As someone who worked her whole life in environments where men feelings were put on a precious tray and displayed carefully in glass boxes with the specific direction 'do not hurt', I know quite well what comedian and public speaker Sarah Cooper says in 'How to be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings'. But compared to over the half of the women that were probably the inspiration of the book I grew up to simply not care about feelings when it comes to work. Should I really care about 'how I feel' when I have a good mind? Although I was aware of harassment, unfair gender paid gap, neglect of family needs of a woman - especially if single and with a child eventually, it was no man that ever scared me enough to give up my rights. I raised my voice when my - excuse my French - idiot male boss harassed me and tried to belittle me for months, but also when some women in power positions were just tried to wrongly emulate the masculline management. And I survived pretty well.
Sarah Cooper's book - coming up in a bookstore near you this end October - is for those weak of heart women looking for a hilarious survival guide in a male-dominated tech, or publishing or high-end corporation environment. Add what is close to your professional home. 'Being ambitious, seeking power, showing knowledge, these are all dangerous paths if we really want to be successful and get a head'.
In order to help you out, this book offers creative yet simple illustrations with simple explanations, blank pages to doole while men are explaining things and highly inspiring titles such as: 'How to talk like a man but still be seen as a woman', 'How to advance your career without blowing it in everyone's face', 'How to bury your true self to work and then hide it completely'. Plus stickers suggestions for accomplishments 'such as treating a woman like a human'. 'When all else fails, a set of wearable mustaches is included to allow women to seem more manlike, canceling out any need to be less threatening'. In case you need some easy to understand references, the chart 'toddler vs. CEO' helps you perfectly to figure out what some highly displayed emotions are all about.
It is a hilarious but 'oh, so true' read. Read it loud and laugh out louder, and keep being authentic doing exactly the opposite the women characters in this book are doing.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
