Option B discussion

It can be argued that the most painful saying in the English language is the 4-word phrase “sorry for your loss.” Although always said with good intentions, it can be especially upsetting to those on the receiving end. Perhaps this is due to our inability to put ourselves in others’ shoes- to go beyond the phrases of condolences that only further remind grieving families of their loss. This is exactly the type of inward contemplation Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant give to their readers in the novel Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy. They force their readers to rethink how they handle grief, and instill in them the belief that when “life pulls you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again.”

​From the beginning to the end, Sandberg conveys her story with painful intimacy. Starting from the moment she found her husband on the ground of the hotel gym, with blood seeping from his forehead, to the heartbreaking scene when she tells her kids “Daddy died,” Sandberg weaves her novel with distressing details, leaving an everlasting impact in her readers’ hearts.

​One of my favorite aspects of this novel is that Sandberg uses it as an opportunity to address her lack of overall perspective in the books she wrote before the loss of her husband. For example, she references a chapter in her popular book Lean In, specific to the imperative need for working mothers to split housework with their husbands to go up the corporate ladder. In Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, she explains her realization of the insensitive comments to single-mothers in Lean In. By doing so, she acknowledges her weaknesses and shares her vulnerability to connect with the readers on such a personal level that YOU will feel like a part of Sandberg’s journey!

This novel is not applicable to just those who have experienced tragedies, but rather serves as a reminder to everyone that when “option A is not available... just kick the shit out of Option B.” Life is never perfect. We all live some form of Option B. This book is to help us all kick the shit out of it.”