It’s official: Sheryl Sandberg is writing a new book–and this time, it’s about grieving. The COO of Facebook’s new book is called “Option B,” which focuses on her own personal story with others as a way to build “resilience and finding meaning in the face of adversity,” according to the book’s website. Her first book, “Lean In,” has sold more than two million copies since its 2013 publication.
Much of the book’s inspiration stems from tragedy–last May, Sandberg’s husband and the CEO of SurveyMonkey Dave Goldberg suddenly died while the family was on vacation in Mexico. He was 47. Ever since, Sandberg has been balancing grief, work, and raising her two children. Adam Grant, a professor at Wharton, who is co-writing the new book, wrote in a Facebook post how this book can change people’s lives:
“Option B is about how we can face the adversity in our lives, find meaning and bounce back stronger.
Along with sharing how we can all become resilient, we explore what it takes to help others through hardships…how to speak about the unspeakable, comfort friends in the wake of suffering, and create resilient workplaces, build robust marriages, and raise strong kids.”
Apparently, the book’s title is a reference to a phrase she has said since her husband’s death, according to a commencement speech she gave in May:
“A few weeks after Dave died, I was talking to my friend Phil about a father-son activity that Dave was not here to do. We came up with a plan to fill in for Dave. I cried to him, ‘But I want Dave.’ Phil put his arm around me and said, ‘Option A is not available. So let’s just kick the sh*t out of option B.'”
Since her husband’s death, Sandberg has become known for writing inspiring posts about dealing with loss and adjusting to the punches life throws at us. For instance, in a Facebook post she wrote about her transition back to work, she wrote:
“Many of my co-workers had a look of fear in their eyes as I approached. I knew why—they wanted to help but weren’t sure how. Should I mention it? Should I not mention it? If I mention it, what the hell do I say?
I realized that to restore that closeness with my colleagues that has always been so important to me, I needed to let them in. And that meant being more open and vulnerable than I ever wanted to be.”
We can’t wait to see what this book has in store.
Read More:
Bracing Myself Against My Son’s Severe Mental Illness
Mayim Bialik: Why I Support This Mental Health Organization & You Should Too
Why This Rabbi Uses Martial Arts to Help Kids with Cancer
