We Are Family: The Modern Transformation of Parents and Children

by Susan Golombok

From one of the world's leading experts, this absorbing narrative history of the changing structure of modern families shows how children can flourish in any kind of loving home.

The past few decades have seen extraordinary change in the idea of a family. The unit once understood to include two straight parents and their biological children has expanded vastly—same-sex marriage, adoption, IVF, sperm donation, and other forces have enabled new forms to take shape. This has resulted in enormous upheaval and controversy, but as Susan Golombok shows in this compelling and important book, it has also meant the health and happiness of parents and children alike.

Golombok's stories, drawn from decades of research, are compelling and family secrets kept for years and then inadvertently revealed; children reunited with their biological parents or half siblings they never knew existed; and painful legal battles to determine who is worthy of parenting their own children. Golombok explores the novel moral questions that changing families create, and ultimately makes a powerful argument that the bond between family members, rather than any biological or cultural factor, is what ensures a safe and happy future.

We Are Family is unique, authoritative, and deeply humane. It makes an important case for all families—old, new, and yet unimagined.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published October 6, 2020

Reviews

[Rhiannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was a really engaging and interesting look into the intricacies of family planning and the various families that do exist. It was eye-opening to me learning about the different pathways to have children. As a social worker this book also gave me insight into considerations that will enable me to better support this population in the future. I saw both personal and profession gain reading this book!

[Jennifer Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read if you: Want a thoughtful, intelligent, and moving look at LGBTQ families, single mothers by choice, surrogacy, and more.

Librarians/booksellers: Purchase for readers who enjoy accessible overviews of social history/science.

Many thanks to PublicAffairs and Edelweiss for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Nisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this for the history of research into alternative family forms and some great anecdotes!