What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ethical Sellout: Maintaining Your Integrity in the Age of Compromise
We all fear selling out. Yet we all face situations that test our ideals and values with no clear right answer. In a world where compromise is an essential aspect of life, authors Lily Zheng and Inge Hansen make the bold claim that everyone sells out--and that the real challenge lies in doing so ethically.
Zheng and Hansen share stories from a diversity of people who have found their own answers to this dilemma and offer new ways to think about marginalization, privilege, and self-interest. From these stories, they pull out teachable skills for taking the step from selling out to selling out ethically. The Ethical Sellout is for all those committed to maintaining their integrity in a messy world.
Zheng and Hansen share stories from a diversity of people who have found their own answers to this dilemma and offer new ways to think about marginalization, privilege, and self-interest. From these stories, they pull out teachable skills for taking the step from selling out to selling out ethically. The Ethical Sellout is for all those committed to maintaining their integrity in a messy world.
- GenresNonfictionRace
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2019
15 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 21, 2020
This was a different book from the one I expected from the title, but none the worse for that. I enjoyed this kind piece of easy-to-read writing. The phrase "the ethical sellout" is not, as I expected an exploration of how people sellout their ethics and it is not a criticism of people for doing so. Instead it is an exploration of personal identity, especially diverse identities, associated for example with colour, sexual orientation, gender or religious belief - and how each of us at times in our lives is a sellout to that identity.
What makes this a kind book, is that rather than criticising people for this, the book makes clear that in the modern world this is inevitable, at least at times. Instead of becoming bogged down in self-criticism and feelings of failure when this happens, we should reflect - and instead of trying to avoid selling out, we should try and sellout in an ethical fashion. That is not about making excuses for selling out or trying to cover it up, but about understanding the inevitable compromises we all make, and treating ourselves with honesty and compassion - and seeing the world and our lives with nuance.
The book is full of stories of a diverse range of people and how they have dealt with situations in which they feel they have sold out, and it provides a straightforward framework for thinking about and dealing with those situations. It is clearly and engagingly written.
This book will be helpful to people in at least two situations. Firstly, for individuals who feel their actions and decisions are at odds with their identity and this is causing stress and dissonance. That could be as simple as working in an organisation, which is at odds with ones political views or beliefs. Something which many people experience.
Secondly, it will also help anyone like me, from a rather specific and somewhat narrow background that does not always expose one to the real diversity of the world and who is seeking to gain a greater insight into diversity. That's not why I read the book, but it had that effect. I found, initially, some of the thought processes of people in the book as alien - their life experiences and views being so different from mine. But I found them all helpfully enlightening in a truly positive way.
No major criticisms, but any niggles? Not many. One I will mention is that as an English reader, I occasionally found some of the Americanism a little trying, but this was a very minor thing, and it does not interfere with the reading. Second, the framework for change is rather simple, and I often think the truth in such matters is more complex. But probably if it had been any more complex it would not have been so immediately helpful nor so accessible.
What makes this a kind book, is that rather than criticising people for this, the book makes clear that in the modern world this is inevitable, at least at times. Instead of becoming bogged down in self-criticism and feelings of failure when this happens, we should reflect - and instead of trying to avoid selling out, we should try and sellout in an ethical fashion. That is not about making excuses for selling out or trying to cover it up, but about understanding the inevitable compromises we all make, and treating ourselves with honesty and compassion - and seeing the world and our lives with nuance.
The book is full of stories of a diverse range of people and how they have dealt with situations in which they feel they have sold out, and it provides a straightforward framework for thinking about and dealing with those situations. It is clearly and engagingly written.
This book will be helpful to people in at least two situations. Firstly, for individuals who feel their actions and decisions are at odds with their identity and this is causing stress and dissonance. That could be as simple as working in an organisation, which is at odds with ones political views or beliefs. Something which many people experience.
Secondly, it will also help anyone like me, from a rather specific and somewhat narrow background that does not always expose one to the real diversity of the world and who is seeking to gain a greater insight into diversity. That's not why I read the book, but it had that effect. I found, initially, some of the thought processes of people in the book as alien - their life experiences and views being so different from mine. But I found them all helpfully enlightening in a truly positive way.
No major criticisms, but any niggles? Not many. One I will mention is that as an English reader, I occasionally found some of the Americanism a little trying, but this was a very minor thing, and it does not interfere with the reading. Second, the framework for change is rather simple, and I often think the truth in such matters is more complex. But probably if it had been any more complex it would not have been so immediately helpful nor so accessible.
June 23, 2021
read this as research for something I am hoping to write soon - pros are that it is very approachable prose, does a good job of showing how "selling out" is actually an ongoing process and oftentimes a sum of many decisions accumulated over time (rather than a single critical point at which someone irrevocably becomes a sellout). I also liked the diversity of stories in the book that showed just how fluid people's identities are and how nearly everyone (esp folks from marginalized backgrounds) experiences (and succumbs to!) pressures to sell out, without painting these individuals as horrible / focusing on how they navigated the decisions and held themselves accountable after the decisions occurred.
things I didn't like: I would've liked to read more about (a) the history of selling out as a concept and (b) a deeper dive into a gender/race/class/cultural analysis of the concept. all of the anecdotes were mostly modern stories of individuals selling out and how they thought about it - I would've liked to see examples from history about people who sold out at one point or another, and I also would've liked to see more perspectives on the anecdotes than the person who experienced it (e.g. if the anecdote was an LGBT individual selling out their community, how did other LGBT folks feel about the anecdote and how the individual ended up making peace with their decision?) the book does emphasize community quite a bit but I would have liked to see it practice that emphasis in its reflection on each anecdote.
overall a good starting point for thinking about these q's (3.5 stars would've been my ideal rating I think), which is what I wanted out of this book. not a lot of super intellectually innovative material, but still a helpful collection of stories & guide for thinking through decisions around selling out!
things I didn't like: I would've liked to read more about (a) the history of selling out as a concept and (b) a deeper dive into a gender/race/class/cultural analysis of the concept. all of the anecdotes were mostly modern stories of individuals selling out and how they thought about it - I would've liked to see examples from history about people who sold out at one point or another, and I also would've liked to see more perspectives on the anecdotes than the person who experienced it (e.g. if the anecdote was an LGBT individual selling out their community, how did other LGBT folks feel about the anecdote and how the individual ended up making peace with their decision?) the book does emphasize community quite a bit but I would have liked to see it practice that emphasis in its reflection on each anecdote.
overall a good starting point for thinking about these q's (3.5 stars would've been my ideal rating I think), which is what I wanted out of this book. not a lot of super intellectually innovative material, but still a helpful collection of stories & guide for thinking through decisions around selling out!
September 15, 2019
Lily Zheng and Inge Hausen have written a new guidebook on the importance of managing and maintaining one's integrity as we work to navigate what they call "the age of compromise". I coach LGBTQ Leaders and Professionals on the importance of being truly authentic to oneself in all aspects of life. Zheng and Hausen wrap this all up in their book. I especially love the last line of their manifesto: " ... commit to being open to flexibility, growth, and exploration, to take up space in the world, and to live ... life with integrity." Authenticity is key in everything we do and become! This is a must read!
-- David P. Whittleton, Life and Leadership Coach and founder of whittleton consulting, www.whittletonconsulting.com
-- David P. Whittleton, Life and Leadership Coach and founder of whittleton consulting, www.whittletonconsulting.com
February 3, 2021
Great blueprint
Great blueprint for moving forward in a modern world. The stories surprised me in the most pleasant way and I gained a lot of great perspectives as well as personal guidance and reassurance that there are strong, authentic leaders out there with amplified voices.
Great blueprint for moving forward in a modern world. The stories surprised me in the most pleasant way and I gained a lot of great perspectives as well as personal guidance and reassurance that there are strong, authentic leaders out there with amplified voices.
March 7, 2020
A great book highlighting the decisions we each face when the world presents us with situations that challenge our values. I really enjoyed the first person narratives illustrating these decisions and the compassionate way the authors identify sellout points. I also particularly like the CHANGE model proposed at the end.
January 2, 2020
This book CHANGEd my way of reflecting on everyday sellouts. If you want to learn to be more gentle with yourself when facing impossible decisions, read this book and learn about the importance of Compassion, Honesty, Accountability, Nuance, Growth, and Exploration!
August 3, 2020
Should be required reading for people who want to be better people.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews