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  • Lean In

  • Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
  • Written by: Sheryl Sandberg
  • Narrated by: Elisa Donovan
  • Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (351 ratings)

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Lean In cover art

Lean In

Written by: Sheryl Sandberg
Narrated by: Elisa Donovan
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Publisher's Summary

#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • “A landmark manifesto" (The New York Times) that's a revelatory, inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth that will empower women around the world to achieve their full potential.

In her famed TED talk, Sheryl Sandberg described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which has been viewed more than eleven million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto. Lean In continues that conversation, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can. Sandberg, COO of Meta (previously called Facebook) from 2008-2022, provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career. She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment, and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women both in the workplace and at home.

©2013 Sheryl Sandberg; 2013 Random House Audio

What the critics say

Lean In is an inauguration more than a last word, and an occasion for celebration ... Many, many women, young and old, elite and otherwise, will find it prescriptive, refreshing, and perhaps even revolutionary.” (Anna Holmes, The New Yorker)

“A landmark manifesto ... Fifty years after The Feminine Mystique ... Sandberg addresses 21st-century issues that never entered Betty Friedan’s wildest dreams ... Lean In will be an influential book. It will open the eyes of women who grew up thinking that feminism was ancient history, who recoil at the word but walk heedlessly through the doors it opened. And it will encourage those women to persevere in their professional lives.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

“I approached it wearing two hats—one as CEO [and] the other as the parent of a nine-year-old daughter. In both capacities, I feel that Lean In is a must read.” (Mohamed El-Erian, CEO of PIMCO, in Fortune)

Featured Article: The Best Motivational Audiobooks for Women Written by Powerful Women


Whether at work or in your personal life, these motivational audiobooks replace quick fixes with actionable tools and strategies to help you change how you think. Here’s our list of audiobooks and podcasts from women who have inspired us to create positive change in our own lives or in the lives of others. Find your favourite new audiobook that keeps you pushing forward to achieve great things. Discover our list of the best motivational listens.

What listeners say about Lean In

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  • KCP
  • 2018-08-06

excellent advice for working women

Excellent advice for working women and pitfalls to avoid. please read this book and implement

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A life changing listen

It is worth the 6.5 listen, and so much more. I can't suggest this book enough. I liked it so much I bought a physical copy afterward because I wanted to highlight my favorite parts.

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Great Read!

I've put this book off for years and now I target doing that. This was a way better book than I thought it would be and is applicable to men as well. Highly recommend it!

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    4 out of 5 stars

Part of me loved it, part of me disagreed.

Although, I found this audiobook both appropriate, truthful, and honest - I just wasn't 100% there with it. Part of me felt as though it hid a lot of the differences between the genders in the workplace, and told me that we had to act a certain way to make sure all women could move forward. However, there are some extremely valid points and parts to this audiobook, including the subjects of; the Howard v.s. Heidi study, the talk on impostor syndrome, and the discussion on marriage v.s. careers. #Audible1

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Contemporary Feminist Manifesto 5/5

This is my favorite book in the genre of "contemporary feminist manifestos". Sandberg does an amazing job highlighting the causes of inequality for women in the workplace, and backs them up not only with her own experiences, but with well researched facts. What really got me was when she dismantled the stereotypical roles men and women tend to play in their relationships, calling out men that think they can babysit their own kids, and women who talk proudly about their helpless infantile husbands who don't know how to pack their kid's lunches because it's never been expected of them before. I read this book when I was 22, going into college for the 2nd time, and I wish more young women my age would read it (I wish more young men would read it too, though for different reasons). I took a lot from this book that I'll carry with me as I begin building my career and would recommend this book to anyone.

Also, it wasn't as heavy a listen as I thought it would be, and Elisa Donovan gives an exceptional performance.

#Audible1

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A Must Listen for all ages

Excellent narration and an important message for the world. Adults of all ages should listen.

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inspirational!

This was relatable on soany levels. I enjoyed listening and learned so e lessons that I am already implementing in my team.

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  • AR
  • 2018-06-12

Worthwhile read for men and women.

Decent book. Motivating. But the narrator is almost childlike in voice and intonation. I found it a bit irksome.

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Every man and woman needs to read this

Changed my view of what it means to be a woman in the workplace. I have the courage to speak up in meetings, and think twice if I label another woman as "emotional". The biggest eye-opener was about the opportunity cost of maternity leave and child care!

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Great Listen and Inspiring Book

This was an inspirational audiobook that was addictive to listen to and particularly made my commute to work that much better. The narrator has a great way of speaking as if the author was having a one-on-one with you personally and the content was certainly eye opening with how women can strive for more by a simple change in outlook instead of holding ourselves back out of fear or even subconsciously. A must-listen for all aspiring female professionals and even males that may want to understand more of what challenges women face in the workplace and how to help. #Audible1

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