Womenomics Write Your Own Rules For Success Deals on Claire Shipman

Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success

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Editorial Reviews

You are not alone. Finally, here is a book that gets to the heart of what professional women want. You've probably been loath to admit it, but like most of us, you have had enough of the sixty-hour workweeks, the day-care dash, and the vacations that never get taken. You don't want to quit, you want to work—but on your own terms and in ways that make it possible to have a life as well.

Women have power. In Womenomics, journalists Shipman and Kay deal in facts, not stereotypes, providing a fresh perspective on the largely hidden power that women have in today's marketplace. Why? Companies with more women managers are more profitable. Women do more of the buying. A talent shortage looms. Younger generations want to work flexibly, too. It all adds up to a workplace revolution that is great news for professional women—not to mention men and businesses as well. As Brenda Barnes, CEO of Sara Lee, notes: Companies need to recognize that this kind of flexibility offers employees the ability to manage and balance their own careers and lives, which in turn improves productivity and employee morale. This new way of thinking and working is all the more valuable in a recession, as companies begin offering flexible schedules, four-day workweeks, and extended vacations as a way to avoid layoffs, save costs, and still reward employees.

It is personal. Womenomics does more than marshal the evidence of this historic shift. It also shows women how to redefine success, be productive, and build satisfying careers that don't require an all-or-nothing lifestyle. Most appealing are the candid personal anecdotes from Shipman's and Kay's own experiences and the stories they have gathered from professional women around the country who are coping with the same issues.

It is possible. Shipman and Kay don't waste time on what women can't do or can't have. Instead, they show women how to chart an empowering, exhilarating course to a richer life. Inspiring, practical, and persuasive, Womenomics offers a groundbreaking blueprint for changing the way you live and work—with advice, guidance, and fact-based support that proves you don't have to do it all to have it all.

Customer Reviews

Gives People Permission to Be Human in the Workplace

Reviewed by Coding Genius, 2010-03-18

Do working women need considerations in the workplace? Yes. Not only mothers, but all working women AND men without a spouse whose primary employment is taking care of the household. Things come up: appointments, illness, concerts, events, all of which require that employees be away from their desks/cubes/offices between 9 and 5 Monday through Friday. Employers need to realize this and be more accommodating.

The caveat is that this primarily applies to jobs that can be done independently. Jobs that require physical presence at the employer, such as housekeeping or waitressing, cannot be done from home. Jobs that are time specific cannot be done at home, late at night, such as working at a retail store whose hours are from 9 - 5. Many, many jobs are excluded from this rule. People who cannot work independently, without direction, are not able to work adequately from home.

For those of us with white-collar jobs, this is an excellent set of recommendations. Hopefully, it will appeal to young women and convince them to get the education required to work at jobs that offer this level of flexibility. For women already in the workplace without the qualifications to obtain executive level employment, this book is not applicable.

Geared toward Professional Women

Reviewed by Leslie Truex, 2010-01-18

I really liked reading the studies on how the companies that were the most successful had women in roles of management! The book talks about the challenges women have in creating work-life balance and enjoying it. Women are told to redefine success, learn to say 'no' and don't cow-tow to guilt. It then provides tips on negotiating with the powers that be to create a better work situation. It focuses on working women and professional women at that. It seems unlikely minimum wage women would be able to negotiate a different work schedule without significant loss of wage or benefits; and in today's economy without losing her job.

3.5 stars

Reviewed by J. Aragon, 2009-12-22

This is another book that isn't a perfect fit for me as a reader. I have a strong feminist background politically and intellectually (for my work). This book would work best for someone who is more of a mainstream educator or perhaps less familiar with the women's movement. Nonetheless, it is a provocative book that will help the reader think about her (it is geared for women readers) strengths and her work/life balance.

There is an assumption that all women are strugglin with the work/life balance and I am not sure that this is the case. I certainly don't feel like this and don't want to ask my employer for a more flexible schedule. Granted I do work in higher ed, but I'm at work 8-5 (or later) five days a week.

Some of the major strengths of this book is the discussion of emotional intelligence and how women usually bring this asset to the table as part of their skill set. And, how women employees are not only cost-effective, but are excellent employees. Overall, this is a useful, interesting book and I will suggest it to others.

SUPERB FOR MEN TOO, but crucial for reminding women to stop diminishing themselves the way society has taught.

Reviewed by Anonymous, 2009-11-19

Business is tough for EVERYONE, but uniquely for women because of whether existing family commitments or instincts mixed with ambition to be the power entrepreneur and perfect mother it is impossible to do both.

Womenomics is packed with lessons about true balance including delegation, tips on business finance, even which bills are "OK" to pay late. combined with real advice from real business women makes every page worth rereading.

The advice is useful for every small business and executive, so your husband can borrow it too.

Why publish these now?

Reviewed by M. ORIAS, 2009-11-17

I usually devour a book on female empowerment like a cream puff, but it took me so long to finish this book, not just because it was hard to relate to but I was reading it carefully so I would not get the message wrong. This book is quite dated and very insulting for most of the women who are not employed in so called white collar jobs, if you ask for reduced hours you get reduced pay and benefits and no one will then take you seriously. In this new economic climate if you are less visible and asking for privileges just because of certain circumstances, like motherhood, then you are the first one out the door since the company is getting less out of you for the pay and benefits they give you. Most of the concepts are pure HR family/life balance propaganda that I was infinitely disappointed that this book was even written. Reality seems to have escaped the authors and it was published too late in this economic environment to garner agreement or sympathy with most of the target readers.