March 17, 2014
In this appealing business memoir, Nasty Gal founder and CEO Amoruso shares her rags-to-riches story. Having eschewed college, Amoruso moves home, opens an eBay store for vintage clothing, and, after a lot of hard work and many a “Venti Soy No Water No Foam Chai,” finds herself the CEO of a $100 million fashion business called Nasty Gal Vintage. Amoroso’s tone and language may give this book a youthful audience, and kudos to that: few business books keep the teen set riveted while simultaneously inspiring fiscal responsibility and good business sense. It doesn’t hurt that the author has a rebellious streak. A chapter titled “Shoplifting (and Hitchhiking) Saved My Life” turns into a valuable lesson in how to turn one’s life around: “I had always wanted to do something awesome, and instead I was just racking up a soap opera’s worth of skanky experiences.” When Amoruso reminds her reader to pay off her bills and not spend beyond her means, she gives the message a powerful spin, based on her experience of missing a credit card payment at age 19: “I built the company with no debt… by choice… no one would even give me a credit card, never mind a business loan.” Amoruso’s authenticity comes through here and is, no doubt, one of the many reasons for her remarkable success. lllus. Agent: Andy McNicol, William Morris Endeavor.
July 15, 2014
A Dumpster diver-turned-CEO details her rise to success and her business philosophy.In this memoir/business book, Amoruso, CEO of the Internet clothing store Nasty Gal, offers advice to young women entrepreneurs who seek an alternative path to fame and fortune. Beginning with a lengthy discussion of her suburban childhood and rebellious teen years, the author describes her experiences living hand to mouth, hitchhiking, shoplifting and dropping out of school. Her life turned around when, bored at work one night, she decided to sell a few pieces of vintage clothing on eBay. Fast-forward seven years, and Amoruso was running a $100 million company with 350 employees. While her success is admirable, most of her advice is based on her own limited experiences and includes such hackneyed lines as, "When you accept yourself, it's surprising how much other people will accept you, too." At more than 200 pages, the book is overlong, and much of what the author discusses could be summarized in a few tweets. In fact, much of it probably has been: One of the most interesting sections in the book is her description of how she uses social media. Amoruso has a spiritual side, as well, and she describes her belief in "chaos magic" and "sigils," a kind of wishful-thinking exercise involving abstract words. The book also includes sidebars featuring guest "girlbosses" (bloggers, Internet entrepreneurs) who share equally cliched suggestions for business success. Some of the guidance Amoruso offers for interviews (don't dress like you're going to a nightclub), getting fired (don't call anyone names) and finding your fashion style (be careful which trends you follow) will be helpful to her readers, including the sage advice, "You're not special."Career and business advice for the hashtag generation. For all its self-absorption, this book doesn't offer much reflection or insight.
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