DAUK Political Book Club - Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Careless People: A Story of Where I Used to Work

By Sarah Wynn-Williams

 

On Tuesday December 8th, we will meet on Zoom to discuss Careless People: A Story of Where I Used to Work by Sarah Wynn-Williams. 

Wynn-Williams joined Facebook believing the company could change things for the better. Instead, what she encountered over seven years was so shocking that Meta obtained a legal order to silence her.  She famously sat in silence on stage at the 2026 Hay Festival due to Meta’s gag order. In her award-winning story, she pulls back the curtain on Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and the global elite. She exposes the true cost of Silicon Valley’s ambition, from outrageous schemes cooked up on private jets to the alarming consequences of Facebook’s aggressive pursuit of global dominance. Careless People is an ordinary woman's gripping and darkly funny memoir that will forever change how you view the technology that runs our lives – and the unchecked power of those who control it.

Wynn-Williams grew up in New Zealand where she practiced law before becoming a policy advisor to the New Zealand diplomatic service.  After managing New Zealand’s political affairs and government relations at its embassy in Washington DC, she began working at Facebook eventually becoming its global public policy director. She believes she was terminated by Facebook after reporting her boss for sexual harassment. Publishing Careless People in March 2025, the book was number one on the New York Times best-seller list.

 

“Darkly funny and genuinely shocking: an ugly, detailed portrait of one of the most powerful companies in the world. What Wynn-Williams reveals will undoubtedly trigger her former bosses’ ire. Not only does she have the storytelling chops to unspool a gripping narrative; she also delivers the goods” ― The New York Times

 

“Amazing: of all the books in all the world Mr Free Speech Zuckerberg wants to ban, it’s the one about him” - Marina Hyde, The Guardian

 

“A fascinating, highly critical account of Facebook's internal culture and decision-making practices during the author’s time there as director of public policy” - Nina Stibbe

 

At 7:30pm we will discuss the book for 45 minutes, then discuss current events for 30 minutes, finishing at 8:45pm.  RSVP here to receive the Zoom link and book discussion questions.  Any questions? Contact [email protected] 

All are welcome, even if you haven't read the book.  Here is more to complement or substitute for reading the book in a way that fits your schedule. 

Book Review by The New York Times (gift article)

Book Review by The Guardian

Wynn-Williams Senate Judiciary Testimony (1 hour, 47 minutes)

Interview with 60 Minutes Australia (39 minutes)

Interview with Wynn-Williams’s empty chair and the co-author of Virginia Guiffre’s book with the News Agents’s Emily Maitlis (30 minutes)

 

UK Book Cover:

 

WHEN

Tuesday, December 08, 2026 at 07:30 PM London Time

WHERE

This is a virtual event. See the event description above or RSVP for virtual participation options.

CONTACT

DAUK Political Book Club
[email protected]

1 RSVPs