It's about Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage. By Arlan Hamilton and Rachel L. Nelson. May 2020. 256p. Currency, $27 (9780593136416); e-book (9780593136423). 650.1.

In her early career, Hamilton got hooked on the idea of venture capitalism. Life took a turn, and she found herself, a Black gay woman, dead broke and living in the San Francisco Airport. Holding on to her dream, she was doggedly determined to enter the heavily male-dominated world of Silicon Valley venture capitalism. For years she studied and read on her own and relentlessly emailed successful businesspeople for advice and job opportunities. She was eventually accepted into a pilot venture capitalist program at Stanford, in which she was one of two Black people. She weaves her narrative with solid advice. Topics covered include getting a "yes" and cultivating and managing relationships, creativity, and self-care. Readers will find it easy to be inspired by her success stories and admire her drive to continue after each defeat. Today, Hamilton's firm, Backstage Capital, invests in projects for women, people of color, and LGBTQ entrepreneurs. This book will appeal to those her company encourages as well as young women seeking a fresh and motivating role model.--Jennifer Adams