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Oneworld Publications What Are Children For?.
Oneworld Publications What Are Children For? ABISBOOK Oneworld Publications.
Hardcover
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August 14, 2025
3.5
Lots here I really liked. An astute documentation of contradictory currents within our culture - pro- and anti-natalist narratives, philosophies and their effects on all of us, women in particular. There’s some interesting analysis of both contemporary and classic “women’s” literature, some of which is a bit hard to follow but that might just be my dull-wittedness. Overall it’s clearly well researched and offers an antidote to some strains of the most pessimistic thinking around on the future of our world. There could perhaps have been more engagement with the impacts of technology and a technological mindset on our thinking here - particularly given the theme of choice which it seems to me is intimately related to tech.
I was disappointed that neither author seemed to be able to follow their instincts about the goodness and beauty of childbirth to a point where choice is displaced as the ultimate virtue of our age. If children are a moral good, then surely we can gently but firmly say: “more of us should be having them!” Perhaps I (wilfully?) misunderstand where they land.
Overall really well written and certainly worth reading.
Lots here I really liked. An astute documentation of contradictory currents within our culture - pro- and anti-natalist narratives, philosophies and their effects on all of us, women in particular. There’s some interesting analysis of both contemporary and classic “women’s” literature, some of which is a bit hard to follow but that might just be my dull-wittedness. Overall it’s clearly well researched and offers an antidote to some strains of the most pessimistic thinking around on the future of our world. There could perhaps have been more engagement with the impacts of technology and a technological mindset on our thinking here - particularly given the theme of choice which it seems to me is intimately related to tech.
I was disappointed that neither author seemed to be able to follow their instincts about the goodness and beauty of childbirth to a point where choice is displaced as the ultimate virtue of our age. If children are a moral good, then surely we can gently but firmly say: “more of us should be having them!” Perhaps I (wilfully?) misunderstand where they land.
Overall really well written and certainly worth reading.
Displaying 1 of 1 review