Careless People - GlaucaWyrm

Paperback, 382 pages

English language

Published by Pan Macmillan.

ISBN:: 9781035065936

(1 review)

Sarah Wynn-Williams, a young diplomat from New Zealand, pitched for her dream job. She saw Facebook’s potential and knew it could change the world for the better. But, when she got there and rose to its top ranks, things turned out a little different.

From wild schemes cooked up on private jets to risking prison abroad, Careless People exposes both the personal and political fallout when boundless power and a rotten culture take hold. In a gripping and often absurd narrative, Wynn-Williams rubs shoulders with Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and world leaders, revealing what really goes on among the global elite – and the consequences this has for all of us.

Candid and entertaining, this is an intimate memoir set amid powerful forces. As all our lives are upended by technology and those who control it, Careless People will change how you see the world.

2 editions

matthewmincher@bookwyrm.social reviewed Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Don't open, corporate America inside

4 stars

I'm not sure what to think of this overall. I definitely enjoyed it though I'm not sure how much of that was for dirty laundry/drama.

The author spends a decent amount of time justifying complicity but I'm not sure that's surprising or avoidable - I imagine the cognitive dissonance slowly builds over time.

You have to take this as a pinch of salt as something written by (as she says herself) a disgruntled ex-employee. Much of this book rings true. I don't think it's really stuff that's unique to Facebook or the people who work there, but almost guaranteed when growth or some greater good is incentivised over everything else.

Some of the personnel / HR incidents were very uncomfortable. I'm not sure how you could treat people so disposably. It was interesting to see the authors point of view as a woman trying to have a child while working …

I'm not sure what to think of this overall. I definitely enjoyed it though I'm not sure how much of that was for dirty laundry/drama.

The author spends a decent amount of time justifying complicity but I'm not sure that's surprising or avoidable - I imagine the cognitive dissonance slowly builds over time.

You have to take this as a pinch of salt as something written by (as she says herself) a disgruntled ex-employee. Much of this book rings true. I don't think it's really stuff that's unique to Facebook or the people who work there, but almost guaranteed when growth or some greater good is incentivised over everything else.

Some of the personnel / HR incidents were very uncomfortable. I'm not sure how you could treat people so disposably. It was interesting to see the authors point of view as a woman trying to have a child while working a job like this.

It reminded me a bit of the book about Blizzard recently, where the people at the top are so smart yet so incredibly isolated and out of touch.

While it may seem obvious to anyone who thinks for a moment on targeted advertising, but the idea that not only are your interests and personality being targeted, but your mood that very minute. Targeting people who delete selfies with beauty ads? Wow.

Do we actually want the world to be more open and connected? It seems like the world isn't winning.