📖 Overview
Reshma Saujani is a technology leader, activist, and author best known for founding Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization that works to close the gender gap in technology by teaching girls computer science skills.
As an attorney and politician, Saujani made history in 2010 as the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress. After her campaign, she shifted her focus to addressing gender inequity in tech, writing several influential books including "Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World" and "Brave, Not Perfect."
Her 2019 book "Brave, Not Perfect" expanded on her popular TED talk about encouraging girls to take risks and embrace imperfection rather than seeking perfection. In 2021, she published "Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work," which examines workplace inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond her written works, Saujani serves on the boards of various organizations focused on education and technology. She regularly speaks on topics including women's leadership, entrepreneurship, and creating pathways for underrepresented groups in technology.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Saujani's practical advice and personal examples in addressing gender gaps in tech and workplace culture. Her books receive praise for being action-oriented and accessible to young readers.
What readers liked:
- Clear, straightforward writing style
- Actionable steps and concrete examples
- Personal stories that connect with readers' experiences
- Focus on real-world solutions
What readers disliked:
- Some find content repetitive between books
- Critics note her books sometimes oversimplify complex issues
- Some readers wanted more depth on technical topics
Ratings across platforms:
- "Brave, Not Perfect": 3.9/5 on Goodreads (11,000+ ratings)
- "Girls Who Code": 4.2/5 on Amazon (500+ reviews)
- "Pay Up": 4.4/5 on Amazon (200+ reviews)
One reader noted: "Her message about perfectionism resonated deeply with my own experiences in tech." Another commented: "Would have preferred more concrete coding examples in Girls Who Code rather than just inspiration."
📚 Books by Reshma Saujani
Brave, Not Perfect (2019)
Examines how girls are raised to be perfect rather than brave, and outlines strategies to overcome fear of failure.
Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (2022) Analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working women and proposes policy solutions for workplace equity.
Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World (2017) Introduces basic coding concepts to young readers through real-life examples and stories of women in technology.
Women Who Don't Wait in Line (2013) Chronicles the author's journey in politics and business while discussing leadership strategies for women.
Girls Who Code: The Friendship Code (2017) A middle-grade fiction novel following a young girl who joins her school's coding club and forms new friendships.
Girls Who Code: Team BFF: Race to the Finish (2017) A fictional story about friendship and coding challenges within a middle school coding club.
Girls Who Code: Lights, Music, Code! (2018) A middle-grade novel about students using coding skills to create a musical light show.
Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (2022) Analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working women and proposes policy solutions for workplace equity.
Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World (2017) Introduces basic coding concepts to young readers through real-life examples and stories of women in technology.
Women Who Don't Wait in Line (2013) Chronicles the author's journey in politics and business while discussing leadership strategies for women.
Girls Who Code: The Friendship Code (2017) A middle-grade fiction novel following a young girl who joins her school's coding club and forms new friendships.
Girls Who Code: Team BFF: Race to the Finish (2017) A fictional story about friendship and coding challenges within a middle school coding club.
Girls Who Code: Lights, Music, Code! (2018) A middle-grade novel about students using coding skills to create a musical light show.
👥 Similar authors
Sheryl Sandberg writes about women's empowerment in professional settings and leadership roles, similar to Saujani's focus on women in tech. Her work combines personal experiences with research-based insights about workplace gender dynamics.
Arianna Huffington addresses work-life balance and redefining success beyond traditional metrics. She discusses burnout prevention and well-being strategies for professional women.
Carol Dweck explores mindset development and overcoming fear of failure, which aligns with Saujani's message about bravery over perfection. Her research focuses on how attitudes toward failure and growth affect achievement.
Angela Duckworth examines grit and perseverance in achieving long-term goals, complementing Saujani's emphasis on resilience. Her work draws from psychological research and real-world examples of success through determination.
Susan Cain writes about embracing different personality types in professional settings and challenging conventional leadership models. Her work explores how introverts can succeed in an extrovert-centric business world.
Arianna Huffington addresses work-life balance and redefining success beyond traditional metrics. She discusses burnout prevention and well-being strategies for professional women.
Carol Dweck explores mindset development and overcoming fear of failure, which aligns with Saujani's message about bravery over perfection. Her research focuses on how attitudes toward failure and growth affect achievement.
Angela Duckworth examines grit and perseverance in achieving long-term goals, complementing Saujani's emphasis on resilience. Her work draws from psychological research and real-world examples of success through determination.
Susan Cain writes about embracing different personality types in professional settings and challenging conventional leadership models. Her work explores how introverts can succeed in an extrovert-centric business world.