Mustang Sallies

Oprah found Fawn Germer's work "very inspiring" and you will too -- especially if you ever feel banged-up and worn-out by being a strong woman leader in a difficult work environment. You aren't a misfit. You are a mustang.

Mustangs are wild, tough and agile. Mustang Sallies are too, says one-time Washington Post correspondent Germer (Hard Won Wisdom). They don’t go along to get along at work, and that can bring troubles. Germer’s advice, based on her own experience and her interviews with women as diverse as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Martina Navratilova and Susan Sarandon, is: Don’t mute yourself, be bold, "take your power and use it for yourself." Germer intersperses short chapters quoting directly from notable women she has interviewed with thematically organized chapters ("I Am What I Am"; "Choose Your Battles"; "Verbal Combat") exploring various aspects of how to thrive as an independent-minded, outspoken, self-assured woman. Germer’s advice is specific and illuminating: for instance, "verbal sparring is normal" in the business world, she notes, with clear advice on how to engage in battle. If you’ve ever felt judged and isolated at work for being who you are, Germer’s book offers support, encouragement and strategies for coming through with your self and your goals intact.