Lift as You Climb: Women and the Art of Ambition by Viv Groskop

Lift as You Climb: Women and the Art of Ambition Reviews

• 
  Louise

  Another practical guide for women at work. I like how it’s not all stories and theory but contains practical applications as well.
• 
  Dale Erdmier

  2.5? This was fine. Didn't feel like much new information.
• 
  Ashleigh

  This book has made me re-evaluate my relationship with ambition. I no longer think ambition is a dirty word reserved for those who need to buy the latest car/phone/tech just to have it.
  
  Viv Groskop is so straight talking but also positive and encouraging. This is like the book version of the term "community over competition" and I am a believer!
  
  The time to cheerlead and to talk others up as well as ourselves is upon us. We can only change things by being a part of this. We need to throw our old ways in the bin and get talking about equality in a way that feels normal and comfortable, even if it doesnt at first.
  
  I'm off to binge her podcast coz she's my new bff 😁
• 
  🌶 peppersocks 🧦

  Reflections and lessons learned:
  “… the haunting words of one of the employees who came forward in the Harvey Weinstein case ”I learned the social benefits of being deferential, polite and well behaved”. These behaviours are fine if they serve us. They are not fine if they work against us. Investigating where we sit with niceness in different situations is one way of lifting ourselves - it sets a boundary. I’m prepared to be nice up to a point… it’s also a way of lifting others…”
  
  Ouch and wow… a fantastic insight into the female working world - males working against, females working against… a lot of relatable examples with some pieces of really useful, tangible advice along the way. I often try and strike a balance on topics like this, taking the mantra of one step closer to equality is always going to better (identify, discuss, invoke change and move on to the next genuine cause), but still equality doesn’t mean fairness in the workplace. This shows that we’re not alone in the simple fight of not having the feel the need to fight for common decency and respect in something that we all choose to participate in ✊
• 
  Pretty Little Bibliophile

  Lift As You Climb: Women and the Art of Ambition was a really insightful and fun audiobook to listen to. And since it was an audiobook let us first talk about the narrator - the author herself. Perhaps it is also the reason why the words and the emotion and intent behind the words reached out to me in the way they did.
  For the longest time, we humans (and especially women) tend to perceive the word ambition in a very negative way - as if being ambitious is dirty and means you are an aggressive person hoping to reach the pinnacle of success by stepping on others. It is also the reason why we have for the longest time looked down upon Slytherins whose characteristics are those of ambition and leadership.
  But it is time we change it - Ambition is not a bad word and we as women at work need to acknowledge it now. I loved how encouraging the author/narrator was and it was as if she and I were on a one-on-one session and I was learning so much.
  I also loved that the audiobook contained so many practical guides as well apart from actual theories. I admit it made it so much more interesting, I think!
  Lift As You Climb also talked about the need for women to empower each other. Sisterhood is a theory that we also need to implement in reality. The audiobook was also realistic in addressing the fact that not all women do this, and that not all men look down upon women colleagues. I think it was very good work on contemporary womanism, especially in the workforce.
  Overall, I think it was a really apt time for me to have picked it up! I recommend you pick it up too as Women’s Day comes up soon on March 8. I enjoyed listening to this audiobook and learned so much too!
  
• 
  Gina Lucia

  The book in 3 sentences/summary:
  
  How to climb as a woman in business, work and leadership.
  
  How to then lift other women while you climb.
  
  Why this is important.
  
  My impressions:
  
  Lift as You Climb is what it says it is, a feminist book about how to get further in life and business while also thinking about and lifting up the women around you.
  
  It’s a matter-of-fact book written by a close friend who isn’t afraid to tell you like it is. Lift as You Climb covers everything from networking, to meetings, to competition and more.
  
  It’s a pretty good book. It has plenty of practical applications and does serve as a reminder of the good we can individually do. I do however wish it had more case studies, examples and generally more information to make the book a little meatier.
  
  Should you read it? (who would benefit from this): 
  
  If you’re generally interested in the concept of the book then give it a go. You’ll get some good tips that’s for sure.
  
  What I personally got from the book:
  
  A general reminder of how to put into practice the lifting part of the climb. One to work on!
• 
  Georgina Heatley

  I enjoyed this book, having read ‘How to Own the Room’ at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now finishing ‘Lift as you climb’, having been made redundant from the dream job, to now an even bigger dream job and silver lining all in one, this was a brilliant book to read.
  Working in the Heritage Industry, in product design and manufacturing, I though this could be interesting with my ambition and to help with meetings, confidence etc, however I feel much of the advice is now out-dated. With the new necessities for remote working, knowing team mates only virtually really, I feel the goal-posts for careers and industry has totally changed. It’s not moved so to speak, it’s just a totally different goal in a new ball park.
  I’d be very interested to see Viv’s take of the world of world during and post-pandemic. I can’t wait for the next book, if there is one! ☺️
• 
  sllyllyd

  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was fun, it was practical, it was useful. Looking forward to going back over the Lift and Climb actions and bringing them into my life.
  
  As a side note, I’ve been exploring my discomfort with so called feminist books as I’m aware the industry is a mosh pot of light and fluffy ‘empowerment’ books that provide no real help. This book is NOT one of those - I found it genuine, honest and an utter delight.
• 
  Ali

  A really constructive book for women on the up in their careers. My best bosses have been women who lift those around them and are willing to be lifted by people around/beneath them, and thats the type of boss I hope to be. I'll be rereading this book every few years to keep me on the journey towards that.
• 
  Angela L

  I'm not a big fan of the self help genre as it goes but this book is a rare beast in so much that it doesn't take itself too seriously yet has some seriously good advice to impart. Essential reading for women in business but with enough general advice that could be translated to everyday situations as well.
• 
  Bilqis

  I find it hard to read and not interesting enough to keep the page turning. It has useful practical guide for women to climb and also lift each other up but would be a lot better published in a blog or a magazines so every woman can read it without putting them through traumatic experience trying to finish the book.
  
  
• 
  Onnica

  **audiobook version** enjoyable and accessible book that I could dip in and out of. Practical and fairly solutions based. I really enjoyed the chapter on How to Support Women Without Disappearing Yourself.
• 
  Charlotte

  One of the best books I've read this year!
• 
  Sakina

  The book is overall well-structured and has a lot of tips to guide ambitious women in the world of chaotic. I personally, found the book handy and definetely, the book worth reading twice.
• 
  Michal Bitan

  Somehow in the process of showing all sides of a situation and trying to be fair to all of them, one (that's me) gets a sneaky stoic feeling from reading this book. I was not expecting that.
• 
  Tiffany

  Helpful tips!
• 
  Monique

  A little bit meh for me - not a whole lot of new information here but a fresh perspective and some good recommendations for further reading.
• 
  Charlotte Cowley

  5/10
  
  Lift As You Climb - Viv Groskop
  
  Lift as you climb is a concept that we should lift other people as we climb the ladder to success. There is some really good points in this book, such as how to develop the confidence to say yes to more, along with how to form allies and mentors. This book is good for those who are lacking confidence in the workplace, (more for those who work in offices) so I didn't really relate to some of the stuff that was mentioned - still an interesting read overall.