What do you think?
Rate this book
The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts are Bad for Business
As revealing as Freakonomics, shocking as Fast Food Nationand thought provoking as No Logo, The Politics of Breastfeeding exposes infant feeding as one of the most important public health issues of our time.
Every thirty seconds a baby dies from infections due to a lack of breastfeeding and the use of bottles, artificial milks and other risky products. In her powerful book Gabrielle Palmer describes how big business uses subtle techniques to pressure parents to use alternatives to breastmilk. The infant feeding product companies’ thirst for profit systematically undermines mothers’ confidence in their ability to breastfeed their babies.
An essential and inspirational eye-opener, The Politics of Breastfeeding challenges our complacency about how we feed our children and radically reappraises a subject which concerns not only mothers, but everyone: man or woman, parent or childless, old or young.
3rd fully revised and updated edition.
Every thirty seconds a baby dies from infections due to a lack of breastfeeding and the use of bottles, artificial milks and other risky products. In her powerful book Gabrielle Palmer describes how big business uses subtle techniques to pressure parents to use alternatives to breastmilk. The infant feeding product companies’ thirst for profit systematically undermines mothers’ confidence in their ability to breastfeed their babies.
An essential and inspirational eye-opener, The Politics of Breastfeeding challenges our complacency about how we feed our children and radically reappraises a subject which concerns not only mothers, but everyone: man or woman, parent or childless, old or young.
3rd fully revised and updated edition.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 1988
68 people are currently reading
747 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle Palmer
3 books4 followersGabrielle Palmer is a nutritionist and a campaigner. She was a breastfeeding counsellor in the 1970s and helped establish the UK pressure group Baby Milk Action. In the early 1980s she lived and worked as a volunteer in Mozambique. She has written, taught and campaigned on infant feeding issues, particularly the unethical marketing of baby foods.
In the 1990s she co-directed the International Breastfeeding: Practice and Policy course at The Institute of Child Health in London until she went to live in China for two years. She has worked independently for various health and development agencies, including serving as HIV and Infant Feeding Officer for UNICEF New York. She recently worked at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where she had originally studied nutrition.
She is a mother and a grandmother.
In the 1990s she co-directed the International Breastfeeding: Practice and Policy course at The Institute of Child Health in London until she went to live in China for two years. She has worked independently for various health and development agencies, including serving as HIV and Infant Feeding Officer for UNICEF New York. She recently worked at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where she had originally studied nutrition.
She is a mother and a grandmother.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 12, 2010
This should be required reading for every pediatrician, maternity ward employee, ob/gyn, midwife, doula, and parent.
November 11, 2011
Like Half the Sky, this is another book I think everyone should read; prospective parents, parents and general civilians. I was shaking with anger while reading how companies marketing "infant formula" knowingly disadvantage or kill children born in developing countries (and, to a lesser extent, in developed nations) for pure profit. EVIL.
I quote a review printed on the back of the book because I agree with it so much:
"This book is authoritative about the evidence for breastfeeding, while making one's blood boil about the folly and, alas sometimes, venality of the social and commercial forces that stop this vital function of early life and parenting from being the norm."
Even thought I breastfed my daughter (with a somewhat rough start and sadly for only 6 months), I learned A LOT about breastfeeding from this book and definitely have a list of things I will do differently with a future baby.
A side note, if you are a staunch defender of unrestrained capitalism with absolutely no willingness/desire to hear about some of its ugly side-effects* this book is just too radical for you.
*P.S. You scare me.
I quote a review printed on the back of the book because I agree with it so much:
"This book is authoritative about the evidence for breastfeeding, while making one's blood boil about the folly and, alas sometimes, venality of the social and commercial forces that stop this vital function of early life and parenting from being the norm."
Even thought I breastfed my daughter (with a somewhat rough start and sadly for only 6 months), I learned A LOT about breastfeeding from this book and definitely have a list of things I will do differently with a future baby.
A side note, if you are a staunch defender of unrestrained capitalism with absolutely no willingness/desire to hear about some of its ugly side-effects* this book is just too radical for you.
*P.S. You scare me.
May 5, 2025
Ciężko mi ocenić tę książkę, była bardzo nierówna, momentami napisana bardzo chaotycznie, co sprawiło, że ciężko było przez nią przebrnąć. Niemniej uważam że temat jest niezwykle ważny a sama książka zawiera ogrom bardzo ciekawych informacji, z którymi warto się zapoznać. Momentami wydawała mi się zbyt radykalna, mimo że moje podejście do tematu jest zbliżone do podejścia autorki.
Anyway, 3.5/5 (?)
Anyway, 3.5/5 (?)
October 28, 2010
A lot of this book was an angry rant, which made it hard to distinguish fact from fiction as the author presented things in her book. That said, I felt that overall, in spite of the anger, she made some incredibly valid points that changed my opinion not only about breastfeeding but culture and politics and stuff like that. Also, I didn't expect it to be a Marxist/Feminist/Postcolonial-based book, but it was, and that was awesome (ranting aside).
November 30, 2013
The only sad thing about this book is that it will only be read by the already converted, but it needs to be read by those who are not.
If you don't find this fascinating and would still rather reach for the artificial stuff, you have misunderstood.
If you don't find this fascinating and would still rather reach for the artificial stuff, you have misunderstood.
April 7, 2011
I would like to give this book 3.5 stars. I skimmed over a good part of it because the writing was unbearably dull at times and somewhat disorganized, but overall I think that what I did read was worth reading. In this book Palmer illustrates the social, political, and institutional barriers to breastfeeding throughout the world and offers solutions (some more appealing than others in my opinion) to these problems. I was struck by and even appreciative of her candid and unapologetic condemnation of formula and its makers and marketers and other supporters (i.e., government). I also found her discussion of how formula promotion, distribution, and use in poorer countries leads to declined health and sometimes even death for babies and mothers fascinating--I suppose I take for granted my unlimited supply to clean water, etc. Lest anyone fear that Palmer would argue to take away infant-feeding choices from mothers, here is what she has to say on the subject:
Sadly I believe that most women in the US are not fully informed about breastfeeding and formula, nor do they receive the support they deserve should they choose to breastfeed.
I think that perhaps this quote best summarizes what this book is all about:
Every woman has the right to make decisions about her body. Any coercion to breastfeed is not just morally unacceptable, it is impractical; in the end only a woman and her baby can make breastfeeding happen. A woman has the right not to breastfeed, but she must be fully informed of the effects on her child and herself. And of course in many places not breastfeeding can mean death. Every woman has a right to that knowledge and to be supported to breastfeed. (345)
Sadly I believe that most women in the US are not fully informed about breastfeeding and formula, nor do they receive the support they deserve should they choose to breastfeed.
I think that perhaps this quote best summarizes what this book is all about:
Constraints in health systems, ignorance, commercial misinformation and greed, inhumane and unimaginative working systems, distorted cultural values and political blindness all come together to destroy the entitlement [right] of women to sustain their children's health and lives, and protect their own bodies. (340)
August 1, 2007
This book could have been so wonderful. It had a ton of fascinating information about the history and cultural issues surrounding breastfeeding.
The problem is that it really should have been titled "The Anti-Capitalist Politics of Breastfeeding." It was sometimes like reading a book on breastfeeding written by Karl Marx. Corporations do bear a lot of fault for the prevalence of formula feeding in our culture. (As do governments and the medical community.) But a hunter-gather society is not preferable to an industrialized society. It's just not. Look at mortality rates, or really ANY statistic aside from rates of breastfeeding. That's just a ridiculous assertion.
However, the book had some fascinating information if you can read it with a critical eye and take the whole "capitalist pigs" parts with a grain of salt.
The problem is that it really should have been titled "The Anti-Capitalist Politics of Breastfeeding." It was sometimes like reading a book on breastfeeding written by Karl Marx. Corporations do bear a lot of fault for the prevalence of formula feeding in our culture. (As do governments and the medical community.) But a hunter-gather society is not preferable to an industrialized society. It's just not. Look at mortality rates, or really ANY statistic aside from rates of breastfeeding. That's just a ridiculous assertion.
However, the book had some fascinating information if you can read it with a critical eye and take the whole "capitalist pigs" parts with a grain of salt.
January 10, 2018
Totally eye opening. Everyone should read this book. Incredible forces have shaped the way we think about women and babies. So much of the dogma in child-rearing and infant care based on nothing but arrogance. Thank you for writing this book, Gabrielle Palmer!
December 11, 2018
Hit and miss. I so wanted this to not just be an attack on formula companies but alas, it was. While I agree that big corporations are generally evil, I was hoping for more balance. However, lots of chapters in this were fascinating. The history of breastfeeding and general feeding practice, how it shaped hunter gatherer and agricultural practice, and things like its economical and ecological value. She just went a bit mad in the middle about nestle. It needed to be said, but it was too much.
July 30, 2012
I would love to be able to give this book five stars as I fully agree with its aim; sadly, it is a poorly written, repetitive, ranty polemic which possibly damages the cause it is arguing for. Having said that, it is worth reading as there are so few books attempting to break the cycle of ignorance surrounding the nasty tactics multinationals use to destroy the normality of breastfeeding. I recommend it, even if the writing is atrocious.
July 19, 2013
This book is incredibly well referenced. Every comment and quote is annotated, making it a fabulous resource for anyone interested in, well, the politics of breast feeding.
There is some seriously eye- opening stuff within the book. It beggars belief how blatant formula companies are, how bad the formula is for society, and how the have been allowed to grow into multinational companies that control the way woman interact with their offspring.
Excellent resource.
There is some seriously eye- opening stuff within the book. It beggars belief how blatant formula companies are, how bad the formula is for society, and how the have been allowed to grow into multinational companies that control the way woman interact with their offspring.
Excellent resource.
October 10, 2014
MUST read for every mother. I say mother because she is the one making the decision to breast feed or not. If you read this and still happily go and grab the 'Artificial Infant Milk' then you should read it again because you have missed the message.
Also a good and informative read if you're interested in how companies f with our trust and take our money with zero concern for our welfare.
Also a good and informative read if you're interested in how companies f with our trust and take our money with zero concern for our welfare.
November 29, 2014
Yes, it was definitely wonderful!
Sometimes not an easy reading, somehow it seemed too long, sometimes depressing and sometimes obvious, but at the end very, very helpful in understanding the subject.
And must-read for everybody who is interested in it.
Sometimes not an easy reading, somehow it seemed too long, sometimes depressing and sometimes obvious, but at the end very, very helpful in understanding the subject.
And must-read for everybody who is interested in it.
September 30, 2008
you thought you knew about breastfeeding...
March 12, 2019
Well thought out and written. After reading this it's easy to see why we are where we are with our current breastfeeding rates.
September 9, 2021
You'll never look at a Nestle Crunch Bar or a Digiorno Pizza the same way again.
October 5, 2017
Absolutely fascinating and compelling discussion of every facet of the intersection between breastfeeding and politics, covering topics as wide ranging as: the history of breastfeeding including wet nursing; the impact of the advent of agriculture and industrialisation; the role of women in society in relation to childcare and breastfeeding; and in its most horrifying chapters, a meticulous and hard-hitting description of the ways in which the medical profession has colluded with commercial manufacturers of artificial baby food to displace breastfeeding with inappropriate foods, taking advantage of the secondary position of women in society to push them away from an activity that literally defines us as mammals. The most shocking image is of a mother in India who has been told she cannot make enough milk for both her babies, so "must" artificially feed one of them. The leftmost, breastfed baby, is healthy and chubby. The rightmost, drinking one of the vitamin-deficient and indigestible formulas pushed on the developing world, is an emaciated skeleton child, and the caption says she died the next day. The photo was taken in 1986, and even thirty years later, artificial milk manufacturers advertise and give free samples to women in hospitals in the developing world, particularly in ex- British and American colonies. This is quite literally murder.
I'm so fortunate that here in Australia the medical establishment is fully in favour of breastfeeding, and if you want to use formula in a hospital, you must first sign a waiver acknowledging that you are taking a risk with your baby. I think packaging laws should be stronger, and "follow-on" milk banned, but at least we're not in the awful situation where women are told they "don't have enough milk" or "failure is to be expected". Let-down and production being strongly dependent on stress, undermining words coupled with the trauma of birth and sleep deprivation can be enough to deprive a mother of her milk production. We should be positive about every mother's inherent ability to provide for her baby. I am docking a single star from this book because while Palmer did for the most part blame the medical establishment for undermining women's faith in breastfeeding, not the women themselves, she didn't address tongue tie, which is a huge factor in whether breastfeeding is comfortable. Current estimates are that around 5-10% of babies are born with a tongue tie, and inflict horrible pain on their mothers. It used to be routine for tongue ties to be cut by midwives, but this knowledge has been lost. I think it is a non-negligible effect, at least on par with the unsupportive messaging at hospitals which she decries so thoroughly.
I was challenged by this book to think about how in the developed world, the modern workplace completely displaces children, even when it would not be difficult or unsafe to include them. I immediately thought of when, six months after the birth of my first child, I wished to return to work before daycare started. I had a good routine with my son at that point; I knew I would be able to get around four to six hours work done during his nap and playtimes: all I needed was an empty office and baby change facilities. I would be happy to reduce my pay or work longer total hours. My (female) boss was horrified. Even though there was an empty corner office near the bathroom away from everyone else, she absolutely forbade me from coming in and working with the baby, and told me she expected me to make other arrangements such as my husband taking three weeks off. An office is not a factory, and yet the lingering remnants of the industrial revolution tell us that young children are absolutely incompatible with the workplace, even though it has been the norm for women to work and bring their children along for the bulk of human existence.
This is a great book, The Shock Doctrine for breastfeeding :)
I'm so fortunate that here in Australia the medical establishment is fully in favour of breastfeeding, and if you want to use formula in a hospital, you must first sign a waiver acknowledging that you are taking a risk with your baby. I think packaging laws should be stronger, and "follow-on" milk banned, but at least we're not in the awful situation where women are told they "don't have enough milk" or "failure is to be expected". Let-down and production being strongly dependent on stress, undermining words coupled with the trauma of birth and sleep deprivation can be enough to deprive a mother of her milk production. We should be positive about every mother's inherent ability to provide for her baby. I am docking a single star from this book because while Palmer did for the most part blame the medical establishment for undermining women's faith in breastfeeding, not the women themselves, she didn't address tongue tie, which is a huge factor in whether breastfeeding is comfortable. Current estimates are that around 5-10% of babies are born with a tongue tie, and inflict horrible pain on their mothers. It used to be routine for tongue ties to be cut by midwives, but this knowledge has been lost. I think it is a non-negligible effect, at least on par with the unsupportive messaging at hospitals which she decries so thoroughly.
I was challenged by this book to think about how in the developed world, the modern workplace completely displaces children, even when it would not be difficult or unsafe to include them. I immediately thought of when, six months after the birth of my first child, I wished to return to work before daycare started. I had a good routine with my son at that point; I knew I would be able to get around four to six hours work done during his nap and playtimes: all I needed was an empty office and baby change facilities. I would be happy to reduce my pay or work longer total hours. My (female) boss was horrified. Even though there was an empty corner office near the bathroom away from everyone else, she absolutely forbade me from coming in and working with the baby, and told me she expected me to make other arrangements such as my husband taking three weeks off. An office is not a factory, and yet the lingering remnants of the industrial revolution tell us that young children are absolutely incompatible with the workplace, even though it has been the norm for women to work and bring their children along for the bulk of human existence.
This is a great book, The Shock Doctrine for breastfeeding :)
January 11, 2022
"If a multinational company developed a product that was a nutritionally balanced and delicious food, a wonder drug that both prevented and treated disease, cost almost nothing to produce and could be delivered in quantities controlled by consumers' needs, the announcement of this find would send its shares rocketing to the top of stock market. The scientists who developed the product would win prizes and the wealth and influence of everyone involved would increase dramatically. Women have been producing such a miraculous substance, breastmilk, since the beginning of human existence, yet they form the least wealthy and the least powerful half of humanity."
Kto by to bol povedal, ze o takej osobnej zalezitosti ako dojcenie sa da napisat taka fascinujuca kniha. Ale ako sa hovori na Orave, personal is political, a sposob, akym krmime deti a starame sa o ne, je otazka verejneho zdravia celej spolocnosti (podla World Bank kazdy dolar venovany na podporu dojcenia prinesie ekonomicke benefity v hodnote 35 dolarov vratane usetrenych penazi, ktore by sa museli vynalozit na zdravotnu starostlivost nedojceneho dietata a nedojciacej zeny v buducnosti).
Gabrielle Palmer napisala komplexnu knihu, ktora dojcenie rozobera z historickeho, spolocenskeho, ekonomickeho, medicinskeho, feministickeho aj geopolitickeho hladiska. Nenajdete v nej slnieckarske frazy, ake je dojcenie prirodzene a ze pre uspesne dojcenie staci chciet. Naopak, Gabrielle si posvietila na to, preco ma v uplynulych desatrociach s dojcenim problem coraz viac zien, hoci umysel dojcit od cias, ked sa umela vyziva chapala ako nastroj emancipacie, v poslednych rokoch stupa.
Autorka jedinym slovom nehodnoti individualne rozhodnutia zien ("No woman need feel guilty for 'failing to breastfeed, though she has the right to feel angry or sad for being denied support and information when she needed it."), no mnohymi vetami odsudzuje biznis s umelou vyzivou a mapuje mnohe prusery a skandaly od jeho vzniku az po sucasnost. Od experimentov vyrobcov so zlozenim umeleho mlieka, cez nedostatocne hygienicke opatrenia veduce ku kontaminacii a smrti stoviek deti az po slavny 'Nestle scandal', ked sa zamestnanci a zamestnankyne tejto nadnarodnej firmicky v africkych krajinach prezliekali za lekarov a sestry a ponukali vzorky umelej vyzivy zenam, ktore si ju nemali ako hygienicky pripravit a financne dovolit. Look it up, seriously.
Kapitalizmus, kolonializmus, vyvlastnenie zenskeho tela patriarchalnou spolocnostou, Gabrielle sa s tym nemazna. ("In the 20th century, women were presented with an illusion of liberation through the artificial feeding of babies, only to find their breasts appropriated by men and popular culture.") Zvyknu ju kritizovat, ze napisala angry rant. Pripustam, ze clovek nepobozkany touto temou, bude bud v soku, alebo posle autorku nasadit si ciapku z alobalu. Ale ak si nejaka tema zasluzi angry rant, tak tato.
Knihe by sa zislo trochu viac ucesat po formalnej stranke, po obsahovej jej vsak niet co vytknut - poznamkovy aparat, zdroje, odkazy na vedecke studie a medzinarodne zmluvy a dokumenty (ku ktorym sa aj Slovensko zaviazalo a veselo na ne kasle) zaberaju slusnu stvrtinu obsahu.
Treba citat, aby sme mohli robit informovanejsie osobne rozhodnutia - nielen v otazke, ako krmit nase deti, ale aj v tom, ake verejne politiky a firmy podporovat.
Kto by to bol povedal, ze o takej osobnej zalezitosti ako dojcenie sa da napisat taka fascinujuca kniha. Ale ako sa hovori na Orave, personal is political, a sposob, akym krmime deti a starame sa o ne, je otazka verejneho zdravia celej spolocnosti (podla World Bank kazdy dolar venovany na podporu dojcenia prinesie ekonomicke benefity v hodnote 35 dolarov vratane usetrenych penazi, ktore by sa museli vynalozit na zdravotnu starostlivost nedojceneho dietata a nedojciacej zeny v buducnosti).
Gabrielle Palmer napisala komplexnu knihu, ktora dojcenie rozobera z historickeho, spolocenskeho, ekonomickeho, medicinskeho, feministickeho aj geopolitickeho hladiska. Nenajdete v nej slnieckarske frazy, ake je dojcenie prirodzene a ze pre uspesne dojcenie staci chciet. Naopak, Gabrielle si posvietila na to, preco ma v uplynulych desatrociach s dojcenim problem coraz viac zien, hoci umysel dojcit od cias, ked sa umela vyziva chapala ako nastroj emancipacie, v poslednych rokoch stupa.
Autorka jedinym slovom nehodnoti individualne rozhodnutia zien ("No woman need feel guilty for 'failing to breastfeed, though she has the right to feel angry or sad for being denied support and information when she needed it."), no mnohymi vetami odsudzuje biznis s umelou vyzivou a mapuje mnohe prusery a skandaly od jeho vzniku az po sucasnost. Od experimentov vyrobcov so zlozenim umeleho mlieka, cez nedostatocne hygienicke opatrenia veduce ku kontaminacii a smrti stoviek deti az po slavny 'Nestle scandal', ked sa zamestnanci a zamestnankyne tejto nadnarodnej firmicky v africkych krajinach prezliekali za lekarov a sestry a ponukali vzorky umelej vyzivy zenam, ktore si ju nemali ako hygienicky pripravit a financne dovolit. Look it up, seriously.
Kapitalizmus, kolonializmus, vyvlastnenie zenskeho tela patriarchalnou spolocnostou, Gabrielle sa s tym nemazna. ("In the 20th century, women were presented with an illusion of liberation through the artificial feeding of babies, only to find their breasts appropriated by men and popular culture.") Zvyknu ju kritizovat, ze napisala angry rant. Pripustam, ze clovek nepobozkany touto temou, bude bud v soku, alebo posle autorku nasadit si ciapku z alobalu. Ale ak si nejaka tema zasluzi angry rant, tak tato.
Knihe by sa zislo trochu viac ucesat po formalnej stranke, po obsahovej jej vsak niet co vytknut - poznamkovy aparat, zdroje, odkazy na vedecke studie a medzinarodne zmluvy a dokumenty (ku ktorym sa aj Slovensko zaviazalo a veselo na ne kasle) zaberaju slusnu stvrtinu obsahu.
Treba citat, aby sme mohli robit informovanejsie osobne rozhodnutia - nielen v otazke, ako krmit nase deti, ale aj v tom, ake verejne politiky a firmy podporovat.
March 2, 2021
The book starts with why breastfeeding is political. The author then goes on to talk about a range of topics from benefits of breastfeeding to wet nursing to how the industrial revolution brought about changes in breastfeeding habits. It ends by talking about the value of breastfeeding from an ecological perspective.
Written using a feminist lens, this book is an important book because it presents a ton of information about different aspects of breastfeeding. It talks in great lengths of how market forces undermine the importance of mother’s milk while aggressively pushing commercial infant formula upon new parents. Often times, the number of barriers to breastfeeding are huge- social, political and institutional ones, and it was eye opening to read the ugly nature of the babyfood business. It was also shocking to read about how harmful the promotion/distribution of formula can be/has been in poorer countries, being detrimental to children’s health, even causing deaths.
Having said that, I would also say that this book was an incredibly dull book, which is a pity coz the information in here is valuable. The writing, however, didn’t make for a pleasant reading experience. It felt like a drag, and a tad too repetitive.
In my opinion, one should take a look at this book for the facts, but may probably need to skim through several segments to be able to finish it.
Written using a feminist lens, this book is an important book because it presents a ton of information about different aspects of breastfeeding. It talks in great lengths of how market forces undermine the importance of mother’s milk while aggressively pushing commercial infant formula upon new parents. Often times, the number of barriers to breastfeeding are huge- social, political and institutional ones, and it was eye opening to read the ugly nature of the babyfood business. It was also shocking to read about how harmful the promotion/distribution of formula can be/has been in poorer countries, being detrimental to children’s health, even causing deaths.
Having said that, I would also say that this book was an incredibly dull book, which is a pity coz the information in here is valuable. The writing, however, didn’t make for a pleasant reading experience. It felt like a drag, and a tad too repetitive.
In my opinion, one should take a look at this book for the facts, but may probably need to skim through several segments to be able to finish it.
January 8, 2023
Why the Politics of Breastfeeding Matter by Gabrielle Palmer
Myself and my partner listened to this all in one go and are absolutely dumbfounded to learn about the epidemic of breastfeeding.
Palmer takes us on a journey and explains when baby formual began, how it has negatively impacted the world and contributed to many infant deaths but importantly how large companies bullied, manipulated and intimidated mothers into using unsanitary baby formula over the decades.
She tells us of the consequences when martyrs hold these companies like Nestlé accountable. How capitalism is prioritised over the needs and safety of the population.
She explains the biology behind breastfeeding and contraception and I’m not sure it’s entirely accurate so that’s why I’m giving the book 7/10.
Of course breastfeeding isn’t for everyone and that’s fair enough but whether you’re breastfeeding or not, or what ever gender, everyone should read this because at the end of the day we were all babies at one stage and it’s important to educate ourselves on the importance of breastfeeding as a society and the damage these massive corporations are having on the world.
Myself and my partner listened to this all in one go and are absolutely dumbfounded to learn about the epidemic of breastfeeding.
Palmer takes us on a journey and explains when baby formual began, how it has negatively impacted the world and contributed to many infant deaths but importantly how large companies bullied, manipulated and intimidated mothers into using unsanitary baby formula over the decades.
She tells us of the consequences when martyrs hold these companies like Nestlé accountable. How capitalism is prioritised over the needs and safety of the population.
She explains the biology behind breastfeeding and contraception and I’m not sure it’s entirely accurate so that’s why I’m giving the book 7/10.
Of course breastfeeding isn’t for everyone and that’s fair enough but whether you’re breastfeeding or not, or what ever gender, everyone should read this because at the end of the day we were all babies at one stage and it’s important to educate ourselves on the importance of breastfeeding as a society and the damage these massive corporations are having on the world.
March 24, 2018
So I can’t say I read every page; my pregnancy hormones just couldn’t handle the section about the lack of clean water in many parts of the world and what that means for mothers who are feeding infants formula mixed with impure water. What I did read was very compelling. This book explores the origins of infant formulas as well as the social impact that breastfeeding or formula feeding has—economically, medically, and so forth. I think for anyone interested in politics, rights, nutrition, or society in general could find this book quite gripping.
December 4, 2018
Brilliant & eye opening
This book has changed me profoundly, as a mother, a citizen and a consumer. My experiences having my baby & being told 'breast is best' then still feeling pressured to give formula meant I knew something was messed up in the system, but I had no idea of the extent and implications. Anyone who loves or cares for children and the future of our world and societies must read this. It should be definitely be given to every expectant family and trainee midwife!
This book has changed me profoundly, as a mother, a citizen and a consumer. My experiences having my baby & being told 'breast is best' then still feeling pressured to give formula meant I knew something was messed up in the system, but I had no idea of the extent and implications. Anyone who loves or cares for children and the future of our world and societies must read this. It should be definitely be given to every expectant family and trainee midwife!
April 18, 2019
I had to read this for school, but it was on my reading list before I signed up for my school. This was a shocking read as the author went deep into the history of breastfeeding and the way artificial (formula) feeding. I was enraged at the length of deception the formula companies have went to cover things up or ignore it just for profit. This is a need-to read for health care workers but for everyone.
October 24, 2025
I didn't expect this to be the most political book I read this year somehow, but it was both political and personal. Thought provoking, and sadly still relevant even though this edition was finished in 2008. Makes it's case eloquently and professionally, with statistics but also personal anecdotes and case studies.
December 14, 2021
Niezwykle gorzka lektura, ukazująca globalny problem odejścia od karmienia piersią na szerokim tle ekonomiczno-politycznym. Tak, nawet tak wewnątrzrodzinna sprawa, jak karminie niemowlaka, jest kwestią polityczną. I ekologiczną.
Książka momentami przegadana, ale i tak zdecydowanie warta przeczytania. Wiele klocków wskakuje na swoje miejsce.
Książka momentami przegadana, ale i tak zdecydowanie warta przeczytania. Wiele klocków wskakuje na swoje miejsce.
March 30, 2020
I found this quite dense to read - took me a long time to finish it. Interesting material, but nothing world-changing for me.
May 22, 2022
Possibly the best non-fiction book I've ever read. Life-changing.
April 26, 2024
Highly recommend — great discussion of the male-driven attack on breastfeeding. Would love to read an updated version
May 29, 2024
Definitely opened my eyes up to the socio-political aspects of a very intimate and important act.
September 25, 2024
This book was excellent, easily the most profound book I have read in my entire life. Mindblowing and very well backed up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews