Having It All - by Corinne Low (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

You're not imagining it: Women aren't getting a good deal at home or at work. We have the evidence to prove it. This book gives you the power to change it.

For women in America today, the promise of "having it all" is an ever-elusive carrot. Faced with unsustainable demands in every sphere, we are certainly doing it all--but at a steep cost. Research shows that biologically, culturally, and economically, we are on uneven playing ground, and one that drains us of our happiness. But that same data can empower us to make choices that will reclaim our time, our energy―and even our joy.

In Having It All, Wharton professor and economist Dr. Corinne Low unpacks the hidden factors that influence women's decision-making, and how the unintended consequences of these choices alter the course of our lives. From when and whether to get married and (or) have children to what type of career to pursue, whether to obtain an advanced degree to where to live--Dr. Low explores questions such as:

- What if there is no optimal time to "have a family" but rather a slew of different considerations at different life stages?
- What if we approached decisions around marriage and partnership as rigorously as we would an employment opportunity?
- What if we valued our time in dollars and cents, and structured our lives around choices that give us the greatest return on our investments?

For too long, women have been expected to accept labor-intensive solutions to systemic problems--optimize, lean in, work harder. But Dr. Low isn't suggesting women need to do more. In the tradition of bestselling books like Eve Rodsky's Fair Play and Emily Oster's Cribsheet, Having It All blends personal experience, research, and analysis to illuminate the complex decisions women face, and offers an evidence-based framework for creating a better, happier life. Consider it 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 Low brilliantly illustrates that we must confront outdated social structures harming women, and she offers us an evidence-based roadmap for moving forward.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

"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.