Option B cover art

Option B

Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

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Option B

By: Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Grant
Narrated by: Ms Elisa Donovan
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About this listen

Random House presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, read by Elisa Donovan.

New York Times best-selling authors of Lean In and Originals: a powerful, inspiring and practical book about building resilience and moving forward after life's inevitable setbacks.

After the sudden death of her husband, Sheryl Sandberg felt certain that she and her children would never feel pure joy again. 'I was in "the void,"' she writes, 'a vast emptiness that fills your heart and lungs and restricts your ability to think or even breathe.' Her friend Adam Grant, a psychologist at Wharton, told her there are concrete steps people can take to recover and rebound from life-shattering experiences. We are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. It is a muscle that everyone can build.

Option B combines Sheryl's personal insights with Adam's eye-opening research on finding strength in the face of adversity. Beginning with the gut-wrenching moment when she finds her husband, Dave Goldberg, collapsed on a gym floor, Sheryl opens up her heart - and her journal - to describe the acute grief and isolation she felt in the wake of his death. But Option B goes beyond Sheryl's loss to explore how a broad range of people have overcome hardships including illness, job loss, sexual assault, natural disasters, and the violence of war. Their stories reveal the capacity of the human spirit to persevere...and to rediscover joy.

Resilience comes from deep within us and from support outside us. Even after the most devastating events, it is possible to grow by finding deeper meaning and gaining greater appreciation in our lives. Option B illuminates how to help others in crisis, develop compassion for ourselves, raise strong children, and create resilient families, communities, and workplaces. Many of these lessons can be applied to everyday struggles, allowing us to brave whatever lies ahead.

Two weeks after losing her husband, Sheryl was preparing for a father-child activity. 'I want Dave,' she cried. Her friend replied, 'Option A is not available,' and then promised to help her make the most of option B.

We all live some form of option B. This audiobook will help us all make the most of it.

©2017 Random House AudioBooks; 2017 Sheryl Sandberg
Grief & Loss Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Resilience Inspiring Marriage Mental Health Health

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All stars
Most relevant
This book is excellent. I had doubts, as part of me wondered how much this was related to Lean In, or if this was cashing in. I need not have worried.

It encourages resilience, openness, honesty, and empathy. It covers grief, trauma, and healing. It offers hope for those who might need it. It allows those who don't don't what to say or do some insight into where they can help. It resonated strongly with me over how one feels after sudden trauma (not just death), and how people then interact with you.

I urge everyone to read this to be braver about dealing with, and speaking of, death. Something we are very bad at in the western world. I also encourage people to read this if they want to improve their empathetic interactions with people who have lost loved ones, been diagnosed with serious illness, had major accidents, etc.

I also think this should be required reading for managers, given the support people need (or more likely should be given) in the workplace. And how those you do support repay their reduced hours or apparent loss of productivity though stepping up because you help them to do so. Or, as in my case, leave a role where there clearly was no understanding and long term support.

I've rarely (in my adult life when time has become more pressed) finished a book as quickly while not on vacation.

Finding your inner resilience and strength

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Well what can I say. Sandberg honoured Dave with this book so well. However if I can tell Dave I'd say 'damn Dave! what a jewel of a wife you had been blessed with!' Always learning new things through Sheryl. I look forward to her future books and insights.

As good as I thought it would be

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My husband died under very similar circumstances to Sandberg's husband. This book weaves together solid scientific principles for overcoming crises with personal stories that give specific examples of how these principles apply in different circumstances.

I recommend for anyone who needs to get through a difficult time or help someone else to do so.

Got me through my husband's death

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It helps you to be there for someone who has lost a loved one.

Everyone should read this

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Sheryl had network and financial backing to start with, which most people don't so most of the people who faces these issues can use any experience Sheryl shares.

Sheryl had resources few facing such can dream of.

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