Book Review: We Need To Talk About Money by Otegha Uwagba
Rating: ★★★★★
In Summary
Genre: Non Fiction, Memoir, Society & Culture
Publication Date: Thursday 8th July 2021
No. Of Pages: 304
Keywords: Empowering, accessible, current, topical, gender, race, career, finance
Content Warnings: Racism and sexism
Format: Hardback, E-Book, Audiobook
Review
Otegha Uwagba is a Sunday Times Bestselling author, podcaster and writer. She was privately educated, has a degree in PPE from Oxford, worked in advertising at AMV and VICE, moved into freelancing, wrote two books, launched an instantly successful women’s network, made the Forbes 30 under 30 list at 27, and bought a flat at the age of 30.
Yet, beneath the veneer of upper-class privilege, lies a highly relatable woman navigating her way through life without the same financial security of those that she was often surrounded by.
In her latest long-form memoir, ‘We Need To Talk About Money’, Otegha unpacks all of her accolades to expose the injustices and complex situations that have both throttled her forward, as well as held her back. Meeting the high standards that we all anticipated, each chapter presents thought-provoking essays, connected by anecdotes and lessons from her own narrative.
Knowing that her voice is one of a soothing sanctuary from many years of her podcast, I gave myself the pleasure of consuming this book in audio form, listening and reflecting as I tidied my house.
During her chapter on the Beauty Tax, I found myself analysing my own routine as I cleaned my bathroom. At one point, as she spoke so eloquently with undertones of utter outrage at the notion of invisible labour, I paused my Audible app to discuss the balance of domestic work with my partner. Was I obeying the unspoken rule of women taking on more unpaid labour? Not this time. But I’m watching.
And that’s the magic of this book. With everything that was personal to her story – anecdotes of bad housemates, racial injustice, her experience of The Wing, dodgy landlords, and a total takedown of working at Vice Media – there was an element that was personal to every woman I’ve ever spoken to.
An unexpected treat of the audiobook was the conversation that she had with her editor at the end, discussing how she approached the book and where her boundaries lied. It felt like the perfect way to wind down from a thought-provoking listen.
To anyone with an interest in feminism, culture, and society: this is a book that we need to talk about.
“Your starting salary is an integral reflection to the way that you are valued across your career. Seek advice, speak to friends, get it right.”
The Round Up
Read If: You want an intellectually challenging read that empowers you to question social injustice, educates you on different arguments within the feminist arena, and makes you realise that the challenges you faced in your twenties are fairly universal.
Similar books: ‘Slay in your lane’ by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene, ‘How do we know we’re doing it right?’ by Pandora Sykes,
Last Impressions: Where her podcast demonstrates her practical and rigorous approach to career building, this book takes a more academic stance. It’s an education on modern-day feminism, rather than a guidebook for financial health – though, having followed Otegha for a while, I wouldn’t be surprised if her next book focused more on the latter. That, or ‘We All Need A Friend Like Tommy’.
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