Option B by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant Summary

Option B explores building resilience after profound adversity, blending Sheryl Sandberg’s personal journey through grief after her husband’s sudden death with psychologist Adam Grant’s research on recovery. The book shares stories of individuals overcoming trauma—from illness to violence—and offers actionable strategies to cultivate strength, support others in crisis, and rediscover joy.

This book is ideal for anyone navigating personal loss, caregivers, or leaders seeking to foster resilience in workplaces or communities. Its insights on grief, recovery, and post-traumatic growth resonate with readers facing adversity or supporting others through challenges.

The three P’s—personalization (self-blame), pervasiveness (belief trauma affects every life area), and permanence (feeling pain will never end)—are cognitive traps that hinder recovery. Sandberg details how recognizing and challenging these patterns accelerates healing, as shown through her own grief journey and others’ stories.

The book advises offering specific, practical help (e.g., “I’ll bring dinner Tuesday”) instead of vague platitudes. It emphasizes listening without judgment, validating emotions, and becoming a “panic button” for those in crisis, as Sandberg’s friends did after her husband’s death.

Grounded hope combines optimism with actionable steps, like the Uruguayan plane crash survivors who balanced dreaming of rescue with pragmatic survival measures. The concept teaches how small, deliberate actions—even amid despair—can rebuild agency and purpose.

Sandberg and Grant argue resilience strengthens teams, suggesting leaders foster open dialogue about struggles, normalize setbacks, and provide mental health resources. Examples include workplace policies supporting employees during crises, aligning with Sandberg’s advocacy for compassionate management.

Some reviewers note the book’s focus on individual resilience may understate systemic barriers to recovery. However, its blend of personal narrative and research-backed strategies remains widely praised for its practicality and emotional depth.

While Lean In tackles workplace gender barriers, Option B shifts to universal themes of loss and resilience. Both emphasize community support, but Option B delves deeper into emotional vulnerability, reflecting Sandberg’s growth after personal tragedy.

This phrase originated when Sandberg’s friend acknowledged her husband’s death couldn’t be reversed (“Option A”), urging her to embrace “Option B”—rebuilding life with resilience. It symbolizes accepting irreversible loss while actively shaping a new path forward.

Yes. The book applies resilience strategies to job loss, illness, and other setbacks. Techniques like journaling gratitude, reframing negative thoughts, and seeking “micro-joys” are framed as tools for navigating both major and minor adversities.

Grant contributes studies on post-traumatic growth, showing how adversity can fuel creativity, relationships, and self-awareness. His data on resilience-building exercises—like writing about silver linings—complements Sandberg’s personal anecdotes.

Its themes of resilience, community support, and redefining joy remain urgent amid global crises like pandemics and climate change. The book’s actionable framework for healing aligns with growing mental health awareness in workplaces and schools.