Book Review "On Becoming Fearless... In Love, Work and Life"

Written by the well-known American entrepreneur and commentator, Arianna Huffington, this book tackles a wide range of life areas, driving home the message that nothing holds us back more than ourselves, and encouraging bold action

You may have heard of The Huffington Post – the online news and opinion blogging site that Arianna Huffington started in her early fifties. She has run (unsuccessfully) for Governor in California (against Arnie, he said she should drink more decaf) and is a passionate supporter of women, promoting their rights through political channels. She’s written a number of books and is considered quite an intellectual in US political circles. She says she wrote this book for her two daughters, when she saw them burdened with the same fears she encountered at their age.

The book is written in a breezy style and is very easy to read. A series of personal stories is used to weave together various wisdoms and anecdotes from other high profile women with her own life experiences. The main message is nothing new, it’s really a book about living authentically. Nothing holds us back more than ourselves. She tackles a number of common fears, offering ideas and views about each. Topics include: the body, love, parenting, work, money, aging, illness, God, death, leadership, speaking out and changing the world.

"Unconventional, self-assured young women are quickly labelled as pushy… This worry that we’ll alienate others makes us have an internalised censorship of ambition."

There are some useful references and anecdotes, such as quoting from Louann Brizendine’s book ‘Female Brain’ about hormone and brain changes as we age. These changes mean we care less about what others think and more about what matters to us as we age. Younger women are biologically programmed to be ‘nice’, ‘helpful’, ‘good’; coupled with a cultural requirement to be ‘sweet and adorable’. A man who doesn’t tow the line is admired. Unconventional, self-assured young women, however, are quickly labelled as pushy, strident or ‘difficult’. This worry that we’ll alienate others, she argues, makes us have an internalised censorship of ambition. Another quote that I liked was from the money chapter. Carnegie Mellon university research demonstrates that men are 4x more comfortable negotiating their first salary than women – men compare negotiating to ‘winning a ball game’ whereas women said the process felt like ‘going to the dentist’.

"we need to keep our priorities clear and tackle our inner critics head on"

I’d say it is a useful book to remind us how much we can achieve and what we should let go of. How we need to keep our priorities clear and tackle our inner critics head on. I’m personally less keen on her slightly preachy style which makes her sound a bit self-congratulating rather than inspiring. She constantly name drops too, although I suspect that is more of a British thing to wince at. For me, another drawback was the chapter she includes on fearlessness about God. She is highly judgemental and critical of people who don’t have a spiritual dimension in their lives. She uses some unconvincing research to back up her claims that God is essential to a ‘fearless life’.

That chapter aside, I’d say it was a light and entertaining read, reinforcing how as women we can be more bold.

By Kate Buller, Executive Coach, The Executive Coaching Consultancy.

November 2011 Newsletter Articles - quicklinks

• Welcome Message
• Reducing Personal Conflict
• Goldman Sachs launches Returnships Programme
• If only people were companies' most important asset
• Leading the resistance - how to achieve career resilience
• Leaders Corner - Zoe Sinclair, Founder of Employees Matter
• Top ten tips for building resilience - Keep calm and carry on
• I don't know how she does it... by Michelle Chance - guest article
• Book Review: "On Becoming Fearless... In Love, Work and Life"

Posted on: 27.10.2011