere. The Glass Closet is not that book. Consider "The Glass Closet" making up for lost time: this John Browne confidently looks forward, not backwards. His book is a spirited, well-reasoned call for "leaders who have a deep understanding of authenticity, and for the emotional and human investment that is required for LGBT employees to feel comfortable coming out at work."

2 people found this helpful

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clwoody

Must read.

August 17, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Excellent book that should be read by every Human Resources professional.

One person found this helpful

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Ohio boy

Tells a good story

November 2, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I expect this book helped Tim Cook take the step out of the closet last week. Everyone please keep in mind: The only fear you have to fear is FEAR alone. John Browne lost his job at BP for that very reason. Good book and easy reading.

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John De Amicis

Great book! Took courage and can be inspiration to ...

October 1, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great book! Took courage and can be inspiration to many who find themselves in this situation. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

One person found this helpful

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