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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
"Careless People is darkly funny and genuinely shocking...Not only does [Sarah Wynn-Williams] have the storytelling chops to unspool a gripping narrative; she also delivers the goods." -Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times 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.
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DogMomIrene
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Poor Mark🤮

🤞🏼for any dish on his Hawaii compound. Really wish someone would do a deep dive on the crap he‘s pulled there. And I‘m talking book or documentary. Given how much land he‘s got, I‘d prefer drone shots for max impact on the rest of us peasants.

AmyG Thoughts and prayers for poor Mark Zukerberg. 10h
DogMomIrene @AmyG 🤣🤣🤣 58m
31 likes2 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

I knew this book would show truly deplorable behavior, but I was not ready for such bottom of the barrel depravity. I honestly believe there is nothing these people won‘t do to achieve their own ends, which is horrifying and terrifying. Such an eye-opening book. I hope a lot of people who continue to use Facebook read this and think on what they are supporting.

TheBookHippie Gonna have to read it I think. 4d
squirrelbrain It‘s almost unbelievable isn‘t it? I‘m glad I‘ve never had a Facebook account. 4d
Hooked_on_books @TheBookHippie It‘s definitely worth your while. And the writing is engaging, too, so it‘s pretty riveting. 4d
Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain I really wish I had never had one. But at least I‘m glad I ditched my account years ago (8 maybe?). 4d
TheBookHippie @Hooked_on_books I ditched in 2015 I think …still have IG but I go back and forth on deleting it .. 4d
50 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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According to Sarah, Mark Zuckerberg believes Andrew Jackson was the best president of the US. WOW. That says so very much.

Aims42 😂😂😂 5d
Librarybelle OMG. That definitely says a lot! Ugh! 5d
BookmarkTavern Oh look, I CAN think less of him. 😂 Gross. (edited) 5d
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TheBookHippie Lord. 🫣😵‍💫🤦🏻‍♀️ 5d
Ruthiella No. Not possible! 😱 5d
lil1inblue 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 I didn't think I could loathe this man more. I guess I was incorrect. But also, color me unsurprised. 4d
dabbe #wtf? And like @lil1inblue ... not surprised. 🙄 4d
38 likes9 comments
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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Pickpick

It was mostly the Barbara Streisand effect that led to me looking up to see if I could get the audiobook of this from the library… The Zuck getting a court ruling to prevent the author from promoting her book?? Interesting choice.

Well worth the read.

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DogMomIrene
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The “Mteam” (M for management because everything seems to be a shortcut with tech bros) allow Mark to win Settlers of Cataan.

When author asks him if he wants to win this way, his response, “I‘m not winning that way.”

Author adds, “He genuinely doesn‘t see it. Seems perplexed by my outburst.”

🤮

Amiable I‘m on the waitlist at my library for this, but I might have to buy it instead because I‘m impatient! 2w
Bookwormjillk Gross 2w
MommyWantsToReadHerBook Oh my word, how childish - you make me really want to read this! 2w
DogMomIrene @Amiable @Bookwormjillk @MommyWantsToReadHerBook It gets so much worse and I‘m only about 50% through. Not sure if I‘m going to keep taking my time or binge read. 5d
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I‘m glad, after reading this, that I‘ve never used anything Meta (no SM at all apart from here! 😏).

I knew bits of this story, but was still shocked at the depth and extent of the immorality and degeneracy of the company and its people. More so with Sandberg actually - I‘d only ever really seen good stuff about her, probably because I wasn‘t previously interested enough in her to learn more.

Shocking and sobering - scary stuff!

BarbaraBB Hi Henry 🙋🏻‍♀️. The books sounds sobering indeed! 2w
69 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DogMomIrene
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Quote is from the Prologue, which sets the tone nicely.

On page 70 as I sit down this morning for more. This book already reaffirms my decision to delete FB and Instagram along with a slew of other social media.

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marleed
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I considered dropping a quarter point from the tagged for a solid A (questioning if author took enough responsibility for her own actions) but went with 5⭐️ because of the changes I need to make in my own habits after reading this.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

65 likes1 stack add
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Skygoddess1
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Flatiron Books posted this over on their Instagram today. Am at the part in the book that today‘s Senate hearing with Sarah was about. Can‘t wait to see how this plays out for Zuckerberg and Facebook.

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Cortg
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Pickpick

When MZ sues to keep this from being promoted, I knew it was going to be a worthy read 🤣
This book hits on how out of touch the ultra wealthy are, how money and power change people and how dangerous FB has become in their role in politics from fake news to their algorithms. It sucks, but I do use it to keep in touch with people and learn new hobbies: up-cycling textiles, ball pythons, and sourdough bread making to name a few. Ugh.

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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Took my sister‘s dog, Hugo, for a walk this morning - and couldn‘t resist putting him in jail 🤣

Not a lot of reading happening this week - but I did listen to a couple of chapters of Careless People at work today.

ShananigansReads Acting as his unlicensed lawyer, my client is innocent. Release him immediately! 🤣🤣🤣 4w
CarolynM Hope it didn‘t take him long to roll a double😆 4w
Leftcoastzen 👏😂🐶 4w
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dabbe 🤩🖤🐾🖤🤩 4w
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @ShananigansReads, he was released with a stern warning 🤭 4w
60 likes7 comments
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Megabooks
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This is one of the most shocking and disturbing books I‘ve ever read, and it makes me want to delete every meta app on my phone.

Sarah talked her way into a job at Facebook to direct their policy and contact with other countries. She entered as an idealist with hopes of social media connecting the world. In 2017, she‘s facing knowledge of the spying apps that Facebook has specifically develop so the Chinese Communist Party can ⬇️

Megabooks surveil its citizens at home and abroad and shut down dissent. I remember Mark standing behind carrot man a couple of months ago and read here his positive thoughts on the role fb played in the carrot man part 1, and I can‘t help but wonder what kind of surveillance he‘d be willing to deploy on Americans… 4w
AmyG If you are on a “disturbing” reading jag…read Nuclear War next. 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures I deleted all my Meta apps about a year ago. I have my basic fb log in still (if i don't log in when my mom tells me she has new photos of my nieces she will send me 45 individual photos over text....). I mostly stopped using them after the Cambridge Analytica scandal (2018), do they talk about that in this? I have the arc for this but have been hesitant to pick it up. 4w
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Leftcoastzen I never did any Meta. So glad. I have this book, haven‘t started yet. (edited) 4w
Cortg I‘m listening to this and I‘m ~70% of the way through. I‘m starting to think about my meta apps and whether I should delete them. It‘s hard b/c it‘s how I keep up with people I grew up with and I‘ve met and connected with so many people through FB. I‘m really torn. 4w
marleed I agree, my respect for Zuckerberg and Sanberg was already plummeting (I was unaware of the other actual names). But really now I‘m nothing less than disgusted. It really is how I connect with some family and friends who mean a lot to me so I‘m not ready to delete the META apps. I can easily limit my own posts to 3 a year. And I will never hit the like button on anything but sweet family pics ever again. 4w
Sparklemn @marleed I‘m going to take your approach. I‘ve never been very active on FB but I‘m going to be frugal with my Likes from now on. 4w
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REPollock
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Bailedbailed

I bailed at 33%. Even though I don‘t generally read exposes or memoirs, a writer. I respect said she had read this in one day and it was engrossing, so I gave it a shot.

SaraBeagle Her blurb is also the reason I picked it up. I‘m not sure if I‘ll finish. 1w
14 likes1 comment
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marleed
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Pickpick

Yikes - attracted to and corrupted by power. I‘ve long been losing respect towards those running Facebook/Meta. But after reading this - ‘losing respect‘ forget that semantic of charity. I‘m disgusted by the powerful people that were and are behind Facebook/Meta. …This book is powerful and I applaud Sarah‘s courage to write it (even though she bears some responsibility for what she coordinated in the name of job security/health insurance).

MemoirsForMe Great review! I‘m so happy this book is climbing to the top on the bestseller lists. Let the real truth be told! Not sure I have the stomach to read it. But I applaud the author for exposing these terrible tactics. 4w
marleed @MemoirsForMe I had it in a week where time allowed me to only only listen in bits and pieces and it turned out to be a good time to have it. You know what FB did was selfish and bad, but the extent is horrifying. And it just doesn‘t stop. There is no accountability that has impact and no regret for the terrible impact of their algorithms used for ill-gotten results. 4w
MemoirsForMe It‘s so scary and disgusting what these companies are doing. I‘m so glad I ditched FB more than a year ago. Nothing is sacred anymore. 🤯😱😬 4w
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TheBookgeekFrau
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Pickpick

It was worth reading. A little slow until about halfway. It had a bit of a covering my ass feeling to it; but overall an interesting, horrifying read.

But what the hell was that wasp scene at end?

24/80

marleed I thought the same on the wasps -didn‘t see that coming! 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau @marleed It was just weird 😂 1mo
42 likes2 comments
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Pedrocamacho
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Pickpick

In case you needed any more confirmation that the leaders of Facebook/Meta were soulless, empty people willing to ignore the suffering caused by Facebook around the world, this book will finish the job. Oh and they are also pretty creepy. The story of Sandberg ordering subordinates to sleep in the same bed with her on private flights has gotten the most attention. However, remembering that they also developed tech to target vulnerable teens…ugh!

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Melismatic
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Someone take away my wallet! 😅

Other than BOTM, I‘m on a strict book buying ban til my birthday in June at least. I need to shrink this TBR before my bf throws me out of our apt. 🤪🫣

But given all of the chatter, I couldn‘t not pick the tagged up…and spied this lil Octavia essay for a later #AuthorAMonth. 😍

catiewithac Great choices!!! 👏🏻 1mo
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TheBookgeekFrau
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"We're in the middle of an archeological ruin somewhere on the Panamanian coast."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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TheBookgeekFrau
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Current read

50 likes2 stack adds
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TheBookgeekFrau
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I read that meta won't allow the author to promote her book on their platforms; so of course I just to order it. #bookmail

Amor4Libros A friend started this today and told me after one chapter that it‘s a good read! 😊 1mo
Oryx Got it for the same reason! It's good 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau @Oryx @Amor4Libros I'm glad to hear it's good! 1mo
Deblovestoread Same! I love how readers support authors in this way. I think of it as sending a big FU to MZ. 1mo
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Oryx
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If MZ doesn't want people to read this, then I want to read it. It's extremely readable - I'm hooked

Leftcoastzen 👏👏👏👏👏 1mo
squirrelbrain I just bought it today! I‘ve never used Facebook but still bought it as a protest against MZ. Glad to hear it‘s good! 1mo
dabbe Those soulful eyes! That adorable face! 🖤🐾🖤 1mo
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ImperfectCJ I feel the same way! I ordered a copy as soon as I found out how much Meta was doing to try to keep people from reading it. I'm looking forward to reading it when it arrives. 1mo
sarahbarnes My partner is reading this right now for the exact same reason… 1mo
ShelleyBooksie Adorable reading companion 1mo
65 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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Chrissyreadit
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The book Zuckerberg does not want people to read. The author cannot promote it but Macmillan can sell it- The story is on my IG if anyone is interested.
Anyone one else hear about this book?
#taxtherich #noologarchy

seibelsays It is WILD that the author can't promote the book. 1mo
Gissy #BookSpinBingo #DoubleSpin #17 -book from BOM @TheAromaOfBooks #ISPyBingo January (“a novel”) #FictionalTraveler January-someplace cold @JulieClair #GoodReadsAroundTheYear prompt #1 (some image with letter A,T or Y- T= tower😜) #UltimateReadingChallenge2025 prompt #35 =standalone @Faranae 1mo
jen_the_scribe I have not heard of this one, but this is one of many reasons why I love Litsy. Word of mouth gets more books read than anything else. Stacked, and I plan to share my insights on it when I do read it. 1mo
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TheBookgeekFrau I ordered it Saturday right after I saw something on instagram about the author not being able to promote it on Meta platforms. 1mo
Bookwormjillk It was in a bookshop.org email when it came out. I put it on library hold based on the blurb, but this makes me want to buy a copy. 1mo
lil1inblue I stacked the book as soon as I read your first sentence. My loathing of Zuckerberg (and most tech bros) knows no bounds. I will be buying multiple copies of this book. 1mo
DogMomIrene My library doesn‘t have a copy yet. I hit that Notify Me tag in Libby and I‘ll let that cook. If I get itchy to read this one, I‘ll buy it. Because Zuck just disgusts me. I‘m surprised more of his employees aren‘t telling their tales. I‘m thinking there‘s a market for them and I‘d guess different people from different areas with various levels of access would have things to share🤞🏼 1mo
Cuilin There is a TikTok account reading excerpts from it!!!! 1mo
Deblovestoread As soon as I read she couldn‘t promote it I ordered a copy. B&N had it at $5 off when I ordered mine. 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1mo
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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

Wynn-Williams‘ memoir may not tell you anything you couldn‘t already guess about Zuckerberg, Sandberg, & Facebook but the story of her years at FB, going from naive idealist to disillusioned, is still entertaining, informative, & maddening. Growth at all costs, admiration for weaponization of Facebook in 2016 election, acquiescence to everything China wants as they try to get FB into the country, Myanmar, and much more…it‘s all there & it‘s ugly.

TheBookHippie 😵‍💫 1mo
28 likes1 comment
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TieDyeDude
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Meta sued to prevent the author of a tell-all book from promoting her work. So Sarah Wynn-Williams can't go on talk shows or be interviewed about her new book Careless People, which was released March 11 and is available now whenever books are sold. What a shame that she can't get the word out about what is being called an "explosive dispatch" covering "seven critical years" at Facebook. How ever will people learn about this book now? ?

Suet624 I had no idea this was happening. 2mo
vivastory Zuckerberg is really turning into a Musk understudy 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures This is how the book community can really come together. In my area my library has a several months wait list for it! I got in the queue. 2mo
See All 11 Comments
Bookwormjillk I saw this in an email from bookshop.org this week. Had no idea this was happening. I have it on hold from the library. 2mo
ImperfectCJ I saw it on Ron Charles's book newsletter and immediately ordered a copy on bookshop.org 2mo
AmyG Thanks for the heads up. 2mo
marleed Thanks - just placed a hold on it! 2mo
Zuhkeeyah I‘m a bookseller and will happily get this book on people‘s radars 1mo
thecheckoutstack Just requested at my library 1mo
Clare-Dragonfly I just put it on hold. There are 27 people ahead of me 😁😁 1mo
MemoirsForMe Just read about this in a Book Riot newsletter. Let‘s show them the power of us readers by making it a bestseller. 🙌🏻💪🏻 1mo
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