Women Who Don't Wait in Line: Break the Mold, Lead the Way by Reshma Saujani

Women Who Don't Wait in Line: Break the Mold, Lead the Way Reviews

• 
  Rama Rao

  A passionate call to women of next generation
  
  This is a brilliantly written book by an activist who calls for women to enlist in redefining themselves, and in remaking America. Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan brought women to the point of equality and it is up to the women of 21 century to walk past the door to make a difference in their own lives and for others. The author believes that women are not walking fast enough to make changes. They have to change inequities they face and must change themselves. They must really look themselves and explore what holds them back individually. Work through your aversion to risk and failure, embrace ambition, and put aside judgment of one another in a sorority of sisterhood, says the author.
  
  This book was written as a challenge to the next generation of women to think about leadership differently. Celebrate competition, pursue failure, build and prosper sisterhood, and learn to be like yourself and not following or emulating others, pursue dreams and opportunities with all your energy. This book is the story of her experience and the experience of women of her generation. Inspiring women to think how they view leadership, how they teach children and how they can go around to making their dreams a reality. She says, women are inner activists and calls for awakening this spirit and inspire other women to do the same and remake the nation.
  
  Congressional candidate Reshma Sujani is a young Indian American woman who audaciously ran against the eighteen year old incumbent, Representative Carolyn Maloney for New York's 12th congressional district. She lost the election but gained the insight back into what is holding women back. She thanked Congresswoman Maloney for the opportunity to find passion and dedication to Sujani's beliefs and try to make her dream a reality. Her loss made her even stronger and bolder about pursuing her dreams.
  
  Success is rewarded not by pedigree but by personal experience; both triumphs and failures. Women must operate with 21 century mentalities in 21 century culture and not 20 century codes. She provides a new model of next generation leadership and there are seven chapters in the book that explore lessons learned by the author and the women who are narrowing the gender gap. They found right support groups to energize their enthusiasm and energy to find themselves and move forward. They didn't wait in line for their names to be called, but marched with the thoughts of being the current and next generation leaders. The old model of feminism is holding many women. The new leaders don't allow old style feminism to hold them back. They find strength in gender and not apologize for it. The book illuminates a new path to reach a goal and revolutionize the world we live in for better. If you have a dream, jump the line because waiting is over, says the author.
• 
  Erin Kross

  Someday, I would love to read a book about being a woman in business that didn’t require I also read about being a mother.
• 
  Kara

  This book was a major disappointment. I have admired Saujani for her initiative to move the needle on getting more girls into STEM and love her Girls Who Code program, but I was expecting something more from this book. The book is broken up into 7 chapters that each cover a different topic or area, but it doesn't delve into the details of either the statistics or Saujani's journey - in short it is like reading a few brief blog posts. The statistics and information included in the book about working women, work-life balance, and politics are nothing new and aside from a few little anecdotes the book doesn't delve into much of Saujani's life. And, it is only in the last chapter, which includes a brain dump of random women's issues in which to take part, that she even mentions her coding initiative. It was a short read otherwise I likely would have abandoned it. If you want a read that delves deeper into the statistics and information about women in the workplace, I highly recommend Brigid Shultes book Overwhelmed. If you want more information about Saujani ... keep looking.
• 
  Skylar

  The book did a good job of firing me up to push myself beyond the limits society and other women impose. Is "paying your dues" a good thing? Or is that the kind of new perspective we need? I first heard of Reshma in the latest NY elections, and my husband and I voted for her in the primaries because she sounded great. I was really excited to see this book in the Goodreads giveaways, and I was very thankful to win a copy!
  
  It wasn't earth-shattering, but I'm glad I read it. It was a really short read, which surprised me for some reason. I guess I'm used to idealist people not getting to the point quickly! On the other hand, I saw my energy go down as I read it. I started the book with a really high energy and passion and "go get 'em!", but that slacked off as I continued. I think the perception of losing steam remained even though I think I came out more impassioned at the end of the book than where I started. Her suggestions are great, but I wonder how many of us will tackle these projects? It's hard to get fired up and stay that way when inertia is so comfortable and predictable. I believe her suggestions will bring untold success for any individual (man or woman), but it's a tall order and requires a lot of chutzpah and tolerance for uncertainty.
• 
  James

  If you have a girl old enough to handle adult reading, this is a great gift. It weighs the opportunities and challenges facing women, though in between also offer a lot of sage advice for just about anyone.
  
  Saujani can reflect on her place as a woman, as the child of immigrants and as a political activist, giving some unique views around what is required to bring women to the same social level as men.
  
  Sadly this might deter readers hung up on political partisanship and difference about social values. But this book isn't a feminist manifesto (apart from the second-last chapter, which is a call to action). It is an insightful look at success, determination and a hint at what it takes to realise your dreams. This is why I enjoyed it most.
• 
  Barbara C

  Good but a bit repetitive.
  
  I enjoyed the book as the writing style was good and engaging, and the content was interesting even if i did know a lot about the topic prior. My only gripe was that it was pretty repetitive. I would recommend this book regardless!
• 
  Jennifer

  I've read several books like this, which means I've heard her arguments before. This is a quick, easy read, which makes it accessible but shallow.
• 
  Candi

  I've watched the author's TED talk about how we should teach our girls about bravery, not perfection. I've learned about the non-profit organization to help teach girls how to code. This is near and dear to my heart. I started as a high school student just playing around with code. I never thought it would be my career.
  
  I found this book fairly inspirational. Sometimes, I do feel like I always need to be polite and proper because I'm a woman. But I've learned that I can't wait for someone to hand me what I want or deserve. I have to work hard for it and ask. I know growing up, I've been taught about perfection and having to meet all criteria. But when it comes to going for that next job, it's not always a completed checklist. I liked hearing the stories of women who thought they had to wait or gain more experience to be ready for their next role. Sometimes the only way you can get that experience is just diving in and just take the role.
  
  We should also be helping other women succeed instead of telling them to wait their turn. I'm competitive but I do want to see the next woman succeed just as bad. Most women have to compete against other men; why should we make it hard for our fellow sisters to excel?
  
  This book has a few good tips on getting to that next level. I have those select few who I go to to help me on my journey.
• 
  Lynda

  This is not a bad book and you can easily finish it in one day, but it could have used tighter editing as many of the other reviewers mentioned. I did not know anything about the author beforehand. I came across this book after reading about an ex-colleague's citation of Reshma's story of bouncing back from failure. Women do have a tough time because of all the stereotypes still very much entrenched in American society. As a middle-aged woman who is trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her life and how to pull of a career-switch, I did benefit from Reshma's messaging about not letting other people hold you back; about how it is perfectly acceptable to ask for what you want; and that it's perfectly fine to fail and start over. These are not new information and this book was clearly aimed at women younger than Reshma herself. One thing though is that her message seems to imply that all of her women readers are thinking about having it all (children, career, etc.), but for women who don't have children (either by choice or not) the messaging is alienating at best.
• 
  Vidya Ananthanarayanan

  I am not the target audience for this book, and there was some redundancy that could have made for a better read with tighter editing. Many of the lessons of risk, resilience, and mentorship that she describes I have already experienced and incorporated into my own life.
  
  That said, this a great book for up and coming young women, and serves as a good reminder for those of us who may be caught in a rut. At the very least, it is a call to action for sisterhood and activism. To repurpose a popular song: Sisters need to do it for themselves, and that is the ultimate message of this book.
  
  I suspect I will find similar themes in Sheryl Sandbergh's book Lean In, but that in no way should undermine the value of this book or deter you from reading it.
• 
  Monique

  I wanted to read Reshma Saujani’s story. She is a young woman with an activist mentality working to change the world. Saujani promotes a new model of leadership focused on sponsorship that encourages women to strive above the glass ceiling, to take risks and learn from failures. I love this idea and work every day to teach that to the students I meet in my classroom. However, this book failed in articulating how to accomplish this task. I wanted so much more. The meat of the book is featured in the first couple of chapters while the rest was fluff. The stories of other talented women are encouraging but again I wanted more. Do yourself a favor – check this out from the library.
• 
  Poorna

  The title fascinated me to pick up this book from the local library. I started to read this book on 4-Mar with an intention to make it to first 35 pages. Reshma’s narration and emphasizes on women empowerment kept me on toe until I turned the last pages of acknowledgements. I liked the writing style and the depth of content covered in this little book. The leads on how to contribute in improving our future are engaging and thoughtful. I would highly recommend this book to women and men who aspire to actively involve in leading solutions to social issues. Thank you for sharing your experience 🙏🏼
• 
  Jen

  I really enjoyed this book (I received as Goodreads First Read). It was not what I initially expected; I was hooked before I finished the prologue. Hearing Saujani's personal experience with education and her congressional run was inspiring. There's a lot if name dropping, in a good way - successful, powerful women are mentioned anecdotally to prove the kind of actions women should start taking in order to get "higher" and achieve their goals. It is a short book, but has a good message (which is a little repetitive, but that is probably intentional).
• 
  Briana Ford

  Not every book can be Lean In, but this book is a contender in its own right. Reshma Saujani gives us a look into her experiences when it comes to her career, and how other women can do the same. She touches on the usual suspects/topics: work/life balance, working moms, pay equality, gaps in the STEM field, etc. She wasn't trying to be pretentious or copy anyone else's work. She referenced two of my favorite "women rule" books (Lean In & Knowing Your Value), and had other insight to bring to the table. A good, easy read.
• 
  Melissa Josef

  Love what this woman has to say to young women... She is a terrific role model who will inspire young adults to go out and be the women they can and should be. There are reasons why we still don't have gender equity in so many fields and why the pay scale across the boards is not equal despite women having a higher education rate. Research needs to begin digging into the why's and society needs to put real support behind turning the tide. Saujani's message and efforts with programs like Girls Who Code are definitely a start.
• 
  Amy

  In 2010, Reshma Saujani challenged Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney in a primary. Even though she lost, she calls it the most successful campaign ever lost. She took a risk, didn’t wait in line until it was her turn, and is now encouraging other women to do the same in Women Who Don’t Wait in Line.
  
  I like her boldness, her confidence, and her willingness to take risks and fail. It's a quick read and it's given me some good ideas. First on the to-do list: learn to code.
• 
  Rhonda Nelson

  Who runs the world? Girls. No, seriously, this is a great book for women leaders to read. A book about empowerment, courage, and persistence. How to strike a balance between "acting like a lady" and being a "strong and confident businessperson." Woman are often held to different standards than men and are still lagging behind regarding equal pay, job promotions, and other business success barometers. Keep striving.
• 
  Annie

  Reshma Saujani certainly feels passionate about women succeeding in the professional world. She offers plenty of personal stories as well as citations get her points across. This book would be good for any woman wanting to further her career. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
• 
  Lori

  I really enjoyed the first part of the book and respect her courage and message. I agree that women need to push and strive for leadership roles. I did not like and strongly disagreed with the end where she spouted off tired feminist notions and regulatory government solutions. Overall, a thought provoking read.
• 
  Melyssa

  I saw Reshma Saujani on ABC's This Week as part of a round table of women leaders. She impressed me and I wanted to know more about her story. She has an inspiring message. I think the book is most appropriate for young women in college but everyone can gain some insight from it.
• 
  Andrea

  In essence, I agree with what she was saying. This book is perhaps a distant relation to "Lean In". However, it wasn't very well organized, and the writing style didn't agree with my sensibilities. So I put it down.
• 
  Maria

  Reshma Saujani is of a new generation of women, struggling with age-old gender issues but with confidence and energy that is modern. A very easy and quick read, Reshma had me inspired. I have flagged passages to share with female co-workers!
• 
  Kalli Taub

  By far the best book to empower and shake up the glass ceiling mentality. If every woman could find the courage to implement Reshma's ideas: the business sector would be equalized. I commend her, and feel proud that Girls Who Code will be in my school district! #imwithher #winlikeaman
• 
  Andrea

  Lots of practical advice for women getting ahead in their lives. What they and their partners and friends can do to get more women into leadership positions in a variety of fields, but especially STEM related fields.
• 
  Shreya Singh

  I identified with Reshma's life experiences, especially as a young South Asian woman. However, I wish her writing approach was more personal/insightful rather than statistics/research paper oriented. I admire all of her accomplishments and look forward to tracking her future successes.
• 
  Noreen Miller

  Motivational, with a Millenial outlook, well-sequenced, non-fiction look at the state of women in the work force and politics.
• 
  Nicole

  This book was in the same vein as "Lean In." I enjoyed the book and it made me examine what is going on in my own job. On the other hand, the book could benefit from some tigher editing.