Careless PeopleCareless People
What it's about
Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former New Zealand diplomat, joined Facebook in 2011 believing it could change the world for good. Over seven years in its global policy team, she worked closely with Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, and she describes what she saw: the company's role in Myanmar, its efforts to enter China, its political dealings, and the behavior of its leaders.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. Meta tried to stop her from promoting it, which only made more people read it.
You'll love it if you liked
Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect PredatorsGood to know
It's one insider's account, and Meta disputes much of it. It includes her own sexual harassment allegations against a senior executive.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz28 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #137 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #142 of the 481 new books we rank
- #809 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is Careless People worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #809 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Careless People about?
Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former New Zealand diplomat, joined Facebook in 2011 believing it could change the world for good. Over seven years in its global policy team, she worked closely with Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, and she describes what she saw: the company's role in Myanmar, its efforts to enter China, its political dealings, and the behavior of its leaders.
How long does it take to read Careless People?
About 9 hours (377 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Careless People?
If you liked it, try Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI by Karen Hao, No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris or Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow.