A really interesting sports memoir that does a great job of being accessible for those who don't understand sports at all! I have followed Wambach since she started dating Glennon Doyle and this was an interesting look at her life!

Abby Wambach is a retired professional soccer legend. She is known for being the highest all time goal scorer for the national team and the second highest all time international goal soccer for men or women’s soccer. Since retiring from soccer, she has turned her focus to activism, philanthropy, and public speaking using her platform to change the equality game. In 2018, she was the commencement speaker for Barnard College and gave a speech which became a viral sensation. Wolfpack: How to Come Togehter, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game is based on this inspiring speech.

In Wolfpack, Abby Wambach encourages members of society to unleash their individual power, unite with others with similar goals and philosophy, and change the landscape of their lives and world. She states that society needs to let go of the old rules of leadership that no longer serve them and instead adapt a new set of ideas. These include ideas of making failure your fuel, leading from the bench, championing each other, and demanding the effing ball. Although she speaks from the perspective of a woman, she states early in her book that she extends her ideas and concepts to all of humanity regardless of race, gender, and/or sexuality.

Wolfpack is a quick read that inspires many different emotions from the reader. While reading, I was felt so inspired by the passion and strength that was being presented by Abby Wambach You could feel that her desire for change is very real and within her words there is an encouragement for gratitude, leadership, transformation, and confidence. By the end, I felt empowered to no longer be a little red riding hood and instead ready to wander off the path and blaze a new trail.

Now for a little bit of truth: I had originally read this book prior to this release in 2019 as an ARC from Netgalley. I loved it then and actually attended the release event at Plymouth Church in NYC. It was amazing to hear Abby speak about Wolfpack and get interviewed by her wife, Glennon Doyle. You could feel the passion for change and love between them radiating off the stage. I have been lucky enough to see Abby and Glennon speak in person on two other occasions and follow them both on various social media platforms. Whenever I hear them speak or read something they have written, I am always left feeling so empowered. Both of these women have such a way with their words, and I adore them and the Wolfpack family they have created. If you haven’t, I highly recommend looking into them and seeing what they do. Together, we are not little red riding hoods, we are big bad wolves, and we can all do hard things.

I have read some of the reviews that said if you have seen Abby Wambach's commencement speech, you don't need to read the book, that it's short, and that it is a rally cry without much instruction. As I had not actually seen the commencement speech, I rather enjoyed the book, especially for it's rally crying shortness. I loved the beginning where she talked about what it was like to be asked to make the commencement speech and her thought process (and fears) about what she might say. I loved the ever-present theme of women working together as a team to lift each other up, rather than push each other down. Her anecdotes ranged from childhood when she wanted to be a star soccer player to her time being just that, then retiring, and becoming a stepmom. For its small size, there is quite a bit you can gain from it. As a side note, I also think it would make a great graduation present for young woman.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

A lot of good; motivating concepts in this book. I would encourage younger girls/women to listen to this message.

Abby Wambach is and has always been my favorite soccer athlete. When her book appeared on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. I listened to her interview on NPR and was intrigued by the premise of her book. The book itself was short and to the point, and I appreciated this because it didn’t feel drawn out. Wambach emphasizes the importance of working together as women, especially in her message: “We have never been Little Red Riding Hood. We Are the Wolves. We must wander off the path and blaze a new one: together.” (yes, I stole that quote from the book’s description.) But more importantly, however, she highlights the notion that it is okay to face failure and struggles, to never diminish ourselves and our talents, and to always work together. This book will be a superb addition to the high school library where it can inspire a lot of female student athletes.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for this eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is an inspirational book for girls and women about how to achieve our potential but still work together. It was a quick read and very much to the point. Even older elementary girls will benefit from this book.

After retiring from soccer and marrying fellow author Glennon Doyle, Wambach is asked to give a commencement speech. Ruminating on the momentous occasion, she wanted to deliver an memorable speech. Little did she know that she would inadvertently start a movement.

This book is a must read for women everywhere. An inspirational and motivational book that goes beyond the soccer field.

Great book about empowering girls. I think girls, especially athletes will identify with the story.

A few years ago, I was privileged to hear Abby speak in-person a few months after her retirement, shortly after her DUI and then breakup. It was an honest talk and I liked her messages.

Like many, I was introduced to her Barnard speech last year. However, I did not watch the video. I read the transcript and remain riveted by her message. I could feel the fire and passion. When I learned there was a book, my brain said, "GET. ME. THE. EFFING. BOOK!!!" because I needed that Barnard speech to never end.

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read this book over a lunch break. Whelps, there's not a whole lot more to the speech, but the book does dive a little deeper. The message remains vibrant and so easy to understand. I would love to keep this as a reminder on my shelf and go back to it once in a while.

Now, I just need to source out her memoir, Forward, and my Pack of Abby wisdom will be complete.

Wow, wow, wow. Even though this is a very short and fast-paced book but what a powerful and uplifting one it is. One of these books that leaves you wanting more. Abby Wambach is such an inspiration. A woman encouraging other women.

Through her own experiences, Abby shows us that our voice is important, that women, we are unique but together we can be the difference, that we together can make the difference.

I loved this book, from page one to the end. A wonderful source of inspiration, knowledge, encouragement, love and unity.

ONE: YOU WERE ALWAYS THE WOLF
Old Rule: Stay on the path
New Rule: Create your own path

TWO: BE GRATEFUL AND AMBITIOUS
Old Rule: Be grateful for what you have
New Rule: Be grateful for what you have AND demand what you deserve

THREE: LEAD FROM THE BENCH
Old Rule: Wait for permission to lead
New Rule: Lead now- from wherever you are

FOUR: MAKE FAILURE YOUR FUEL
Old Rule: Failure means you’re out of the game
New Rule: Failure means you’re finally IN the game

FIVE: CHAMPION EACH OTHER
Old Rule: Be against each other
New Rule: Be FOR each other

SIX: DEMAND THE BALL
Old Rule: Be polite. Pass the ball
New Rule: Be confident. Demand the ball

SEVEN: BRING IT ALL
Old Rule: Lead with Dominance to Amass Followers
New Rule: Lead with Full Humanity to Cultivate Leaders

EIGHTH: FIND YOUR PACK
Old Rule: You’re on your own
New Rule: You’re at not alone. You’ve got your Pack

Wolfpack is a quick, powerful read with some very strong messages for women. The book grew out of Abby Wambach’s 2018 commencement speech to Barnard’s graduating class.

This book would make a great graduation gift or “just because” gift to women you know who need a quick pep talk and reminder of their power and leadership.

To end with a quote from the book:

“There is a wolf inside of every woman. Her wolf is who she was made to be before the world told her who to be. Her wolf is her talent, her power, her dreams, her voice, her curiosity, her courage, her dignity, her choices - her truest identity.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Yes, yes, yes. This book is a nice, short & inspiring read! Beautiful & easy to follow because it’s not too wordy, so you can actually grasp the inspiration & digest without lots of fluff. It’s a book that you can continue to reference back to when you need a reminder that you are enough & that you can do anything. Love it!

I like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

In her new book, Wolfpack, Wambach teaches and inspires women to not settle for anything less than equal. She breaks down for women how to achieve their dreams and goals in a society that does not always present itself as fair or equal. She eloquently outlines how to be ambitious and not to be afraid of failure. She talks candidly how failure is so commonly felt and viewed as being weak. Wambach wants her readers to take failure and use it to their advantage... have it be the fuel to their inner fire. She urges women to not only be leaders, but to empower one another through positivity and teamwork. Women should not be Little Red Riding Hood. Instead, Wambach motivates us to be the wolf. What is better than one wolf... a pack of wolves. She champions us women to find our pack, find or people. She makes it very clear that women are stronger together.

What I really enjoyed about Abby Wambach’s Wolfpack, is that it is a straight forward read. It is not overly preachy or shedding negative light on men or society. Instead it is giving woman actual steps and tools to be successful in their own personal journey. Fans of Wambach’s will love how she draws parallels between her soccer career and her personal victories. Though this book is geared for women, it certainly does not exclude anyone. Wambach mentions early in her book that she hopes for all genders to gain something from reading her book. As a mom, I am raising my three sons to know this world no other way. My boys see me everyday leading by example. They will continue to witness how powerful and important my personal “Wolfpack” truly is. The tone of the book is positive and inspiring. I invite all you woman out there to read Abby Wambach’s truth. Share this with your daughters, while encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. Wambach urges girls to not wait around for the ball to come their way. She says it loud and clear…...If you want the ball, GO GET IT. DEMAND THE BALL ladies!!!!!

An inspirational and powerful call for women's teamwork and collective action. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.

I loved the commencement speech that this was based on and think all women would benefit from reading this book. We have to empower each other instead of working against each other.

Quick and engaging read. Speaks to sports fans who thrive on competition. Wambach shows why she was a top competitor in the game and why countless girls look up to her still.

Based on a commencement address the two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion Abby Wambach gave, this self-help book focuses on telling women how to find confidence and success by coming together as women. While it is very focused on women, there is something here for everyone. She uses strong examples from her own career both before and after retirement from soccer to make her points. A quick reading empowering book.