In This Together: How Successful Women Support Each Other in Work and Life

Women should support each other more in the workplace, argues O’Reilly, founder of the foundation Connect4Good, in this encouraging, if basic, primer. Despite some setbacks, O’Reilly finds women today achieving success and prominence in various arenas—most notably, politics—at unprecedented levels; this is the time, she writes, for them to mentor and support each other. Yet too many women, she warns, still feel uncertain about their own worth and are reluctant to ask for what they want; in O’Reilly’s words, “No one will do this for us.” Focusing on the positives rather than the challenges women face today, she covers the basics—how bias works against women, responding to microaggressions, stopping harassment and violence, cultivating men as allies, and improving how women treat each other. Though the observations are less than revelatory and a bit heavy on gender stereotypes—“today’s business world suffers from an excess of dominating masculine energy”—this is a good 101 for those who are looking to start understanding the issues. Easily digestible, clear, and direct, the book presents a good overview of a complicated subject, with a strong focus on intersectionality and actionable plans. (Jan.)