Bully Market: My Story of Money and Misogyny at Goldman Sachs

One of America’s leading financial institutions is rife with misogyny, homophobia, and racism, according to this scintillating exposé. Higgins, a former managing director at Goldman Sachs, documents her 20-year rise from trainee to the highest-ranking woman in her department, explaining that the toxic environment nearly destroyed her marriage and family life, even as she was seduced by the huge income and prestige. She documents a workplace culture of grueling hours, drunken parties, and commonplace sexual harassment and discrimination, and notes that when her twin girls were born, she was strongly discouraged from breastfeeding at work. Later, when her son was born, she was in a more senior position and did breastfeed and pump in the office but was mocked by “mooing” sounds on her way to the lactation room. And after a difficult miscarriage, Higgins was pressured to return to work well before her physician advised it, causing even more health difficulties. Setting a brisk pace, Higgins packs the narrative with dramatic scenes but somewhat distracts from her larger point with gossipy details about an affair with one of her bosses. Still, this is a persuasive warning that Wall Street still has a long way to go to become a more human and equitable workplace. Agent: Gail Ross, Ross Yoon. (Aug.)