Likeable Badass by Alison Fragale Summary
Overview of Likeable Badass
In "Likeable Badass," behavioral scientist Alison Fragale reveals the science-backed strategy women need: be both caring AND capable. Endorsed by HBR's Amy Gallo, this guide transforms imposter syndrome into your secret weapon. Ready to command respect without sacrificing authenticity?
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Key takeaways
The Invisible Barrier Between You and Everything You Deserve
Why do women with identical credentials as men earn less, get promoted slower, and have their ideas dismissed in meetings - only to watch those same ideas praised when a male colleague repeats them minutes later? We've spent decades blaming sexism, demanding policy changes, and teaching women to "lean in." Yet the gender pay gap persists, projected to last another 169 years. What if we've been solving the wrong problem? The real obstacle isn't just discrimination - it's status. Status determines who gets heard, respected, and rewarded. Without it, even the most qualified woman remains invisible. Here's the frustrating truth: competence alone won't earn you status. You can work twice as hard, deliver better results, and still watch less qualified people advance past you. That's because humans judge each other along two dimensions - Warmth (how much we care about others) and Assertiveness (how capable we appear). Together, these create four possible reputations: Hostile Strength (competent but cold), Hostile Weakness (neither liked nor respected), Friendly Weakness (nice but ineffective), and Friendly Strength - the likeable badass territory everyone instinctively wants to occupy. Women face a cruel bind: act assertive and risk being labeled aggressive; prioritize warmth and get dismissed as weak. This explains why female professors' teaching evaluations decline with age while men's improve, and why gaining power without status subjects women to harsher treatment. The solution isn't choosing between being liked or respected - it's strategically projecting both qualities simultaneously to build the status that makes everything else possible. This isn't about changing who you are; it's about ensuring others finally see your true value.
The Mental Traps Keeping You Small
Tell Your Story Before Someone Else Tells It Wrong
Build Your Army of Ambassadors
Ask for What You Want Without Apology
Use Your Status and Mentor the Next Generation
The Daily Practice of Becoming Unstoppable
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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