where can i buy a chinese money plant Chinese Money Plant ‘Pilea peperomioides’ 2 Gal. / Teal / With Pot
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where can i buy a chinese money plant

where can i buy a chinese money plant Chinese Money Plant ‘Pilea peperomioides’ 2 Gal. / Teal / With Pot

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where can i buy a chinese money plant Chinese Money Plant ‘Pilea peperomioides’ 2 Gal. / Teal / With PotThe Chinese Money Plant, known as Pilea peperomioides, is one of the most beloved houseplants in the world, admired for its coin shaped leaves, minimalist look, and ease of care. Often seen gracing modern interiors and Instagram feeds, this quirky plant brings a charming architectural quality to any space. Traditionally, the Chinese Money Plant is believed to bring prosperity, good fortune, and financial abundance, which is why its often given as a

The Chinese Money Plant, known as Pilea peperomioides, is one of the most beloved houseplants in the world, admired for its coin-shaped leaves, minimalist look, and ease of care. Often seen gracing modern interiors and Instagram feeds, this quirky plant brings a charming architectural quality to any space.  

Traditionally, the Chinese Money Plant is believed to bring prosperity, good fortune, and financial abundance, which is why it’s often given as a gift. This plant goes by many names, including the UFO Plant, Pancake Plant, Missionary Plant, and simply the Money Plant (not to be confused with Crassula ovata or Epipremnum aureum).  

According to feng shui, the Chinese Money Plant is more than just a decorative addition, it's considered a symbol of prosperity and good luck.

The round, shiny leaves resemble coins, making it a go-to plant for those hoping to attract wealth and positive energy into their homes or offices.

To bring prosperity and good luck into your life, feng shui practice suggests placing the plant in the southeast corner of your living space, which is associated with wealth and abundance.

It’s also popular to give the plant as a gift, especially when it has produced “pups” or offsets, which are thought to spread fortune when shared. 

The plant grows in a mounded shape and stays compact, typically reaching a mature size of about 12 inches tall and 12 inches wide.

It can grow to double its size in a year with proper lighting. Its symmetry and upright growth habit make it perfect for shelves, desks, or as a tabletop focal point. 

Native to the mountainous regions of Yunnan Province in southern China, the Chinese money plant is defined by its shiny, round, flat leaves perched above long, slender stems that radiate from a central point. 

The Chinese Money Plant can produce tiny, pale-pink to white flowers on thin stalks in ideal indoor conditions, usually during spring. However, blooming is rare and not its main feature. What makes this plant especially unique is its tendency to produce numerous offsets or “pups” at the base and even along its roots, which can be gently removed and propagated with ease. 

The full-grown Chinese Money Plant is popular for its easy-care nature, unique round leaves, and air-purifying qualities, making it a great decorative houseplant for modern interiors. Its upright, architectural look adds charm to tabletops, shelves, or hanging planters. 

When and How to Water Your Chinese Money Plant 

The Chinese Money Plant is mildly drought-tolerant and does not like sitting in wet soil, which can quickly lead to root rot. During average conditions, let the top 1–2 inches of soil dry out between waterings. If you’re unsure, it’s safer to wait a day or two longer than to water too soon.

The plant can tolerate short dry spells better than overwatering. Water your Chinese Money Plant every 7–10 days during its growing season (March to September) using about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water and reduce watering to every 14–21 days during dormancy (October to February). 

From March to September, during its growing season, water the plant every 7–10 days with about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water, depending on pot size and indoor climate. You’ll notice it grows faster and pushes out new leaves during this time, so more frequent watering is appropriate. Make sure to use a pot with good drainage and empty any saucers to prevent soggy soil. 

From October to February, in its dormant season, reduce watering to every 14–21 days using around 1/4 cup, only when the soil feels completely dry. Growth will slow down or stop, and watering too much during this period increases the risk of root rot. Place it in a slightly cooler location during dormancy, if possible, to help mimic natural seasonal changes. 

Light Requirements – Where to Place Your Chinese Money Plant 

When growing indoors, place your Chinese Money Plant near a bright east or north-facing window with indirect light for 6–8 hours daily.

Chinese Money Plant thrives in bright, indirect indoor light and grows best near east- or north-facing windows.

Avoid intense, direct midday sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.

If you only have south- or west-facing windows, place it a few feet back or use a sheer curtain. Under low-light conditions, it may become leggy, producing fewer and smaller leaves.

When growing outdoors, give your plant filtered morning sun and bright shade in the afternoon, ideally 3–4 hours of gentle light daily. It can be placed on a shaded patio or balcony during warm months; but must be brought indoors before temperatures drop.

Avoid direct sun exposure during summer afternoons, which can burn the delicate foliage. 

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

The Chinese Money Plant prefers a well-drained, airy, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0–7.0), and should be fertilized once a year. A quality indoor potting mix amended with perlite or pumice ensures proper drainage. Planet Desert specializes in succulents and has Go to cactus mix blend 1 gal 4 qt cacti succulent dirt compost growing media that includes an organic substrate with mycorrhizae to help with the growth of a healthy root system, to help your succulents thrive. Avoid compacted or moisture-retentive soils, as they increase the risk of rot.  

Fertilize your plant once a year in spring using a diluted balanced liquid NPK fertilizer of about 5-10-5. Too much feeding can lead to salt buildup or leggy growth. No fertilizer is needed during the dormant season (October to February), as the plant slows its growth and won’t benefit from added nutrients. Flush the soil occasionally with plain water to remove any accumulated salts. 

Pro Tip: It’s perfectly natural for your Chinese Money Plant to shed an occasional older leaf as it focuses energy on fresh growth. But if you notice multiple leaves dropping at once, overwatering and potential root rot are often to blame. Act quickly by checking the soil and root-adjust watering to help your plant bounce back.

Chinese Money Plant Indoor Requirements 

The best place to grow a Chinese Money Plant indoors is near an east- or north-facing window where it can receive bright, indirect light throughout the day. Avoid placing it directly in harsh afternoon sun, which may scorch its delicate, round leaves. When grown indoors, the Chinese Money Plant thrives in temperatures between 60–75°F, with moderate humidity levels of 40% to 60%. It does well in typical household conditions but appreciates extra humidity, which you can provide with a pebble tray or by grouping it with other plants. Always position it away from cold drafts, air conditioners, and direct heat sources like radiators to prevent stress. 

Hardiness Zones & More 

In all other U.S. states, where winter temperatures dip below this threshold, it is best grown indoors or kept as a seasonal outdoor plant during warm months. 

If you choose to place it outside during summer, be sure to bring it back indoors by late September or early October to protect it from cold damage. 

The Pilea peperomioides can only be grown outdoors year-round in Hawaii, where USDA Zones 10–11 provide the consistently warm, frost-free climate it needs.

In these tropical conditions, the plant enjoys filtered sunlight, mild humidity, and temperatures that stay safely above 50°F.  

Wildlife – Pilea peperomioides Flowers Attract the Following Friendly Pollinators 

When in bloom, Pilea peperomioides may draw a few tiny flies or gnats, but it is not a plant that is known to draw bees, hummingbirds, or butterflies. This plant is more decorative than wildlife-supportive, but its tiny pale flowers can sometimes catch the attention of small insects. However, it’s not a nectar-rich plant and shouldn’t be relied upon to attract pollinators like salvia or milkweed. 

Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Lady Bugs
Multi Pollinators
Other Birds

According to the ASPCA, Pilea peperomioides is non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. This makes it a pet-friendly houseplant option and a great choice for families. Even if ingested, it rarely causes more than mild stomach upset. Still, always supervise pets around houseplants to discourage chewing. 

How to Propagate Your Chinese Money Plant  

Pilea peperomioides is easily propagated from baby plantlets, which grow from the base or roots of mature plants. When a healthy plant matures, it produces offsets (also called pups) that can be removed and replanted. Wait until the baby plant is 2–3 inches tall, then gently dig around the base and snip it from the parent with a clean knife or scissors.

Ensure the pup has some roots for faster establishment. Plant the offset in a small pot with moist, well-draining soil. Keep it in bright, indirect light and water lightly. Within a few weeks, it should root and begin growing independently. You can also try propagating leaf cuttings in water, but this method is slower and less reliable. 

Potting and Repotting Chinese Money Plant 

Chinese Money Plant prefers a small to medium-sized pot with excellent drainage, and it typically needs repotting once every 1–2 years as it outgrows its container. When potting or repotting, choose a container that has drainage holes and use a light, well-draining soil mix, such as a blend designed for indoor plants or a succulent mix with added perlite or coconut coir. Repotting is best done in spring, just before or as the plant enters its active growing season.

If you notice roots circling the bottom or poking through the drainage holes, or if water drains too quickly, it’s a sign your Pilea has outgrown its current pot. While repotting, it's a great opportunity to separate and propagate any baby offsets (“pups”) growing around the base. After repotting, water the plant lightly and place it in indirect light to help it adjust to its new environment without stress. 

Key Takeaways

  1. The Chinese Money Plant is one of the most popular houseplants, known for its charming coin-shaped leaves, low maintenance, and modern aesthetic appeal.
  2. Feng Shui enthusiasts believe the Chinese Money Plant brings prosperity and positive energy, especially when placed in the southeast corner of your home or office.
  3. This plant is drought-tolerant, capable of thriving with minimal watering, making it ideal for busy plant owners or those in drier indoor environments.
  4. The Chinese Money Plant is safe for pets, as it is non-toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA—perfect for pet-friendly households.
  5. It produces easy-to-propagate pups, allowing plant lovers to grow new plants from the mother plant and share them with others.

The Bottom Line 

Overall, the Chinese Money Plant ‘Pilea peperomioides’ is a stylish, easy-care indoor plant with charming round leaves and simple care needs With its charming look, symbolic significance in feng shui, and reputation for easy care, it has become a staple in modern plant collections around the world. It adds visual appeal with its upright stems and coin-like foliage, requires minimal watering, and thrives in bright, indirect light. Pet-friendly and easy to propagate, it’s an ideal choice for beginners or seasoned plant lovers alike. With the right watering schedule, soil mix, and light exposure, this trendy houseplant can reward you with lush growth and an ever-growing family of new pups. Order your very own Chinese money plant for sale today!

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Hans O Karlsson
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 3
Good introduction, but outdated now with Godot 4
Format: Kindle
It was a great introduction to Godot 3, but now after Godot 4 is out, the water plugin doesn’t work anymore used in the book.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2024
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Timothy Bumpus
Houston, US
★★★★★ 2
Good, but only for complete beginners who haven’t seen the tutorials on the Godot website
Format: Kindle
Skippable with free tutorials found on the web both from official and unofficial resources. A good starting block for those who are completely new to the concept and want to get started with Godot.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2023
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L. Schmiesing
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Superbly written, relatable, important, and humanistic
Format: Hardcover
I purchased the hardback of this book when I heard that Meta was trying to block its publication. And I’m so glad I did. The book was a jaw-dropping, gripping read that held me in a trance. It’s my understanding that the legal efforts on Meta’s part to have the book blocked have only made it more popular. After reading the book, I’m not surprised. Meta is run by short-sighted, narcissistic, and self-important people who often act like idiot toddlers. Mine. Mine. Gimme. Gimme. Cake. More. More. Once I received the book, I was reluctant to dive in, thinking it would be a challenging read with technology and boring stuff, but I was wrong with that assessment. The book is superbly written, relatable, and humanistic, and made me proud of Sarah for her bravery in becoming a whistleblower. A New Zealand native, Sarah is a lawyer who worked as a diplomat for the United Nations before doggedly selling herself on the staff at Facebook for a job within the organization that she felt could better the world. After working in the upper stratosphere echelons of Facebook for around six years, she has the receipts to prove that the dream of what it could be, became a nightmare. She lays the groundwork for her assertions against Facebook/Meta building her credibility with the reader as she starts from her youth and before the hire. Eventually becoming an intricate player within the Facebook organization, she is a brilliantly smart person (and writer), and she struggles with the culture and personalities of the privileged and out-of-touch leadership who carelessly treat her not as a person, but as a tool. She is often in physical danger too! I was shocked at how often the top leadership - Mark, other top execs, and Sheryl Sandberg - could have cared less about Sarah’s pain, pressure, obstacles, and danger. Not to mention their ignoring Sarah’s wisdom and advice. I’d heard of Sheryl Sandberg – she of the hot book – Lean In. As Oprah and CEOs and other high flyers applauded Sheryl’s awesomeness and her book, I recall at the time feeling intrigued, but super skeptical. See me giving a side eye to the situation and rejecting being given life coaching by a billionaire. It turns out my instincts were right. It’s easier to lean in when you have a staff of nannies, maids, cooks, toadies, and private jets. But she expects everyone to be just as work-driven and productive as her. If you’ve seen the great show Succession – think of the personal assistants portrayed on that show. Their job is to just do – never question – no matter how stupid the task or how impossible the ask. (Do you remember the scene on funeral day when Kendall Roy asks his fast-walking-in-heels personal assistant why she has a meeting scheduled with him and she says in a nervous sing-song – oh, we can talk about it then. He stops walking and presses her for an answer on the spot and she softballs intimating that she is thinking about making a change – and he’s pissed and says like thanks a lot for bringing this up today, my father just died. But she didn’t – he did…. Whatever. You cannot win). Another example. Think Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada asking for the yet-unpublished Harry Potter books to be delivered to her children that the same day. There is a story in Sarah’s book where while traveling in Mexico with the top execs, she gets a frantic call from her husband – there is a horrible situation going on at home in Manhattan with their nanny and the baby (for spoilers – I won’t tell you what was happening but it’s scary as heck). Sarah, trapped and traveling in a car, relays or shares the story about the in-real-time event, because . . . how could you not! Later, in her review, she is told that it was inappropriate for her to talk about her personal life and to basically keep her mouth shut and focus on the job. Lean in and keep your mothering and baby problems to yourself! And part of the problem with all this is that Sarah is not even an “assistant” – she is part of the team. But she is often treated like a body. Another time in a review they said she was ‘difficult to reach’ during the review period and she had to remind them that she was in an actual coma in the hospital. Still – they thought it pertinent and left the negative content as a strike against her. I found the number of personal cruelties to Sarah abhorrent – but Sarah is not a whiner. No. She stayed because she believed in her work and the possible differences she (and presumably, hopefully? others) could make. But the world-changing greed on Facebook’s part to ignore moral and privacy issues, leverage people’s vulnerabilities, profit on the backs of victims, to control the flow of information, and have a pay-to-play mindset in working with an assortment of hate organizations, movements, and autocrats, and to take it further into doing whatever they want as long as they keep growing and gaining more users for their platforms changed everything. Meta is a world gobbler. A globe-stroking Golem who has Thanos power and it’s scarier than you know what. And Facebook had FACEBOOK employees embedded in the Trump campaign to assist them in maximizing the algorithms and giving them whatever tools and access that others didn’t receive. Millions of dollars were spent targeting and spreading the thousands of Trump messages . . . saying God knows what. (Eating cats and dogs?) Harness the press. Harness the information sent to the masses. Pay to ride. Own the world. I’m not sure how Sarah got away with publishing the book, but I applaud the publisher (and I’m assuming a team of lawyers) for going forward with the publication. Read it. Learn from it. I have. But now what do I do? I use Facebook and Instagram– I need to for my business. Don’t I? Maybe Facebook will decide for me after some creepy search retaliates against me for siding with Sarah and for this review. A second is all it takes for me to go bye bye for some infringement or for breaking some policy I’ll never get an answer for. God help us all.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2025
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Stephan Makatita
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 4
Careless People: Power, Marketing, and the (Absent) Moral Boundaries at Facebook
Format: Hardcover
Careless People: Power, Marketing, and the (Absent) Moral Boundaries at Facebook Sarah Wynne-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook, spent seven years at the company. In Careless People, she takes the reader behind the scenes of the world’s largest social media platform. A hopeful mission She shows how Facebook’s original idealistic mission, “to make the world more open and connected”, was quickly overshadowed by internal tensions, political interests, and ethical dilemmas. Wynne-Williams began her career in the public sector. Driven by a strong sense of civic duty, she was initially enthusiastic about Facebook’s mission, but soon grew disillusioned with how things worked behind closed doors. In her book, she describes how commercial interests and the drive for rapid growth consistently outweighed (positive) social impact. This fundamental tension runs throughout the book. Diplomacy, data, and dominance The book offers a rare, and at times revealing, glimpse into Facebook’s international strategy. Wynne-Williams describes how the company organized state visits, attempted to build diplomatic relationships, and how many of these efforts ended in awkward failure. Particularly notable is Facebook’s push to enter the Chinese market, including Mark Zuckerberg’s personal effort to learn Mandarin. Facebook’s leadership: no innocent bystanders Wynne-Williams doesn’t spare the company’s executive leadership. She paints a picture of a culture riddled with sexual misconduct, power plays, and rivalries. The workplace environment she describes, full of intrigue, temper outbursts, and a striking lack of psychological safety, stands in stark contrast to Facebook’s carefully cultivated public image. This insight is valuable not only for those following Facebook, but for anyone seeking to understand how power and growth shape company culture in the tech sector. Facebook as a PR machine One of the book’s core revelations is how Facebook began to operate less as a technology company and more as a PR machine. Initiatives like internet.org were presented as altruistic, but in practice were primarily aimed at market expansion. The company’s role in political campaigns, notably Donald Trump’s election, is sharply laid out. The book illustrates how thin the line is between innovation and manipulation when user data is leveraged at scale for political and commercial gain. Insightful, but not always credible Wynne-Williams’ personal tone makes the book engaging and accessible. Her commitment to the mission, and her growing frustration, are palpable. Yet her constant presence as narrator sometimes undermines the story’s credibility. Dramatic anecdotes, coincidental twists, and strong personal judgments occasionally create distance, especially when the subject matter demands nuance. That’s unfortunate, because the topics she raises, ethics, global power dynamics, and the impact on young users, deserve to speak for themselves. Lessons for the future What stays with the reader is how even the most powerful tech companies appear vulnerable when ideals clash with growth ambitions. The book shows how easily ethical boundaries blur when billions are at stake. For companies, policymakers, and marketers, it offers a confronting mirror: rapid growth and profit never come without moral cost. Final verdict Careless People is an accessible and insightful book that offers a unique perspective on the inner workings of Facebook and Big Tech. Despite stylistic shortcomings, a tendency toward dramatization, and a sometimes overly subjective voice, it’s a worthwhile read for anyone looking to understand the intersection of technology, power, and marketing. Personally, I found it especially compelling because I’ve taken the opposite path: from marketing and tech into public service. That gives me a unique appreciation of the tension Wynne-Williams describes, the ongoing conflict between social ideals and commercial imperatives. The book lacks objectivity at times, but it undeniably prompts reflection. And that alone makes it more than worth the read. Rating: 7.5
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Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2025
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Todd
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
How Facebook lost its conscience, and how the young man at its helm grew to love the taste of power
Format: Hardcover
A WORD ABOUT THIS PLATFORM THAT CONNECTS US Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams This riveting memoir about the maturation of Facebook is fascinating in large part because of the direct access the author had for over six years to the highest levels of leadership at the company. Its title comes from The Great Gatsby, where narrator Nick Carraway says, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money.” A former New Zealand diplomat, Wynn-Williams had to pitch her own job to Facebook in 2011, as Zuckerberg and other senior leaders had no clue then about the role Facebook was destined to play in global politics. Rising to the position of Director of Global Public Policy, Wynn-Williams had a front-row seat to decisions that would irrevocably alter the political landscape in the US and around the world. Fast forward to the 2016 presidential election and the author’s account of how Facebook’s microtargeting of users, its allowance of misinformation on the site, and its assignment of staff to work hand in glove with the Trump campaign as they utilized these ethically compromised tactics turned the tide in that election, and set the stage for the wrecking ball now swinging in our halls of government. You could say Careless People is the story of how Facebook lost its conscience, and how the curious and impressionable young man at its helm grew to love the taste of power. The author weaves the story of Facebook’s role in the 2016 election with a number of other narratives, all revealing the same pattern showing how principled concerns were steamrolled by the relentless pursuit of growth, revenue, and influence. See also Cory Doctorow’s engaging review of this book, with its helpful explanation of why continued growth is so important to a company like Facebook. Her account reads like a slow-building tragedy, where you see exactly where the off-ramps were and watch, helplessly, as they pass by one by one: The Rohingya Genocide This is perhaps the most devastating section of the book. Wynn-Williams argues that Facebook failed to moderate hate speech against the Rohingya in Myanmar, and that the company only had two Burmese language moderators for the entire country. Facebook had also failed to invest in Burmese language support for its automated systems, meaning none of its moderation tools could even parse posts written in Burmese script. Because of these decisions, hate speech and misinformation designed to stoke ethnic and religious division spread like wildfire across the platform, and the genocide that followed is presented as a direct consequence of this reckless neglect. Censorship for China A chilling revelation for anyone who believes in free speech is Facebook’s willingness to compromise its own foundational values in pursuit of access to the Chinese market, which Zuckerberg seems to have perceived as a kind of final frontier and holy grail. Rather than standing firm on the principles of open communication it so publicly champions, Facebook secretly developed what was essentially a bespoke censorship tool designed to win over a Chinese government playing hard to get. If China had decided to allow Facebook through the Great Firewall, this system would have allowed Beijing to suppress content it found politically inconvenient, and would have extended into Hong Kong. One subnarrative in this thread is the lengths to which Zuckerberg went to court President Xi Jinping. He asks him (in Mandarin) to name his firstborn child (Xi declines), and the author includes an entertaining depiction of one-upmanship of Xi over Zuckerberg when the latter seeks unsuccessfully to arrange an impromptu meeting with Xi (since Xi had repeatedly rejected overt requests to meet). Sexual Harassment Culture For a company that spent years wrapping itself in the language of feminine empowerment and progressive values — most visibly through COO Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” movement — the picture Wynn-Williams paints inside Facebook’s walls is a study in hypocrisy. The book alleges that sexual harassment by senior executives was not only tolerated but effectively shielded from consequences. Monetizing Teenage Insecurity Wynn-Williams reveals that Facebook identified teenage girls who had deleted selfies on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and then forwarded their data to companies who used it to target them with beauty products. Let that sink in for a moment. These were young girls navigating the minefield of adolescent insecurity, who made a conscious decision to take their photos down. And rather than respecting that decision, Facebook treated it as a data point to be monetized. Content Moderation as a Political Tool At the heart of this memoir is the question of how Facebook decides what speech is acceptable and what isn’t, both in the US and across the world. Facebook has spent years presenting its content moderation decisions as principled, values-driven calls — the careful work of a responsible company trying to balance free expression with public safety. However, the author shows, an internal policy established in February 2015 made the actual workings explicit: when governments requested that content be removed, Facebook would only comply if there was a credible threat to block the platform entirely in that particular country or a risk to its own employees. Numerous examples paint a picture of a company that was essentially making it up as it went along — complying with take-down requests when powerful enough governments (such as China) pushed hard enough, and ignoring everyone else.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Most of us have encountered, in one way or another, Facebook’s self-described “Community Standards,” which, the company states, “are written to ensure that everyone’s voice is valued.” “Facebook,” the language continues, “takes great care to craft policies that are inclusive of different views and beliefs- in particular those of people and communities that might otherwise be overlooked or marginalized.” However, the picture the author reveals in Careless People suggests that such language is mostly posturing. Zuckerberg’s Ego and Detachment One of the most fascinating and unsettling threads running through the book is the portrait Wynn-Williams paints of Mark Zuckerberg — a man who began as a socially awkward but genuinely curious young idealist and somewhere along the way became something different. One anecdote about Indonesia is comic in its brazenness: Zuckerberg allegedly demanded that Wynn-Williams organize an entirely staged, artificial mob of fans to “gently” swarm him in public, creating the illusion of organic, spontaneous popularity. His staff routinely let him win at board games on his private jet, and he remains oblivious to that fact until the author finally spells it out one day. After the 2016 election, when Obama dresses him down at the APEC summit in Peru about Facebook’s role in swinging the results, he becomes indignant, and instead of recognizing an opportunity for a course correction, he contemplates a run for president himself, instructing his staff to take him on a grassroots tour of the country that includes all the requisite stops for a presidential candidate. Throughout the book, we see a leader increasingly insulated from the consequences of his own decisions, surrounded by people too afraid or too incentivized to speak the truth to his face. What makes the author’s account of this man and his company compelling is that initially she believed in the mission. She was there because she thought Facebook could be a genuine force for good in the world–a way to connect people, a uniquely powerful democratizing force. In that sense she probably stands in for most of us who are here right now because we recognized these same qualities ten or fifteen years ago. But now we feel tremors beneath us and the ground shifting in unsettling ways as we post and scroll and message here. What is this platform becoming? What are our responsibilities to bear witness to that and to respond? I believe this book can help us answer those difficult questions. As a footnote, consider that when the book was published, Meta immediately filed an emergency legal action to prevent Wynn-Williams from publicly promoting it, citing a non-disparagement agreement she signed on leaving the company. The attempt backfired in the way these things tend to: the book reached number one on the New York Times best-seller list, and Wynn-Williams was invited to testify before the U.S. Senate. Meta’s attempts to disparage the author read as transparent and cynical in the face of the credibility she establishes throughout this book. And its efforts to limit her voice have only become additional evidence supporting the story she has told. If you’re looking for a book that explains how we got to the crazy, upside-down world we are living in now — politically, socially, technologically — Careless People is a great place to start.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2026

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