Review of UNEMPLOYABLE

[Arij Chmeis]

[Following is a volunteer review of "UNEMPLOYABLE" by Alysia Edith Silberg.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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This is a very interesting book that captivates the reader from the start. As soon as you get through the prologue, you'll know you’re hooked. A powerful tech investor, Alysia recounts a true and modern ‘rags to riches’ story. One where the heroine is no damsel in distress but an intelligent, independent, and determined young woman.

In this fascinating biography, the author relates how she transformed her destiny from being born into poverty and family abuse to becoming one of the most impressive leaders in the field of venture capitalists. Through a very gripping story-telling style, Alysia weaves smart investment and business tips into her tale in an organic, effortless way. Inspiring and hopeful, this book provides an intriguing look into the world of Silicon Valley’s technology boom while exploring themes of family trauma, fighting for your dreams, and how intertwined technology really is in everyday life.

While this was a compelling read, there were a few things that bothered me throughout the book and led me to give it a 4 out of 5 star rating. For instance, I found the repeated bold excerpts in a large font size to be annoying and a bit showy. So were the five pages of praise included at the beginning. Alysia repeatedly mentions Steve Jobs and Elon Musk as her personal heroes, a controversial opinion to say the least (seeing as both figures are infamous for treating their employees poorly as one of many problematic behaviors). In addition to that, the author takes after her role models in promoting the live-at-work lifestyle as the sole way to leave an impact on this world. She attempts to portray working for her as an incredible advantage due to the amazing facilities they have at the companies’ headquarters, but this is just another way for business giants to exploit their staff for personal gain, in my opinion, leaving no time for a work-life balance that is crucial to mental health. 

However, as the partner of an AI scientist, I very much enjoyed Alysia’s candid introspect of human-cyborg analogies and her rise in a male-dominated space. I thought it admirable that she included some reading materials that inspired her at the end of the book. The editing was almost impeccable, although that is to be expected of a wealthy businesswoman. It is definitely a recommended read.

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UNEMPLOYABLE
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