Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

· Macmillan Audio · Narrated by Sarah Wynn-Williams
42 reviews
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13 hr 16 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook

#1 New York Times Bestseller

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK. NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY TIME, THE NEW YORKER, NPR, AP, THE ECONOMIST, SLATE, THE GLOBE AND MAIL,
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, AND MORE!

“Careless People is darkly funny and genuinely shocking...Not only does [Sarah Wynn-Williams] have the storytelling chops to unspool a gripping narrative; she also delivers the goods." -Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times

“When one of the world’s most powerful media companies tries to snuff out a book — amid other alarming attacks on free speech in America like this — it’s time to pull out all the stops.” –Ron Charles, The Washington Post

An explosive memoir charting one woman’s career at the heart of one of the most influential companies on the planet, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to Facebook, the decisions that have shaped world events in recent decades, and the people who made them.

From trips on private jets and encounters with world leaders to shocking accounts of misogyny and double standards behind the scenes, this searing memoir exposes both the personal and the political fallout when unfettered power and a rotten company culture take hold. In a gripping and often absurd narrative where a few people carelessly hold the world in their hands, this eye-opening memoir reveals what really goes on among the global elite.

Sarah Wynn-Williams's inside story puts you in the room during stumbling encounters with juntas through to the moment Mark Zuckerberg learned of Facebook’s role in Trump’s election and drew an unexpected conclusion. As she grapples with the reality of Facebook's influence on world events, she experiences the challenges and humiliations of working motherhood within a pressure cooker of a workplace, while Sheryl Sandberg urges her and others to “lean in” through it all.

Careless People is a deeply personal account of why and how things have gone so horribly wrong in the past decade—told in a sharp, candid, and utterly disarming voice. A profound, unflinching look at how technology and the people who control it increasingly shape our lives, Careless People reveals the truth about the leaders of Facebook: how the more power they grasp, the less responsible they become and the consequences this has for all of us.

#1 New York Times Bestseller A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK. NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY TIME, THE NEW YORKER, NPR, AP, THE ECONOMIST, SLATE, THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, AND MORE! “Careless People is darkly funny and genuinely shocking...Not only does [Sarah Wynn-Williams] have...

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Ratings and reviews

42 reviews
Austin Murphy
April 22, 2025
SWW's narrative choices ultimately proved to be a point of contention. The undercurrent of personal grievance against her superiors often overshadows the story's potential, creating an impression of thinly veiled retribution from a seemingly powerless employee. Despite moments of genuine humor and undoubtedly realistic workplace anecdotes, the author's narrative framing hinders a deeper connection with the material. The persistent emphasis on her own victimhood, coupled with a limited acknowledgment of her own role in events, creates a sense of imbalance. Interestingly, the author's compelling writing style within the book stands in stark contrast to perceptions of her conduct as a Facebook employee. This duality unfortunately undermines the book and makes it challenging to fully embrace the author's perspective IMO.
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Stuart Culpepper
April 18, 2025
A riveting, page-turner that reads like a thriller. A shocking account of the misdeeds, arrogance and hubris among the leaders of the most powerful propaganda machine in human history.
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Genevieve Gerou
October 8, 2026
She shows behind the seens view of Facebook beginning. If I didn't rely on the contact of most family and friends through these apps I would walk away from these companies and never come back.
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About the author

Sarah Wynn-Williams worked as a diplomat for New Zealand, including in Washington, DC. She joined Facebook after pitching a job and ultimately became director of global public policy. After leaving the company she has continued to work on tech policy, with a focus on artificial intelligence.
Sarah Wynn-Williams worked as a diplomat for New Zealand, including in Washington, DC. She joined Facebook after pitching a job and ultimately became director of global public policy. After leaving the company she has continued to work on tech policy, with a focus on artificial intelligence.

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