942: Careless People was an infuriating true story
Friends, friends, friends.
Welcome back to Teatime Reading where there are books in progress.
We’ve heard about the Streisand effect, in which the attempt to shut down, hide, or censor information has the reverse effect of actually making said information more visible and public.
My narration journey continues in 2025, so before we get to the review,
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With Sarah Wynn-Williams’ exposé about the culture of greed and power at Facebook titled Careless People, it is fair to say that Meta’s attempt to take this book off shelves and silence conversation about the allegations and stories found in these pages has had that exact effect.
Many more people know about this book and Sarah Wynn-Williams because of their ham-handed methods.
What do I feel about the book? I think it is, in many ways similar to Ellen Pao’s exposé of venture capital culture titled Reset. The author had a compelling origin story that grabbed my attention (who knew a shark attack and near-death experience could be gripping for a reader?), but this book was more about her idealism about Facebook.
It was about the way that said idealism could be shattered by a company that was more focused on growth come hell or high water. The revelations and details hit harder because it was so obvious that Wynn-Williams was a believer in the true potential of Facebook.
This book is a running tally of lowlights, from dealings with China to misadventures with leadership, to horrible people in leadership, and harrowing semi-mandated trips to countries in turmoil.
It would be reductive to boil this book down to sexism in the workplace, although that was a factor. It would also be limiting to say this book is about the arrogance of Facebook itself, although, once again, it was a factor. This was a full fledged tell-all book about a woman coming to terms with the differences between idealism and the reality of the world she joined.
Joel Kaplan was a major player in this tale, infuriating in every way, and Sheryl Sandberg’s role in this story was also fascinating in its apparent contradictions between her own books and this account.
Careless People is both a difficult book to read and a necessary one. Having someone who joined the circus critiquing that same operation is often met with the insiders crying sour grapes, but how else do things change?
Casual sexism, political interference, cluelessness, greed, and so many other issues were highlighted in this book. It is excellent and necessary, especially in today’s times. I hope you check it out.
Until next time, keep your bookmarks close.
Peace, Love, Pages.
Note: As Always, Affiliate Links are here for your convenience at no cost to you. All reading was at my own expense.