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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Option B summary
Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy
14 mins
Brief summary
Option B by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant is a guide to help people overcome adversity, grief and loss. It encourages resilience and explores how we can find joy and meaning in life even when we face challenging times.
Table of Contents
Option B
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Trauma often leads to coping with “the three Ps.”
If you’ve been confronted with personal tragedy or any traumatic and life-changing event, it can dramatically alter your outlook.
Psychologist Martin Seligman has identified three common responses to tragedy, which he calls the three Ps.
The first one is personalization – blaming yourself for the tragedy.
The author, Sheryl Sandberg, went through this stage after her husband died during a vacation in Mexico. Since the initial medical report listed the cause of death as head trauma caused by a fall from an exercise machine, Sheryl blamed herself for not keeping a closer eye on her husband.
But Sheryl’s brother happens to be a neurosurgeon and was sure that the initial report was wrong; he tried to convince Sheryl that a fall from such a small height couldn’t be fatal.
Sure enough, the second autopsy proved him right; Sheryl’s husband died from cardiac arrhythmia due to a non-diagnosed coronary artery disease.
But this was just another thing Sheryl could personalize, and she began to ask herself, “Why didn’t I try harder to change his diet or get him to see his doctor more often?” Again, those around her, including her doctors, tried to assure her that it wasn’t her fault and that no single lifestyle change would have saved him.
Another common reaction, and the second of the three Ps, is pervasiveness – when the pain and sadness reaches every part of your life.
Being Jewish, the Sandbergs held Shiva, a seven-day period of mourning. Afterward, her children went back to school, and Sheryl tried to return to work. But the pain of her husband’s death felt all-consuming.
Sheryl couldn’t get through a meeting at work without holding back tears and being on the verge of breaking down.
This brings us to permanence – feeling like the pain is going to last forever.
This can be the most difficult P to overcome because when we feel depressed, it’s easy to think that the load is so immense, we’ll never be able to shake it.
But in the next blink, we’ll start to see just how we can move on.
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What is Option B about?
Option B (2017) is based on the personal experiences of Sheryl Sandberg who, after losing her husband, fell into a period of deep mourning. However, Sheryl’s story is not one of despair; it’s one of perseverance, and of emerging from a horrible experience even stronger than before. Discover what Sheryl learned about the grieving process and how she was able to reclaim her joy, find meaning in life – and death – and move on.
Option B Review
Option B (2017) by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant is a powerful book about resilience and finding strength in the face of adversity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides practical strategies and insights for overcoming challenges and building resilience in our personal and professional lives.
- Combining research, personal stories, and interviews, it offers a compassionate and relatable perspective on navigating loss and hardship.
- The book's emphasis on community and support systems brings hope and inspiration, showing us how we can find healing and growth even in the darkest of times.
Best quote from Option B
In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. Albert Camus
—Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
Who should read Option B?
- Grief counselors
- Readers experiencing personal hardship and mourning
- Parents, friends and lovers who want to be supportive
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Option B FAQs
What is the main message of Option B?
Option B explores resilience and finding strength in the face of adversity.
How long does it take to read Option B?
The reading time for Option B varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in about 15 minutes.
Is Option B a good book? Is it worth reading?
Option B is worth reading as it provides valuable insights on resilience and overcoming adversity.
Who is the author of Option B?
Option B is authored by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant.
What to read after Option B?
If you're wondering what to read next after Option B, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- 59 Seconds by Richard Wiseman
- Take Back Your Power by Deborah Liu
- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
- With the End in Mind by Kathryn Mannix
- Death’s Summer Coat by Brandy Schillace
- Give and Take by Adam Grant
- Hidden Potential by Adam Grant
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- 12 Rules For Life by Jordan B. Peterson
- Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts by Sally M. Winston