All the Cool Girls Get Fired: How to Let Go of Being Let Go and Come Back on Top

Media executives Brown and O’Neill debut with a candid take on job loss packed with actionable career advice. No strangers to the unpredictability of the job market (Brown was laid off as editor-in-chief of InStyle magazine in 2022, and O’Neill was let go as editor-in-chief of WSJ Magazine in 2023), the authors acknowledge the shock and grief that come with getting fired, as well as the economic reality of needing to get back to work. They outline practical first steps, encouraging those let go to negotiate their severance and calculate how long it will last. Turning to how to rebuild, they urge readers to separate their identity from their job and hone in on their unique skills and values to refine their “personal brand” on job sites like LinkedIn. Throughout, such high-profile women as Katie Couric, Lisa Kudrow, and Oprah Winfrey detail their experiences recovering after being fired. In one chapter, Mika Brzezinski shares how getting fired from CBS News in 2006 encouraged her to stop being a “poser” and be herself, which led to bigger opportunities, like cohosting MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Through these stories and their own, the authors effectively reframe being fired from a source of shame to a universal experience that can pave the way to a radically better future. It’s an inspiring roadmap for navigating career curveballs. (Oct.)