Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant Books
Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer of Meta (formerly Facebook) and the founder of LeanIn. Org and OptionB.
Known for: Option B
Books by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant
Option B
Option B is a deeply human book about what happens after life shatters the future you expected. Co-written by Sheryl Sandberg and psychologist Adam Grant, it begins with Sandberg’s devastating loss after the sudden death of her husband, Dave Goldberg, and expands into a broader exploration of how people survive grief, trauma, disappointment, illness, job loss, and other painful setbacks. The central idea is simple but powerful: when Option A is no longer available, we must learn how to live with Option B. What makes the book so compelling is its combination of raw personal honesty and rigorous psychological research. Sandberg gives the topic emotional truth, describing grief not as an abstract concept but as a lived reality. Grant contributes evidence-based insights on resilience, recovery, self-compassion, and post-traumatic growth. Together, they show that resilience is not a fixed trait reserved for the naturally strong. It is a set of habits, interpretations, and relationships that can be developed. For anyone facing loss—or trying to support someone who is—Option B offers both comfort and practical guidance. It reminds readers that pain may be unavoidable, but despair does not have to be permanent.
Read SummaryKey Insights from Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant
When Option A Disappears
Some of life’s hardest moments begin with a sentence we never expected to say: this was not supposed to happen. That is the emotional starting point of Option B. Sheryl Sandberg explains that after her husband’s sudden death, she found herself longing for the life she had planned—the future that had...
From Option B
Facing Adversity Without Denial
Pain becomes heavier when we feel we must hide it. One of the book’s most honest insights is that adversity often brings not only suffering, but fear, disorientation, and loss of basic functioning. After Dave’s death, Sandberg describes how ordinary responsibilities became overwhelming and how grief...
From Option B
Resilience Can Be Built
Many people think resilience is something you either have or you do not. Option B challenges that myth directly. Grant shows that resilience is less like a gift and more like a muscle: uneven across people, but strengthenable through practice, perspective, and support. This is empowering because it ...
From Option B
Avoiding the Three Ps
A setback becomes more damaging when we tell ourselves the wrong story about it. Drawing on Martin Seligman’s work, Option B highlights three toxic thought patterns that undermine resilience: personalization, pervasiveness, and permanence. These are called the “Three Ps,” and they shape how we inter...
From Option B
Self-Compassion Fuels Recovery
We often speak to ourselves most harshly when we are already hurting. One of the book’s most valuable lessons is that self-compassion is not indulgence; it is a critical ingredient of resilience. Sandberg describes the guilt, regret, and self-criticism that can follow tragedy. Many people replay wha...
From Option B
How to Support Someone in Grief
People often want to help those who are suffering, but fear saying the wrong thing. Option B shows that silence, avoidance, and platitudes can unintentionally deepen loneliness. One of the most practical contributions of the book is its guidance on supporting others through grief and hardship. Sand...
From Option B
About Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant
Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer of Meta (formerly Facebook) and the founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org. Adam Grant is a professor of psychology at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bestselling author known for his research on motivation, generosity, and cre...
Read more
Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer of Meta (formerly Facebook) and the founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org. Adam Grant is a professor of psychology at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bestselling author known for his research on motivation, generosity, and cre...
Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer of Meta (formerly Facebook) and the founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org. Adam Grant is a professor of psychology at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bestselling author known for his research on motivation, generosity, and creativity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer of Meta (formerly Facebook) and the founder of LeanIn. Org and OptionB.
Read Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant's books in 15 minutes
Get AI-powered summaries with key insights from 1 book by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant.