Fast Forward Book Summary - Fast Forward Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

Fast Forward summary

Name: Fast Forward
Rating: 4.8 (15 reviews)
Author: Melanne Verveer and Kim K. Azzarelli

Melanne Verveer and Kim K. Azzarelli

How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose

4.8 (15 ratings)

17 mins

Topics

Women's Stories Success Gender & Sexuality

Table of Contents

Fast Forward
Summary of 8 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 8

What’s in it for me? Get inspired to end gender inequality!

Over the course of the last century, women have gained considerable economic and political power; they’ve inched closer to achieving equal rights and started conquering the workplace. Indeed, women today are a force to be reckoned with, and powerful women in all spheres of public life use their influence to push women's rights even further. In other words, it seems like we’re approaching a truly equal society, right?

Unfortunately, that’s not really the case. Globally, women must struggle for the rights and recognition that men take for granted – such basics as respect, freedom and independence. But the situation isn’t hopeless. As more and more women occupy positions of economic power, and as they gain recognition as a demographic brimming with economic potential, we may soon witness the fast-forward change that will put women where they should be: on an equal footing with everyone else.

In these blinks, you’ll find out

that having three or more female board members increases returns by 50 percent;
that a mere 4.4 percent of all US business loans went to female entrepreneurs; and
how Grameen Bank has helped women increase their independence.

Women are the driving force of change in the modern world.

Just a few decades ago, it wasn’t unusual to hear statements like, “Women shouldn’t vote or drive cars and God knows they don’t belong in politics.” Disturbingly, such sentiments still predominate in some countries. The world is changing, however: women are gaining more power and having a greater impact on society.

In recent years there have been more female leaders, such as German chancellor Angela Merkel, American Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton and Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF. Those women fought hard to make it in a male-dominated world and they’re leveling the playing field with their success.

Women are also making strides in the world of business. In 2014, the United States had around nine million women-owned businesses that employed over 7.9 million workers and made over 1.4 trillion dollars in revenue. If, for instance, Egypt’s workforce contained as many women as men, the country’s GDP would rise by about 34 percent.

In fact, women are likely to be the force that drives this century’s global development. About a billion women are ready to enter the global economy – a number comparable to the population of China or India. These women will start new businesses, change the political landscape and increase the quality of life for both their families and their communities.

In the future we’ll also have more female entrepreneurs and business leaders, which will change the business environment. This is already happening and having a positive impact: studies show that Fortune 500 companies with three or more female board members have a 50 percent higher equity return than those all-male boards.

We’re on the brink of a major shift in global power. Women are truly poised to change the world.

Women are still oppressed in most countries.

Women may have massive global potential, but, in most countries, they’re still barred from opportunity and considered inferior. This mistreatment and subjugation comes in many forms.

Sexual violence, for instance, is still one of the foremost dangers faced by women. Assault, rape, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, child marriage and sex slavery are more widespread than most would think – even in Western countries.

Companies benefit from employing more women.

Most people subconsciously picture a man when they hear the term “CEO.” That’s not only because of how we’re socialized; it reflects reality, too. Most CEOs are men. There are more than a few reasons this needs to change.

Companies actually become stronger and more profitable when they place women in executive positions, a fact that few companies take advantage of.

Women across all levels of society need to be empowered – not only those at the top!

We certainly need more women in leadership positions; however, that doesn’t mean neglecting those at the base of society. Women at lower levels of the workforce – or those not in the workforce at all – are just as important to global development.

There are millions of impoverished female farmers in rural areas and millions of women toiling away in garment factories for virtually no pay. Their lives and well-being are constantly under threat; many can’t even read. In fact, women account for around 70 percent of the global population that lives in poverty.

Female empowerment has a number of positive effects on society.

Female empowerment isn’t only good for women. As more and more women gain power in society, something important and marvelous happens: the multiplier effect.

The multiplier effect says that when you empower one woman, you empower many. Since, until recently, so many women have had so few chances, the empowerment of one woman triggers a chain reaction. Female leaders are more likely to help other women gain access to education and financial security; this, in turn, will create more female leaders, who will then empower more women.

Women can develop powerful new enterprises when they overcome obstacles in the business world.

One might think that it’s only women in poor countries who truly struggle. However, women in developed countries also face serious obstacles in the business world.

Many female entrepreneurs have difficulty securing sufficient credit, for example, which is a vital part of founding a business. Many assume that banks treat men and women equally in Western countries; that, however, is a patently misguided assumption.

Women need leeway to find their purpose and build a network of like-minded people.

Having a sense of purpose in life is just as important as finding happiness. Everyone wants to do something meaningful that will make the world a slightly better place.

Naturally, this applies equally to women and men! Women also need space to figure out what they want to do with their lives, whether that means becoming a successful leader, a politician or a stay-at-home mom. People who live without a sense of purpose never truly feel fulfilled; they might while away their life doing something they don’t truly care about.

The three keys to ending gender inequality are education, technology and media.

A young girl from a remote village in Kenya will have few opportunities to learn about the global fight for gender equality. She’s more likely to be married off at a young age, undergo female circumcision and then have children before she’s mature enough to care for them.

Such are the obstacles to global gender equality. However, we have to start somewhere, and education is key. Education enables girls to understand their own rights and power, and equips them to empower those around them.

Want to see all full key ideas from Fast Forward?

Key ideas in Fast Forward

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is Fast Forward about?

Fast Forward (2015) is about one of the most underappreciated resources on earth: women. These blinks, which argue that women will be the key to this century’s greatest achievements, outline many of the myriad problems that women face, as well as the steps we can take to solve them.

Best quote from Fast Forward

Women own or lead over a quarter of private businesses worldwide and are in charge of 20 trillion dollars in customer spending each year.

—Melanne Verveer and Kim K. Azzarelli

Who should read Fast Forward?

Feminists and human rights activists
Anyone interested in global power politics
People who want to make the world a better place

About the Author

In 2009, Melanne Verveer was appointed the very first US Ambassador-At-Large for Global Women’s Issues. A co-founder of Seneca Women, she’s the executive director of Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security.

Kim K. Azzarelli is also a co-founder of Seneca Women and chair of Cornell Law School’s Avon Global Center for Women and Justice. She’s held senior positions at Goldman Sachs, Avon, Newsweek and The Daily Beast.

Categories with Fast Forward

Management & Leadership Society & Culture

Books like Fast Forward

Power Up

Magdalena Yesil

How Smart Women Win in the New Economy

23 min

4.2

How to Talk to Anyone

Leil Lowndes

92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships

25 min

4.2

You Are a Badass at Making Money

Jen Sincero

Master the Mindset of Wealth

The Psychology of Persuasion

Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

22 min

4.2

Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself

Joe Dispenza

How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One

16 min

4.6

I Know How She Does It

Laura Vanderkam

How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time

Bringing your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges

23 min

4.4

Words Can Change Your Brain

Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman

12 Conversation Strategies to Build Trust, Resolve Conflict, and Increase Intimacy

Time Management for Mortals

23 min

4.5

How Women Rise

Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job

15 min

4.5

How to Be Your Own Therapist

Owen O'Kane

Boost Your Mood and Reduce Your Anxiety in 10 Minutes a Day

19 min

4.4

You Can Fix Your Brain

Dr. Tom O'Bryan

Just 1 Hour a Week to the Best Memory, Productivity, and Sleep You've Ever Had

19 min

4.1

Do Breathe

Michael Townsend Williams

Calm Your Mind. Find Focus. Get Stuff Done.

23 min

4.5

Discipline Is Destiny

Ryan Holiday

The Power of Self-Control

Everybody falls, but the key is knowing how to get up again

20 min

4.4

Communicate to Influence

Ben Decker & Kelly Decker

How to Inspire Your Audience to Action

Navigating the Complicated New Landscape

15 min

3.7

Millionaire Success Habits

Dean Graziosi

The Gateway to Wealth and Prosperity

20 min

4.5

The Addiction Inoculation

Jessica Lahey

Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence

18 min

4.1

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)

Philippa Perry

Sound parenting advice based on psychology

19 min

4.5

DIRTY LAUNDRY

Richard Pink & Roxanne Emery

Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help

The Fight to Master Our Greatest Opponent

22 min

4.4

Habits of a Happy Brain

Loretta Graziano Breuning

Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin & Endorphin Levels

Collected life lessons from Oprah's popular column

10 min

4.4

The Dichotomy of Leadership

Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win

How to Play a Better Part in a More Inclusive World

17 min

4.0

ReWork

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

Unorthodox advice for growing companies

Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success

Building Meaning in Yourself, Your Role, and Your Organization

18 min

4.3

The Art of Public Speaking

Dale Carnegie

Become a confident, effective public speaker

Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones For Success

14 min

4.6

Good to Great (New Version)

Jim Collins

Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't

17 min

4.5

You Can Negotiate Anything

Herb Cohen

Anything you want, you got it

16 min

4.2

Influence is Your Superpower

Zoe Chance

The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen

24 min

4.6

Make Self-Confidence Your Superpower

A Daring Strategy to Change How We Live, Lead, and Love

Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children

18 min

4.8

The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication

John C. Maxwell

Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

9 min

4.3

13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do

Amy Morin

Raising Self-Assured Children and Training Their Brains for a Life of Happiness, Meaning, and Success

Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You

21 min

3.9

Nonviolent Communication

Marshall B. Rosenberg

A Language of Life

24 min

4.5

Every Job Is a Sales Job

Cindy McGovern

How to Use the Art of Selling to Win at Work

18 min

4.3

The Procrastination Cure

Jeffery Combs

7 Steps to Stop Putting Life Off

Negotiating an Agreement Without Giving In

The secrets of 40 millionaires' wealth, revealed

The Surprising Solution to Overthinking

20 min

4.4

Feeling Is The Secret

Neville Goddard

Ideas that Shape the World

14 min

4.6

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.