Kicking Ass in a Corset

Andrea Kayne’s Kicking Ass in a Corset uses the work of Jane Austen to identify six qualities that can help organizational leaders survive, thrive and make change today. What could be a cute but silly concept in other hands achieves genuine depth and impact here thanks to Kayne’s expertise in gender and leadership issues as well as her understanding of Austen’s emotional and social landscapes. While the novels of "The Great Jane" yield the book’s framework, detailed discussions of contemporary leaders, institutions and strategies make it both timely and useful.

As a stay at home mother, and not particularly a leader, I was at first concerned that this book wouldn't be a good fit for me! However, there was a lot to glean from this creative book which matches principles of leadership to Jane Austen heroines. An accessible read, it was fun to analyze the leading ladies of the Austen novels, and glean life lessons and applications from them. If this book doesn't inspire you to look inside and seek growth, I dont know what will.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Books on leadership are rarely enjoyable to read, let alone easy to get through and understand. Kicking Ass in a Corset is a brilliant introduction into how women can become leaders without having to push away our femininity or become hardened while making our own way to the top, whilst referencing, of all things, some of Jane Austen's heroines.

Although this leadership manual in heavy on terminology, Andrea Kayne creates an easy awareness on the self, your values & beliefs, and those of others to encourage and internalise what can be, coupled by exercises that challenge what you've read and how you think.

This book was awesome as a whole. I am not a non-fiction reader and I'm not ashamed of that. I prefer to be diverted by stories than read about things I deal with on a daily basis. This book is an exception.

Because I'm so inclined to read fiction, I thought, "Here's a book that can put these concepts in a frame I can follow without dying of boredom!" I was right. Now, I don't agree with everything the author throws in there, but I would highly recommend this book to any female in leadership that loves some Jane Austen.

The author takes you through the plots of the six most popular Jane Austen stories and explains how each brings some new (and needed) skill or way of thinking to the table. It's pretty brilliant. I found myself highly motivated to be the best leader I could be, regardless of what's happening around me.

Now, I'm sure people who read a ton of business and leadership book will find tons of fault with this. That's cool. This one's not really for you guys.