“Having it all” has become a contemporary catch phrase—particularly among professional women—that refers to the goal of managing a simultaneously full work life and personal life. Too often, though, women find that it is an impossibly high goal to attain, usually because of society’s unrealistic expectations, or partners who are unwilling to play an equal role. Through a light-hearted but meaningful memoir, Tiffany Dufu’s Drop the Ball offers an array of good tips for women seeking work-life balance without guilt or resentment.

Despite a title that seems to say it all, don’t think you can take in the whole of this book by reading a summary of it; the advice offered here is not “just stop doing stuff.” Indeed, Dufu’s recommendation to “drop the ball” means do not be afraid to reassess your responsibilities and ask for help, and it is developed throughout the story of her life’s experiences, and the advice of her mentors and colleagues. She also frequently backs up her claims with research in psychology and the social sciences. While much of the book describes experiences unique to women, as a male reader there was much that I learned from Dufu’s advice, and men who are the partners of women seeking a healthy work-life balance would do well to read it to empathize and provide support as an “All-In” partner.