Pretty Powerful: Appearance, Substance, and Success

by Eboni K. Williams

Former FOX News host and attorney Eboni K. Williams believes that women shouldn’t hide their beauty. Instead, they should embrace it as a positive and powerful asset. Williams describes how her own career has been positively influenced by making strategic and intentional decisions about her appearance, what works best and when, all while staying true to her own personal style and values. Regardless of the decade, whether they were entering the workforce, seeking a leadership role, or looking to ascend to the C-suite, women (and even men) have always felt the professional need to embody a certain aesthetic appeal and individual personal power. Women, especially, have been sold the lie that being “pretty” comes at the expense of being taken seriously and that being “pretty” and being capable are mutually exclusive. In Pretty Appearance, Substance, and Success, Eboni K. Williams encourages readers to reject the knee-jerk reaction to be shamed by this potential advantage and to stop leaving this incredibly powerful asset unused. In each chapter, Williams is joined by other powerful women like Meghan McCain, Marcia Clark, and Desiree Rogers and explores how many others have learned to balance their “prettiness” with substance—to both look the part and express their intelligence in a way that is authentic and respected. While opinions may have differed through time, one fact a personal “pretty” brand is perhaps the most immediate and obvious tool in a woman’s professional arsenal.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2016

Reviews

[A. Rad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives any female the tools as to how you successfully present yourself in this world. Whether for a job interview, or once you've landed the job, the author gives you real life scenarios and occasions that will help you decide what is appropriate to wear and when to wear it. The book offers good interviews with pretty powerful women in various industries, whilst giving you a summation (she is a lawyer after all) of the interviews in each chapter. There were times that I thought the "summations" were a bit redundant but overall, a good read with useful information.

[Alexandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got about 70% though despite the vague conservatism. I couldn't finish after she let a paragraph be about how there are def women out there sleeping their way to the top and you can tell by the way they dress.

having had heard that talk about me from other women I'd always been kind to just because of my preferred dress and it being patently untrue I just don't appreciate that kind of bullshit.

this book was difficult to read - no substance combined with that weird cattiness. it could have and should have been a better book.

[Aryssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and to the point, Williams talks about how to blend your appearance with your substance to make yourself successful. She doesn't shy way from talking about sex appeal (when to use it and when not to,) sexual harassment, workplace biases, and her background growing up with a single mother. She gets some great insight from famous women like Monica Crowley, a former Miss America, and Marcia Clark.

[Liz Sergent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads for a copy of this book for an honest review. Before I read this book I didn't know anything about Eboni Williams, now I am going to check her out on Fox channel. I loved this book, I am going to have my daughter read it. Ms. Williams makes a strong point about how you present yourself is a reflection of who you are.

[Edie Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting and would be of benefit to someone just starting out in radio and TV. I would have liked for FOX News to give Eboni some air time after the show with Eric Bolling was cancelled. She is very articulate and was a very good addition to the show.

[Shelby Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one. I listened to the audio book & Eboni Williams is very inspirational. 👍🏻

[LeeTravelGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

EBONI K. WILLIAMS, ESQUIRE IS A BEAUTIFULLY BRILLIANT BLACK WOMAN!!!

This is a must read for ALL women, young and old!!!

I’m enjoying this book and have already learned some things myself.

[dani. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read overall. I did like her points about appearance and how it plays a role in success—those parts definitely resonated with me. It wasn’t a standout book for me personally, but it had some good reflections worth thinking about. 👠📚

[Jolie Radunich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Williams explore the various superficial issues she and other prominent women have dealt with, from microaggressions related to their appearance to sexual harassment encounters. Those interviewed were primarily career women from the law and politics realms. I wish the chapters were shorter so that Williams could include even more insights.

[Cellie Apineru · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. My husband laughed at me when I bought this book and now I know why.