amBITCHous: (def.) A Woman Who: 1. Makes more money 2. has more power 3. gets the recognition she deserves 4. has the determination to go after her dreams and

by Debra Condren

Wouldn’t it be great if you could be audaciously ambitious and happy at the same time?
You can, and you will.

“I’m here to tell you that all of your priorities—personal and ambitious career goals alike—can fit together harmoniously. I’ll show you how, like thousands of women I’ve worked with over the years, you can make more money, earn the credit and recognition you deserve, have more power, and be as ambitious as you want to be. I’ll show you how you can be ambitchous without compromising your ethics and integrity. I’ll show you that you can feel worthy and entitled to all of this without fear that you risk sacrificing your desire to have a full, happy personal life and without being afraid that you’ll be less of a woman. It’s worked for me. It’s worked for countless ambitchous women I’ve advised. It will work for you.”
—From amBITCHous

We women aren’t advancing in our careers the way we should. We’re not making the money we deserve or getting the fulfillment we desire. And this time it’s not men who are holding us back. This time we’re doing it to ourselves, because ambition—for us—is still a dirty word.
Debra Condren has coached thousands of women at every level—from those just starting out to the most powerful female executives in the United States—and each one possesses the same if she goes after her dream, she’ll be seen as selfish, bitchy, a bad wife, or bad mother. But it’s exactly this fear of ambition that has forced women to leave the best part of themselves—their dreams, their great talents—by the roadside, rendering them less able to be the whole people they should be in every area of their lives.
Condren has a new message and to remind women that ambition is a virtue, not a vice. Ambition is the best of who we are.
The real way to have a great life is to see ambition as a part of your value system to which you must give equal attention, along with the other priorities you hold dear, including your spouse, your children, and your friends. In amBITCHous , Dr. Condren offers fresh, powerful tools for reclaiming your dreams. Her eight amBITCHous Rules provide concrete, innovative solutions to the everyday struggles we as women face, like taking credit, deflecting detractors, and handling confrontation, so that you can become more powerful and fulfilled at work and more satisfied at home. You can redefine your ambition in the face of social sanctions and unapologetically go after your dreams without sacrificing the rest of your life.
You owe it to yourself and the world to make the contribution you were born to make. Debra Condren will show you how to do it.

“A defiant charge to women to 'reclaim ambition as a virtue'…Ms. Condren, who has been paying attention all along, [has] worked out a way to make charm and ambition pay."
– New York Times
“Debra Condren challenges women to see ambition as a virtue and to take credit for winning at work and at home. …It’s not that women must ignore the needs of others, but they need to recognize and prioritize their own needs.”
– The Dallas Morning News

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Self Help

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Nadia]

I feel like at some point there will be a book that introduces women to the business world without 1) telling them "This book will allow you to be feminine and own a business!" or 2) "This book will allow you to be feminine and run a good business!"

I feel like women my age (and younger) are definitely not concerned about how their femininity will be effected by their business ambition. Perhaps we are concerned about the possibility/probability of juggling other life ambitions (family/friends/children/home) -- but even that feels old school to me.

Most of my friends grew up with both parents working. They are different than the generation before them, both men and women expect to be working their entire lives these days... so why are we still fumbling around with business books that are only in the position to give us advice on keeping (or regaining) our femininity?

[Donna Avery]

A must read for any woman.
Read this book to knock down those false beliefs imposed on you by society, family, community, religion, etc. They're like an ill-fitting coat someone gave you and guilted you into wearing. This "less than" woman is not who you really are.

[Jasmine]

While much of the guidance in the book is probably relatively natural for an ambitious woman, it just gives you the green flag to be true to yourself withouth feeling guilty. The repetition of the word bitch on every page is very numbing. We can't change what we'll be called in the near future, so we might as well get over that. This book is very encouraging for women dealing with the American opinion of am bitch ous women, and the affects it has on their psyche. Go after your ambitions! Instead of believing that women who are driven and have great ambition have to neglect their personal relationships, realize that you are a better friend, lover and mother when you allow yourself to pursue and achieve fulfillment in your professional life.

[Kara]

This book was difficult to get through, not only because the word BITCH jumped out at you on every single page, but it was almost because I felt like this woman disparaged women who actually WANT to give up a business career and become a housewife. You know, some women actually have that as a goal, and that's totally fine - it's their lives, let them live them their own way - but don't marginalize them for the decisions they make. That's how I felt like this read - like if you don't want to work AND be a mother AND run yourself ragged 18 hours a day AND, AND AND...then you are a loser who has no dreams.

[KT]

This was a difficult book to read because you see the word BITCH on every single page. It's filled with sound advice, but any smart business woman can figure this stuff out by just working hard.

[Adele Groote]

Wordplay with Bitch can only take you so far.....
I agree with another reviewer; how often can the word BITCH be highlighted? The positive points get lost.

[Elle]

We read this for book club and I was impressed. Basically most women are not confident in selling themselves as a brand. And sometimes, that is what is needed. Being ambitious in the wrok place should not be a dirty word for women. Very positive message.

[Amy]

Great book for successful, ambitchous women! This book really does make you open your eyes and demand that you be treated and earn what you're worth. If you're a career minded women, it's a must read.

[Natalie]

read this as part of my finance book club. She spends a lot of time defending ambition which I never considered a 'dirty' word. Also - some of her suggestions for what to say in meetings are, in my opinion, completely unprofessional.

[Spectra Speaks]

I'm lovin' it already.

[Sarah]

Well...I liked this book. I did, I liked it, but I'm afraid to admit that I'm not in the right point in my life yet to really embrace it. It was good, read it...

[Jo]

Good premise, but I'm not currently in a position to make good use of most of the information presented--so I can't really evaluate it.

[Krissy Mayse]

I really enjoyed this book. I identify with her attitude:-)

[Andrea Henderson]

Excellent and inspirational!!

[Lyn]

Every woman should read this book!!

[Carmelle]

It was a good read. Interesting. I enjoyed it.

[EAL]

Some good advice. Reading it whenever you need a solid, well-meaning kick in the rear.