First published 2026
Claire Stapleton spent twelve years at Google before walking away from the tech giant. Her memoir traces her transformation from a true believer in the company's stated mission to someone who questioned the entire foundation of corporate culture. Stapleton dissects the disconnect between Google's public image and what actually happens inside the organization. She details her experiences with incompetent managers and projects that served no real purpose. The book examines how today's employers extract total loyalty from their workers while providing minimal support in return. Stapleton grapples with a fundamental challenge: how can individuals reclaim their sense of self when corporations demand complete dedication? Her story documents the emotional toll of losing faith in her workplace and her journey to discover purpose beyond professional achievement. Stapleton contends that society mistakenly links career advancement with human value, creating systems that take advantage of employee commitment.
Genres: business, autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, 21st-century, organizational-culture
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: disillusionment, personal-growth
Setting: Google
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow