I’m extending the “Too Long; Thu Reads” category to books from now on. You could label this is a book review, but it’s more of a book summary with notes and thoughts. …Wait, did I just define “book review?” Whatever, go with it.

I just finished reading #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso, CEO and founder of a little company called Nasty Gal. It’s just an online fashion retail store that’s known to all millennial girls and some big-time businesspeople, no big deal. With release (May 2014) of #GIRLBOSS and general badassery, she’s been the talk of the town. She has that story: girl steals stuff, girl starts eBay store, girl turns into CEO and girlboss of her own multi-millionaire company. Typical, right?

As some book reviews have mentioned, it’s not much of an entrepreneurial book and I agree with that. It can be paired with one, but it’s not an entrepreneurial book on its own. This book is more of a memoir/guide/motivational tool/straight-talk-type book. Sophia shares her personal story- slip-up’s, steals, victories, and all. She’ll get real with you (i.e. KNOW yourself before going into an interview, shitty jobs can teach you something, hone your craft). And at the end of each chapter, there’s a portrait of a girlboss like Leandra Medine, blogger of Manrepeller or Jenné Lombardo, founder of the Terminal Presents. They also share their story, how they find themselves to be a girlboss, and share some advice like…

Get excited for the mistakes you’ll make.

Be humble. Never forget where you come from. And always be polite. Good old-fashioned manners can get you very far.

I respect Sophia, and I respect all of the girlbosses featured in this book. Sophia is a girlboss and she works damn hard to be a girlboss. This is something she conveys throughout the book. She thinks about her customers a lot, she pays attention to the details, and doesn’t take shit from anyone. I may or may not have geeked out because she references Malcolm Gladwell and Seth Godin. It’s clear she does her homework, and knows her stuff.

TL;DR? It’s a quick read, will sometimes feel like a slap in the face, and definitely fits the target of millennials (aka me).

The world loves to tell you how difficult things are, and the world’s not exaggerating…But difficult doesn’t mean impossible, and out of the bajillion of things in this universe that you can’t control, what you can control is how hard you try, and if or when to pack it in.

Stay awake and stay alive.

The holy grail is yours for the taking.