The Skills

February 18, 2019
BBC anchor Husain issues a well-meaning but familiar guide to success for early- and mid-career women. After 20 years in broadcasting, Husain still sometimes feels that her courage came “later in life than it might have”; here she sets out to tell the truth about self-doubt; in particular, about managing it and forging ahead despite it. A perennial question, she shows, is figuring out how to feel at home in a new role even when one feels out of one’s depth. Moreover, she adds, remaining imbalances in the treatment of male and female professionals add an extra layer of complication for women trying to ascend the corporate ladder. Husain gives some time to the current state of workplace culture and to the undermining messages young girls are given about ambition, before moving on to the skills women need to succeed, such as starting out, speaking up for oneself, managing one’s digital life, and building resilience. This is all decent, solid advice, but very little is new, which will make this kindly worded primer a hard sell for business book buyers. Agent: Grainne Fox, Fletcher & Company.

Starred review from April 1, 2019

Husain writes an inspirational and practical book, recalling her first position as a BBC presenter, and her doubts about succeeding in the role. During the initial few years of a now-successful broadcasting career, Husain experienced imposter syndrome and continually worried about what could go wrong. Her idea for writing this book came out of that time and what she's learned along the way: "speech, choice of words, body language, distilling information and deploying facts." Presenting statistics and analysis of gender disparity and sexual harassment in the workplace as well as continued sexism in various lines of employment, she provides case studies of the struggles of notable women, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton, and Malala Yousafzai. This wide-ranging text also delves into navigating the first years on the career ladder, speaking up and developing authority, social media opportunities and pitfalls, dealing with apprehension and anxiety, managing different elements of one's life and criticism. Included are references for further reading. VERDICT This highly recommended guide is essential for women in the workforce and those starting their careers.--Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Queens, NY

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2019
Though only in her midforties, Pakistani British journalist Husain has had an exciting life and fulfilling career, yet she still wonders why it's so difficult for women (and ethnic minorities) to break into notable positions or achieve the promotions, pay, and prominence they have earned. In the first few thoughtful chapters ( Where We Are, Growing Up Female ), Husain supplies an easy-to-understand overview of academic-grade-gap and employment-wage-gap issues. From there, she branches out into methods women can use to set themselves apart and be treated professionally in the workplace. Particularly beneficial are her body-language descriptions in the chapter Standing Up (assessing the importance of nonverbal communication) and suggestions for tackling anxiety in the chapter Keeping Sharp (finding the sweet spot between not enough fear and too much). To prevent this book from becoming a memoir (though Husain certainly has the background to warrant one), the author adds details from clinical studies and academic research as well as quotes and vignettes from well-regarded politicians and actors. An important book for anyone who wants to help women succeed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)