Climbing Down the Ladder: A Journey to a Different Kind of Happy

by Laura Black

Growing up in image-conscious Miami, Laura, with her double chins, frizzy hair, and in the inability to squeeze into "regular" sized clothing, was an embarrassment to her beguiling, jet-setting mother and prominent, successful father. She climbed out of shame by focusing on brains rather than beauty, becoming a child entrepreneur, and rising all the way to the top ranks of business. Her ascent up the ladder as a mother of three forced her to make often painful choices as she navigated the myth of "having it all." Yet, she climbed those rungs with quantifiable goals measured by market-share and profitability. In stark contrast, when she chose to end her career, her descent was marked by loss and marginalization. She no longer possessed CEO status, her children fled the nest for lives of their own, and she had to cope with the decline and eventual deaths of her parents. She also had to come to terms with the telltale markers of aging, from the mundane--bunions and lubricants--to a life-altering, near-death experience, all the while searching for relevance and purpose. In the same way a generation of women lacked role models on the way up the career ladder, they lack them on the way down. Laura had to delve into her past for clues on moving forward and finding contentment and purpose without that all-encompassing level of productivity and achievement. In so doing she uncovered a richer, different kind of happy. This is her story. This is our story.

Genres: Nonfiction

216 pages, Hardcover

Published January 11, 2023

About the author

Laura Black is a retired attorney and award-winning businesswoman turned author and speaker. She co-founded one of the first temporary legal staffing companies and became the CEO after it was acquired by a public company. The business grew to become one of the largest of its kind in the country. Laura sits on various boards and helps later life women embrace their next acts through her speaking and writings. Her essays have appeared in The Baltimore Sun, Next Avenue, Kveller, Hadassah, and others. Her first book, Big Butts, Fat Thighs, and Other Secrets to Success, empowered women to accept and use their vulnerabilities in forming critical business relationships.

Reviews

[Heather Fineisen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was less about the corporate ladder and climbing down than it was about the trials of the author's personal life. Not what I was hoping for.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Climbing Down the Ladder: A Journey to a Different Kind of Happy is a story that I wanted to spend time with; Laura Black is an energetic go getter in life and as an author. Black is intelligent and takes us on her journey as she becomes all that she can. Black was an entrepreneur before the word was part of our vernacular. Although we view snippets of loving relationships with her Jewish grandparents saying and doing what is expected of Bubbies and Zaydes, it is her early relationship with her parents that leave Black filling the void with food. Her mother's narcissism is an obvious element to Black's inter- and intrapersonal relationships even though it seems the author is oblivious to this fact. Climbing Down the Ladder animated Black's indomitable spirit for all her readers.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read this book as an ARC in exchange for my review. What a fascinating journey Laura has been on. While I was/am not as driven as she is, I could relate to her story; the challenges of a career vs home life and the transition to a non paid life (I won’t say retirement since it sounds like she is very busy and still productive, just in a different capacity.). I emphasize with her working through her mothers end of life struggles. Went through something similar with my in-laws and am anxious having to face my mothers journey in the next few years. She is candid and open and I was happy to have the opportunity to read her story. Thank you, Laura!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed and cried as I read Laura Black’s memoir. Climbing Down the Ladder. As an overweight child, Laura tells a heartbreaking story of getting dressed up for an event before being told by her parents that she’s too big to attend, and also a laugh out loud tale of charging the neighborhood kids for baton lessons. We cheer for Laura as she graduates from law school with three young children in tow, and feel her sadness and shock when her husband asks for a divorce. Everyone will find relatable stories as Laura tells very personal tales including dating, caring for elderly parents, and running a very successful business.
Highly recommend this extremely readable book!

[Courtney Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway, and am so glad I did. In a time where generationally we're changing how we view successes, where women are more apt to share their journey and voices in hopes of helping the next generation, Laura shares her story beautifully. From business owner to daughter to mother, she shares her triumphs and insecurities in a way that is easy to relate to, even if you haven't had the same experiences you've had the same thoughts. Her relationship with her parents and the realization of what she needed and what they could give resonated deeply, and this read was one that I think all women would find truth and solace in.

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to have had the chance to read Laura's book. So much of her story felt familiar to me. I desired to be thin, to be loved and accepted just as I was and to not be fat shamed by my family. Reading Laura's words were heartbreaking at times but also comforting to know I wasn't alone.

I admire all that Laura has achieved and it was interesting to read about how she balanced motherhood with her career life. Her writing is strong and captures you right away. It's descriptive and raw.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for the purpose of this review. 5 Stars!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An account of choosing to lean into aging instead of avoiding it-- a refreshing point of view from an authentically upbeat, knowledgeable voice who beautifully strung together a complex tale of life and how you can bring joy to your 'golden years'. Laura welcomes you into her head and heart, incrementally imparting wisdom, laughs, tears and a framework to navigate for what may seem the impossibly daunting: retirement. I could not recommend this book enough!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as a professional still in the mist of “climbing the ladder”, this book gave me a lot to think about regarding priorities in life, not losing side of the most important things, and how to prepare for long-term planning in my career. It was also heartfelt, made me laugh, and was an enjoyable read!

[Katarzyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I misunderstood what this book was about. I thought it was the author’s journey down the corporate ladder and what I got was her journey of being a mother, wife, and daughter. It was a good memoir but just not what I expected.

Thank you NetGalley, Cazco Press and the author for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Laura's insights into child rearing, careering, retirement, and beyond is truly a joy. She manages to capture the essence of aging and spin it into a tale that we can all enjoy and relate to.

[Sarah Garwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a give away and it was definitely something different than what I would normally read. I laughed and teared up through some of the chapters. It gave a look into what women battle every day in the professional world as well has home life and trying to keep a balance.

[Tammy Zielinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book. However, it was basically all about the author’s life story and very little to do with climbing down the ladder.

[Patricia Frost · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book - as someone who is navigating similar issues. But I didn’t find it relatable.

[Debra Attman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hysterical book on how there is an adjustment in life from working to adjustment of no commitment or the daily set schedules. There are many times I felt the same and really laughed!

[Pani · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Reading this memoir was an emotional yet comforting experience. As a law student myself, I found some of Laura’s struggles relatable and in many ways my eyes were opened to challenges that I might face a decade into my career. Having read her story, my stress has been partially replaced by comfort and hope. I did expect more reflections on the whole “climbing down the latter” as the majority of the memoir tells the story of how she got on top of it. It was a wonderful read nonetheless and something that I would recommend to other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

[Desiree Magney · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are plenty of books about climbing up the ladder of success but in her unique book, Climbing Down the Ladder, Laura Black provides guideposts for coming back down again.
This heartfelt memoir had me laughing and crying, as Ms. Black expertly wove her childhood story with the story of her achievements and showed us what she needed to let go of, in order to reach fulfillment in retirement.
There were so many relatable moments in Ms. Black’s book that I found myself exclaiming, “Yes!” out loud, over and over again. She spoke about her childhood struggles with her weight, her efforts to balance career and family, the divorce from her first husband, her feelings of being marginalized after she sold her business, caring for ailing parents, and overcoming her own serious health scare. Her story is most every woman’s story to one degree or another, making this book such a worthwhile read.
The rejection she felt from her parents at a young age because of her weight, created in Ms. Black a great sense of empathy, resolve, and resilience. She was determined to succeed in every step of her career – from retail, to law, to creating an enormously successful business in the legal temp agency world. When she sold that business, she was determined to find a new purpose. She felt aimless. She felt the need to continue to prove her worth. Facing an empty nest and a husband consumed by his own work, she felt “like an empty tube of toothpaste, entirely disposable.”
She ultimately realized fulfillment wasn’t only about tallying her business triumphs. Through caring for her aging parents, having grandchildren, and surviving a serious health scare surrounded by loving friends and family, she learned to relish what she had already attained. She came to realize she no longer had to keep proving her value; that she was enough, just as she was. That is a lesson we all need to learn. Thank you, Laura Black.

[Laura Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a memoir—and I couldn’t put it down. Laura looks back to try and make sense of her loss of identity after retirement. She comes full circle in understanding that work provided more than money-it provided purpose. This is a must read for anyone contemplating or in retirement. A page turner—emotional, funny, and speaks truth.

[Ash.O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from a Goodreads Giveaway.

This is definitely more of a memoir and biography than a business guide to climbing down the ladder, and I think I enjoyed it more because of that. I found it relatable and think it would be relatable for anyone who grew up with unrealistic messages and expectations about their bodies and worth; particularly anyone who has overachieved and was constantly over-productive to overcome the erroneously-instilled messaging of not being good enough otherwise.

Although this is one person's story and not all of it will relate to everyone, the themes of self-worth, family, grief, growth, change, and acceptance are all relevant and relatable. I found it to be a good story of finding one's worth, figuring out how to treasure what matters, and finding your own purpose - whatever that means to you.

I also enjoyed the discussion questions provided at the end of the book. I think they make great journal prompts for reflecting on and evaluating various parts of your life. They seem to be particularly helpful in determining where you may need to relinquish the need to "climb another ladder" and just find joy in the present.

TW: There is a lot of body image and diet talk in the book along with discussions of events that could be triggering for someone recovering from eating disorders or recovering from traumas related to those things. I don't necessarily think that is a reason to discount or not read the book, but I do think a heads-up is necessary as that completely depends on the reader and their situation.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I was hoping this book was geared more towards how to navigate like when you no longer desires to climb higher, the personal story was enjoyable too. As the teacher in the writer’s workshop noted, the author has a great voice.