Unfinished Business

August 24, 2015
As this heartfelt book relates, when the author (The Idea That Is America) left her Princeton University professorship in 2009 to work on policy for then–Secretary of State Clinton, her sons were 10 and 12. Slaughter could only get home on weekends, and before long she found her children were suffering from her absences. Her conflicted feelings resulted in her much-read Atlantic piece, “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All,” which she expands here. “Lean in too far without a counterweight... and you will tip over,” Slaughter warns. As she explains, her tipping point led her not only to leave D.C. but also to more widely examine the challenges of caregiving in the U.S. Slaughter also takes a fresh and informative look at recent advances made by feminists, finding that though much has changed since the women’s movement came to prominence, the movement is still “only halfway home.” She provides concrete steps for the remaining journey, concluding that until society learns to value care (of children and the elderly) as much as competition, there will never be true gender equality, in the workplace or elsewhere. If heeded by Americans, her thoughtful analysis could cause a sea change in how they value their jobs and one another. Agent: Will Lippincott, Lippincott Massie McQuilkin.

August 15, 2015
One woman's vision on how to create gender equality for men and women. After New America Foundation CEO Slaughter's (The Idea that Is America, 2008, etc.) 2012 Atlantic article, "Why Women Still Can't Have it All," created a whirlwind of debate on both sides of the issue, she realized the "fifty-year-old conversation about what true equality between men and women really means" was still open to definition. In this comprehensive analysis, the author interweaves thoughts about the necessity of equal time at home and at work with her personal story of juggling a career as the first female director of policy planning, reporting directly to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her deep desire and need to be at home with her sons. Slaughter skillfully breaks down old myths and offers useful advice on how, with slight twists and tweaks, the old theories can be reinvented into methods that are readily accessible and actionable. With strong research, the author outlines the inherent problems that still exist in the workplace, which create an unequal atmosphere, particularly for women, who are often seen as "giving up" a career if they elect to spend more time with their children. She offers solid advice on how these disparities can be changed, allowing workers to have more flexibility. Her advice includes using at-home independent contractors and freelancers, using OpenWork ("a platform and movement...a way of working, a spirit and set of values that animates a particular workplace"), and focusing on results rather than on the steps to get there. Although much of this is common sense, the fact that men and women do not yet share equal pay for equal work or receive fair treatment in regard to time off for child care only underlines the need for this kind of ongoing conversation, a discussion over which Slaughter eloquently presides. Informative guidance on how men and women can come together in the workforce and at home.

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2015

In 2012, the Atlantic published a now famous cover article "Why Women Still Can't Have It All." Slaughter has expanded that article into a well-written and -researched book, further outlining the corporate and societal expectations that result in ever-increasing professional and family demands. Slaughter begins by explaining why she felt compelled to leave a coveted position at the U.S. State Department to return to her family and teaching career at Princeton University and how others reacted to that move. The juxtaposition of her ambition and feminist ideals with the realities of marriage and child rearing (and the need for sleep) has led her to call for more focus "work/life fit" and less on requiring long hours on the job for career advancement. The author states the radical idea that parenting and caregiving should be as respected as any other professional role. While she's most likely preaching to the choir, the joint themes of working smarter not harder and giving caregiving its due respect will resonate with a wide audience. VERDICT Based on the popularity of the article, this book will be in strong demand. Recommended for all libraries. [See Editors' Picks, p. 30; Prepub Alert, 3/30/15.]--Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2015

Within four days of its publication in the July/August 2012 issue of the Atlantic, Slaughter's "Why Women Still Can't Have It All" became the most-read feature in the magazine's history, and Slaughter emerged as a major voice in the debate about women in the workplace. Instead of having it all, she wants us to strive for work-life balance and gender equality in the office and at home. With a 75,000-copy first printing and an eight-city tour.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.