Power Your Happy

June 20, 2016
Sugar recounts the founding of her media empire, PopSugar, while also imparting advice for personal and professional fulfillment. She left a successful career in advertising to pursue writing full-time, and she encourages readers to find the “intersection of passion and talent.” Sugar presents tactics for networking and crafting a resume or cover letter, and describes her experience creating and leading a successful team. Her commentary on “having it all” is astute, noting that “ ‘all’ is subjective” and having a support system is vital. She discusses her relationship with her husband as a blueprint for a successful marriage and outlines her own healthy eating and exercise habits. It’s difficult not to notice Sugar’s limited viewpoint, however, when she counsels readers on getting over break-ups despite her own lack of experience with them (she met her husband when she was 17), or concludes commentary on body image and self-acceptance with the banal statement “Learning to love my hair has been a long journey.” The advice is also largely tailored to young professionals, as when she comments on the acceptability of not knowing what you want to do, “whether you are 15, 25, or even 35.” That said, she knows her readership, and there is plenty of helpful guidance here for those just setting out on establishing themselves. Agent: Andy McNicol, William Morris Endeavor.

September 1, 2016

If you've perused the trendy pop culture articles on POPSUGAR.com, you may not be aware that the website is the namesake of its founder. Digital media mogul Sugar's debut book is one-part memoir, one-part guide to life, documenting her rise to success by turning her passions into an empire. Reading more like a blog than a book, the material addresses topics such as finding your passion, work, love, friendships, health, and beauty. The author supports individual lessons with examples from her childhood, college, or career. Each chapter ends with intuitive questions or a project to complete. One of Sugar's repeating motifs is that happiness can be found when a person's career and personal interests are in sync. While the advice is often lighthearted ("eating ice cream" is frequently prescribed as a quick fix), readers will discover substantial guidance that is easy to implement on everything from networking to interviewing to parenting. VERDICT Working mothers will find this an excellent companion to Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In. Twenty- to thirtysomethings will savor Sugar's solid, candid wisdom. [See Prepub Alert, 3/28/16.]--Jennifer Clifton, Indiana State Lib., Indianapolis

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