Where to Start Reading Ellen Pao
For anyone looking to understand the modern tech landscape, the culture of Silicon Valley, or the ongoing struggle for workplace inclusion, there is one definitive place to start: Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change (2017). This memoir is Ellen Pao's primary standalone book and serves as the foundation of her written work. It details her path through corporate America, her high-profile lawsuit, and her time leading one of the internet's largest platforms.
After finishing her memoir, readers should transition to the 2020 anthology Which Side of History? How Technology Is Reshaping Democracy and Our Lives, edited by James P. Steyer, which features a vital essay contribution from Pao. Reading these two works in chronological order provides a clear view of her progression from sharing her personal struggle to advocating for systemic, global changes in how tech corporations govern themselves.
Ellen Pao Books in Publication Order
Non-Fiction Books
- Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change (2017) – Ellen Pao's debut book and memoir, published by Spiegel & Grau. It covers her early life, her career in venture capital, her legal battle, and her time as interim CEO of Reddit.
Anthologies and Contributions
- Which Side of History? How Technology Is Reshaping Democracy and Our Lives (2020) – Edited by James P. Steyer. Ellen Pao contributed an essay to this collection of writings exploring technology's impact on society, privacy, and systemic inequality.
Deep Dive: "Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change" (2017)
Ellen Pao's 2017 memoir is a raw, analytical, and deeply personal account of her career in tech. The book focuses heavily on her time at the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where she worked as a junior partner. Pao filed a landmark gender discrimination lawsuit against the firm in 2012, alleging systemic bias, exclusion, and retaliation. Although she did not win the court battle, the trial brought the toxic parts of Silicon Valley's culture into the public spotlight.
Beyond the legal battle, Reset details her tenure as the interim CEO of Reddit from 2014 to 2015. During her leadership, she made controversial yet historic decisions, such as banning revenge porn and unauthorized explicit images, and reforming hiring practices by eliminating salary negotiations to mitigate gender pay disparities. The memoir explains the reasoning behind these actions and the severe online harassment she faced as a result.
The book was widely praised for its courage and clarity, earning a spot on the shortlist for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award in 2017.
Deep Dive: "Which Side of History?" (2020)
In 2020, Pao contributed to the anthology Which Side of History? How Technology Is Reshaping Democracy and Our Lives. Edited by James P. Steyer, this collection features essays from over thirty tech experts, activists, policymakers, and writers. Pao's contribution focuses on how large tech platforms have failed to protect vulnerable groups, highlighting how online harassment, bias, and algorithmic discrimination harm marginalized communities. This work acts as an intellectual companion piece to her memoir, shifting the focus from her individual career to the broader societal responsibilities of tech companies.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Ellen Pao's works, it is helpful to keep a few key concepts in mind:
- The "Pao Effect": This term refers to the wave of women and underrepresented groups in the tech sector who spoke out about discrimination and toxic work cultures following Pao's 2012 lawsuit. Her legal action is widely seen as a precursor to the broader #MeToo movement in technology.
- Tone and Style: Pao writes with the analytical precision of an engineer and lawyer (she holds degrees from Princeton, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Business School), combined with the vulnerability of a memoirist. Her style is direct, clear, and focused on systemic solutions rather than simple grievances.
- Project Include: In 2016, Pao co-founded Project Include, a non-profit organization focused on improving diversity and inclusion in the tech industry through data-driven recommendations. Understanding the goals of Project Include helps readers appreciate the actionable advice she offers at the end of Reset.