Having It All - by Corinne Low

Book Synopsis

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

Women aren't getting a fair deal-- t work or at home. Whether you're in "the squeeze" already or just starting your career path, this book gives you the data to understand why and the tools to change it.

The demands on working mothers and professional women are unsustainable. We're expected to build ambitious careers, fight for workplace equality, maintain equality at home, raise engaged children, and somehow find time for ourselves. And when we inevitably fall short? We're told to try harder and wake up earlier.

In Having It All, Wharton economist Dr. Corinne Low uses data to prove what you've always suspected: the system is rigged against women. Then she gives you the tools to rewrite the rules.

Through clear, readable (and funny) prose, Dr. Low explains HOW we got here and WHY things feel so unsustainable. Then she offers a simple framework--along with loads of tools and scripts--to help you reclaim your time and happiness.

Inside, you'll learn:
- Word-for-word scripts for asking for a raise, renegotiating with your partner, and setting boundaries
- Why women negotiate differently than men -- and how to use it to your advantage
- A framework for career decisions: when to push, when to pivot, when to pause
- How to evaluate whether your relationship is a good deal
- How to structure your time, money, and energy around what you value

Dr. Low blends rigorous research with personal experience, including her own story of burning out as a working mother and rebuilding her life on her own terms.

In the tradition of Fair Play and Cribsheet, consider this the essential economics textbook for life as a woman--but hopefully, a little more fun.

Review Quotes

"Having It All shows us in painfully clear detail that women cannot bend anymore without breaking. Dr. Low brilliantly illustrates that we must confront outdated social structures harming women, and she offers us an evidence-based roadmap for moving forward. This is a groundbreaking book that will have an impact on the life of the individual reader, and the society that surrounds them."
--Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play

"A passionate, provocative, evidence-based case for the changes needed to enable women to break through barriers. Corinne Low is an influential economist, and her book empowers women with information to boost their earning power and well-being--and gives men insights to understand and support the women in their lives."
--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the Re: Thinking podcast

"How many times have you heard a working woman say, 'I feel like I'm drowning'? This book is the life preserver she needs. Having it All puts words--and evidence--to the invisible struggle of women in the labor force. With razor-sharp insight and practical guidance, Corinne Low helps us chart a course to staying afloat--and maybe even doing a few laps for fun."
--Elise Loehnen, New York Times bestselling author of On Our Best Behavior

"Having It All is a must-read for working women and their allies--evidence-based, grounded in economics, and engaging. Dr. Low provides the empowering guidance you need to optimize a fulfilling life without overcommitting."
--Katy Milkman, bestselling author of How to Change

"Corinne Low replaces the idea that we're 'just not trying hard enough, ' and offers instead a data-driven inventory of the forces that impact our wellbeing--and our bank accounts. Having It All is a must-read for women in every stage of life."
--Vivian Tu, New York Times bestselling author of Rich AF

"This is a book for every woman. It uses detailed research to show how women get squeezed out of careers and into the home, and economic analysis to show how to get rewarded for your work--paid and unpaid. Practical and hopeful."
--Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of Normal Women

"A passionate, provocative case for changes to boost women's earning power and well-being. An inspiring, powerful guide to forging a path to success, validation and joy."
--Elinor Cleghorn, bestselling author of Unwell Women

"Having It All is a must-read for women (and men!) everywhere to understand the dynamics holding us back from our dream lives--and exactly what we can do to create real change. I'm obsessed with this book!"
--Liz Moody, bestselling author of 100 Ways to Change Your Life and host of the Liz Moody Podcast

"An excellent guide for women who are struggling and barely surviving to get the most joy and satisfaction in their lives in a world full of economic constraints."
--Library Journal

"Low, economist and professor at Wharton, delivers a timely book on matters that affect women's decision making and how those choices impact their lives. [She] encourages women to lift one another up and to continue to shape a world that is better for women--and everyone. Those interested in self-help, female empowerment, and politics will be interested in this book."
--Booklist

About the Author

Corinne Low, PhD, is an associate professor of business economics and public policy at the Wharton School, where she teaches an award-winning course on the economics of discrimination. Her research has been published in journals such as the American Economic Review, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, and the Journal of Political Economy. She regularly speaks to and advises companies on their practices, and her research has been featured in media outlets from Vanity Fair to the Harvard Business Review. She received her PhD in economics from Columbia University and her BS in economics and public policy from Duke University, and formerly worked for McKinsey & Company. She lives in Philadelphia with her family.