Tough Choices

A Memoir

By: Carly Fiorina

Narrated by: Carly Fiorina

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

By accepting the CEO job at Hewlett-Packard, an iconic company that had lost its way, Carly Fiorina confirmed her status as the most powerful businesswoman in America. But she also made herself a target for everyone who disliked her bold leadership style and resented her rapid rise.

For six years, as she led HP through drastic changes and a controversial merger, Fiorina was the subject of endless analysis, debate, and speculation. She appeared on the cover of every major magazine, and her every word was scrutinized. Yet in all that time, the public never got to know the person behind the persona.

Tough Choices will finally reveal the real Carly Fiorina, who writes with brutal honesty about her triumphs and failures, her deepest fears and most painful confrontations, including her sudden and very public firing by HP's board of directors.

It's an amazing life story: Fiorina was a liberal-arts major and law-school dropout who didn't even consider a business career until her mid-20s. But soon she was blazing through big jobs at AT&T and then Lucent Technologies, with a growing reputation as a creative, hardworking, visionary leader. Her career path would have been remarkable for anyone, but in an industry dominated by men, it was unprecedented.

Tough Choices shows what it's really like to lead a major corporation in a time of great change while trying to stay true to your values. It's one woman's inspiring story, along with her unique perspectives on leadership, technology, globalization, sexism, and many other issues.

©2006 Carly Fiorina (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"A much-anticipated memoir." (The New York Times)
"Fiorina's tome is sure to create media buzz." (Fortune)
"The Fiorina buzz is expected to get even louder...when she releases her long-awaited tell-all book." (USA Today)

I couldn't stop listening

I truly enjoyed Carly's story. She relates it in a frank, engaging and insightful manner. Every business leader should read this book because the lessons learned are universal.

Carly is inspirational

I love that this is narrated by the author. It was enjoyable to listen to her tell her own story. Carly is inspirational to anyone (not just women) who wants to climb the ladder of success. I can't wait for her next book to come out.

Tough Choices

There are certainly 2 sides to every story but without knowing exactly what that other side is .... Carly's recounting of her career and the events that led up to her HP outsting was riveting and eye-opening. I learned so much of what success and the "success-climb" looks like from this book. Now I have some decisions to make regarding my own career. You can certainly get what you want but are you willing to to pay in self-invested education, the discomfort of politically charged situations, and the wear and tear put on your personal life. Well, for me I am still unsure. But, certainly for Carly ..... she rocks!

DM in Lake Villa

Excellent!

I love that Carly narrated this herself. I found the content both inspirational and at times moving. She kept me very engaged and helped me to better understand her as a person as well as a professional. I also took away some philosophies I will remember in my own professional life.

Tough Choices

Interesting insight into Fiorina's business career, especially prior to her time at HP - overcoming the barriers to women in business and the stories of individual business successes and career choices.

Her narrating was a real plus.

Great book

It was great to hear of her journey to CEO and how boards work. Gained much insight into the life of an amazing mind.

great book

This is a great book for everyone to read. It is a wonderul illustration of the permanent discrimination all women leaders must face in the workplace. Men and Women should read this to understand the business world and what the introduction of women into it means for American society. Fiorina is an inspirational female leader because she has built a historical career despite the fact that she is a woman.

it was great listening to

Interesting cases about power struggle and gender bias in corporations. Corporations are complicated places. Carly shares his experience in a compeling way, even if one might not agree with her views or choices.

Good stuff

I love that this is read by Carly herself. I like the personal background that goes along with the business life she led. I thought it was informational, inspiring, and touching. Interesting reading.

Inspiring and Excellant

As a woman, Carly's words ring true. She is an incredible woman and was extremly sucessfull during her carrer, including HP. She brings up many great points about corporate america, the press, the perception of women in power. I definately recommend this audiobook!