Is There a Book Deal Number Out There?

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"I had the misconception of like, well, I'm going to get all that money at once," she says. "The main thing that I didn't love about having the book deal number out there was that it became like a lightning rod of misconception for people who don't make a weekly salary" The only way we can have any sort of information with which to negotiate and help people out of poverty is with exact numbers,. But hardly anyone speaks in exact numbers because I think it causes such an emotional reaction in other people."

One of the primary reasons we work is to earn money, but many of us feel uncomfortable telling others how much we make. This fear may be working against women, because research has shown that salary transparency can help narrow the gender pay gap.

With the help of experts, we explore the complexities of talking about our salaries. First, an economist walks through the pros and cons of disclosing your pay. Then, the host of a personal finance podcast explains why she encourages people to speak openly about salaries. Finally, an HR executive gives advice on how to deal with the gut punch of learning that a peer makes more than you do.

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