Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

Sarah Wynn-Williams

Enjoyment: 4.38Quality: 4.38Characters: 4.67Plot: 4.67
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An explosive memoir charting one woman’s career at the heart of one of the most influential companies on the planet, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to Facebook, the decisions that have shaped world events in recent decades, and the people who made them. From trips on private jets and encounters with world leaders to shocking accounts of misogyny and double standards behind the scenes, this searing memoir exposes both the personal and the political fallout when unfettered power and a rotten company culture take hold. In a gripping and often absurd narrative where a few people carelessly hold the world in their hands, this eye-opening memoir reveals what really goes on among the global elite. Sarah Wynn-Williams tells the wrenching but fun story of Facebook, mapping its rise from stumbling encounters with juntas to Mark Zuckerberg’s reaction when he learned of Facebook’s role in Trump’s election. She experiences the challenges and humiliations of working motherhood within a pressure cooker of a workplace, all while Sheryl Sandberg urges her and others to “lean in.” Careless People is a deeply personal account of why and how things have gone so horribly wrong in the past decade—told in a sharp, candid, and utterly disarming voice. A deep, unflinching look at the role that social media has assumed in our lives, Careless People reveals the truth about the leaders of Facebook: how the more power they grasp, the less responsible they become and the consequences this has for all of us.

Publication Year: 2025


From the Forum
  • Thoughts from 87% - End of Chapter 43

    The Facebook's push into China is a testament to the all consuming effects of greed and end-stage capitalism. The author wraps this up with a western chauvinist lens and anti-China propaganda when Facebook is the one breaking laws in China and the US, lying to congress and playing hard and fast with people's lives. "Facebook is operating illegally in China. One of American's biggest publicly listed companies is completely indifferent to the rules."

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  • Thoughts from 81% - Chapter 41

    The perpetuation of China Bad western propaganda is bugging me. 😑

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  • Thoughts from 43% - End of Chapter 19

    ⚠️ Spoilers, includes quotes from Chapter 19. I didn't want to mark it as a spoiler because I want people to read these quotes about Facebook. I personally don't believe it ruins the book to read what I've written below but keep reading at your own risk of "spoiling" the book.⚠️ --- "Joel (Kaplan) is surprised to learn that Taiwan is an island." “We need to get moving to establish PACs outside the US. We should have done this a long time—” “So, this is awkward,” I cut in. Joel looks puzzled. “That’s illegal. Only US citizens can contribute to elections here. That’s true everywhere. Nobody wants foreigners bankrolling their elections.” Joel Kaplan served under the Bush Administration for two terms and was the Deputy Chief of Staff. He didn't know Taiwan is an island and he didn't know that trying to influence a foreign country's election is illegal. Just wow! 😳 I am all agog to see Facebook's mad and steady descent to a fascist political tool.

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