The Most Important Job in the World

by Gina Rushton

Should we become parents? It's a question that forces us to reckon with what we love and fear most in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the world as it is now and as it will be.

When Gina Rushton admitted she had little time left to make the decision for herself, the magnitude of the choice overwhelmed her. Her search for her own 'yes' or 'no' only uncovered more questions to be answered.

How do we clearly consider creating a new life on a planet facing catastrophic climate change? How do we reassess the gender roles we have been assigned? How do we balance ascending careers with declining fertility? How do we know if we've found the right co-parent, or if we want to go it alone, or if we don't want to do it at all?

Drawing on the depth of knowledge afforded by her body of work as an award-winning journalist, Rushton wrote the book that she needed, and others need, to stop a panicked internal monologue and start a genuine dialogue about what we want from our lives and why. The Most Important Job in the World is a powerful, compelling and forensic analysis of the role of motherhood in society today, and the competing forces that draw us towards and away from it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Parenting, Audiobook, Self Help, Womens, Australia

293 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2022

Reviews

[Sian Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book hoping for a text to hand people as a reason when I told them that I didn’t want children, a decision that I hadn’t definitively made. Instead, I found a book that I could hand people to explain why this question is so complex for me, rather than an innate decision was made by my biology on the day that I was born. I also found a tool for self reflection, a tool to challenge my relationship with labour and the self worth that I tie so tightly to my career. I found a book that will help me grow as a person and expand my understanding of motherhood in ways I hadn’t considered before.

I read so much of myself in these pages and I was sad that it was over when I finished reading the final page.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m often disappointed by Australian non-fiction as I feel the standard can be so low both in terms of investigative depth and scope as well as prose. I’ve also read so many books about motherhood that I seem to have become disengaged from a subject that once consumed me. So I had no intention of reading this until I somehow picked it up and just could not put it down. It’s bleak and tough, especially the sections on reproductive rights and climate change, but it’s clear-eyed and incredibly comprehensive. Rushton comes at it from every conceivable angle and she goes deep. So often after reading a book I think ‘that would have been a great essay or article’ (and often that’s where they come from). But this is a beautifully researched and executed book that could only be a book and had to be a book. I love being proven wrong.

[Jasmin Goldberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I enjoyed but struggled with this book…maybe it was too many non fiction books in a row, maybe too many books written by journalists, but I found it a little clunky and jumpy. Ultimately though I found it a thought provoking, if not sporadic, investigation into identity - particularly what it has meant to be a woman and a mother over multiple generations. Rushton explores the choice of motherhood broadly, from reproductive rights, emotional labor and career ambition to intergenerational trauma, the climate crisis and infertility. I was particularly drawn to questions of what we pass on from ourselves as parents, what it suggests of our desires and goals if we do or don’t choose to be parents and her final reflections on the concept of “rational” decision making. Rushton brings in many different sources, from scientific research, to personal anecdotes and even tweets/memes, and while some of this made the book steer off course at times, I was impressed with Rushton’s ability to create a balanced and non-judgmental reflection on a question many people face

[Isobel Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5. Wow! The book I wanted about the choice to become a mother! This book references Motherhood by Sheila Heti a few times, which is funny because I really struggled to connect with that book. This is everything that I wanted it to be. So thoughtful, insightful, measured, relatable, and readable. Definitely a must-read if you're an Australian woman in your twenties grappling with this choice.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still processing… very well researched and broad topics covered. A bit overwhelming at points and heavier than I anticipated

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The colossal breadth of this book worked as a credit and a detriment. The prose is clear and crisp, and I loved the conversational sections which cut through more dense slabs of research. Thought provoking. Pitched at a very specific audience.

[harshitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

much needed reread; picked up little nuggets i missed first time round, 3 years ago
-----------------------------
It was the most comprehensive and frank look at motherhood and parenthood in general that I think I have ever read. It was also very confronting, because it put so many issues in front of me that I think I tend to avoid in general. The chapter on emotional labour was particularly relevant, because I think, especially with my generation, there is almost an emotional reckoning happening when it comes to men and emotions. Epic, 5/5

[Fern Banner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me exactly what I wanted out of it. Very well researched and written.

There are so many topics covered in each chapter without the book feeling dense, however this did leave me wanting a bit more of each and a sense of jumping from question to question without enough segue.

I felt like I was the exact audience for this and Rushton addressed many of the things I think about often. I didn't get the sense that the author was trying to push readers one way or another and I really appreciated that.

A very thought provoking (but not really decision making) book.

Edit: also finally a book that acknowledges gender diversity in pregnancy and ACTUALLY uses inclusive language rather than just lip-service

[Megan Maurice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully written & brimming with emotion. It made me feel so many things- most notably it made me stand still & consider my overwhelming love for my child & how happy I am with my decision to be a mother, even when it’s hard. But also the importance of advocating for everyone to be able to make the best decision for themselves - whether that’s access to abortions or fertility treatments & surrogacy. Highly recommended reading, whether you’re making this decision yourself or you’ve already made it.

[Gemma RM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very valuable read for anyone (including men!!!) considering whether or not to have kids. So grateful for this book and the perspective it provided. Thanks.

[Rachael Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

From an Australian journalists POV when she finds herself facing the question of if and/or when to become a mother. I really enjoyed the content the chapters covered. Definitely touched on some of my anxiety around parenthood, and posed some interesting points of discussion. Was glued to this one all the way through.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to this book as a parent who wanted to make myself feel ok about having kids in this world, but I got so much more out of it. It challenged my white feminism and taught me a lot the structures that the current Australian/western idea of “motherhood” and its sacrifices are built on.

I really think that everyone, no matter if they are even considering if they want kids or not, would get something from reading this book.

I would have liked an appendix with short bios of everyone quoted! I didn’t know many of the names.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a detailed delve into deliberation on motherhood. While well researched and in parts compelling, the sum total combined almost felt like overthinking.

Other similarly themed books with a variety of voices (e.g. 'Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have Kids') tend to avoid this trap and find a better balance.

[Indy Scarletti (paperindy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part long-form journalism, part memoir of a personal journey, this was a really excellent exploration of the question of motherhood and child rearing for many women and birthing people in Australia. It definitely reflected some of the deep considerations and internal conflicts that I see in my friends around this topic, and Gina’s personal experiences added a richness and personality to the discussion - particularly around careers.

I also really appreciated the perspectives it provided that I had not given as much thought to - in particular the complexities around race and custody within the historical context of Australia, and the privilege of assuming you will be supported to have a child should you wish to. It opened my eyes to the impact of racism in Australia on Indigenous communities and the extra work some mothers have to do to defend that they are worthy of being a parent in the eyes of the state.

Overall I think this is great reading for anyone chewing on the question of having children today, or generally interested in this topic. Definitely recommended.

[Pip Dossetor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, relatively balanced discussion of the complexities surrounding the decision to have children or not. Just missing a chapter about the health implications of child bearing

[She Nah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this. Beautifully and sensitively written, it was completely non-judgemental and gave the necessary weight and complexity to the subject. Found myself vigorously nodding my head along to every page, everyone should read this regardless of if they have kids, plan to have kids or plan to never have kids.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a personal (yet public) reflection on what it means to be a mother (and parent) in current times. From the -- for some difficult -- decision to be a mother in the first place to the treatment of people once they become mothers. There was also chapters on climate change, fertility, and emotional labour. The emotional labour section really resonated with me. It is something that I have spoken (got frustrated) with my husband for many times. And while it was comforting to know that other women are in the same situation, it's also maddening that this is the case.

The writing style was easy to read and ,at times, read more like a a narrative than an informative text. There was plenty of case studies and references to media texts to support the author's reflections about motherhood. At times, the writing did feel repetitive with the overuse of similar sentence starters and rhetorical questions. There was also some phraes that I had to read mutiple times before I could grasp the intended meaning.

On the whole though, to say I connected with this is an understatement. I am the same age as the author and also have an endometriosis diagnosis. A lot of her thoughts are ones that I have had my self. This is definitely an interesting read that I would recommend.

[Sharon Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tackling one of life’s biggest questions is no easy feat, but that’s exactly what Gina Rushton set out to do in her book The Most Important Job in the World.

Her debut non-fiction title asks: should we become parents?

It’s a question that, on the surface, seems simple to answer yet is layered with the complex realities of our uncertain present and future.

It’s a question that forces us to confront what we love and fear most in ourselves, to assess our relationships, to evaluate a decision that is fraught with societal, political and personal influences.

This has been one of the most thought-provoking books I have read on the subject and it calls us to truly question and analyse one of the biggest decisions we will make in our lives.

Read my interview with Gina Rushton about her book here: https://shedefined.com.au/life/books/...

[Gyan Yankovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as this book asks you to look inward and interrogate your own feelings about care, mothering, generational trauma, and our society; it also asks you to look outward, bringing in a diverse range of feelings and experiences, proving that the conversation about whether or not to become a parent is so much more than "what would it be like to have a baby right now?"

Gina's writing is as tender as it is clever and well-researched. Since finishing this book, I've recommended it to friends who are sure they don't want to be parents and friends who already are. This is so much more than a book about motherhood—it's about the care and space conversations about reproductive justice, labour (in all its definitions), mental health, fertility, and everything in between deserve. I absolutely adored it and already know I'll be returning to re-read chapters in the future.

[Kat ☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection!! I can’t see any other non-fiction beating this book for my fave of the year.
The amount of thought, detail and time Gina put into this book shows. It covered way more topics around motherhood than I thought it would and I really appreciate how dedicated Gina was to making sure the book was written with an intersectional lens.

[Love0 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great title and concept, however the narration sounded like a young woman’s thesis. Lost interest.

[Christine Le Tessier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and insightful book (highly recommend the audio version which made it easier to get through the heavy sections). This book is an exploration not just of motherhood but of womanhood. It explores more than just the physical and emotional labour of motherhood and the sacrifices made regarding work and career, but stories and ideas around fertility, reproductive rights, how women are treated in the medical system.

It also explored how we navigate the justification of having children in the current climate crisis. My take away was that, no mater one’s decision of whether to have children or not, as women so much of who we are is wrapped up in our ability to conceive and give birth. Many of the decisions we make regarding our bodies and our careers are centred on our biology. The question of motherhood is present from the time we have our first period to the time we no longer have it, and that complete rollercoaster in between, no matter if we have children or not.

As the author is fairly sure she does not want children, this book is an important insight into that decision. It explores both the decision to, and the decision not to, have children with an empathy, objectivity and interest.

Having children, and the health outcomes, social and psychological impacts of this, is one of the cornerstones of our society.

You don’t need to be considering parenthood to read this book, as it explores much of how we live our lives, how we live and how we can change through the lenses of race, gender, work, values, our childhood and adulthood, and the environment is explored in important ways that apply even if parenthood isn’t something that is interesting to a reader.

While I learned so much from the experiences, perspectives and stories told in this book, I also took away a huge element of fear. It cemented questions I already have and brought them into sharp focus. What if I can’t conceive? What if I run out of time to have more than one child? What does the economic and environmental future look like for potential children? But most importantly, Why aren’t we having more of these conversations? I thank the author for having these conversations and I think anyone, make, female, single, coupled, parent or not a parent, would learn so much from all the perspectives and experiences presented in the book.

[Pip G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled reading this book and had to stop occasionally when I found myself feeling quite uncomfortable, anxious and stressed.

I have mixed thoughts.
- the author covered a lot of ground and looked at many angles related. At times I felt like she covered too much… could this have been two or three books instead of one? It felt like we’d start looking at one area and by the time we were getting into the meat of it we’d veer down another angle.
- obviously this book is diving in deep to look at motherhood and being a mum, but I found myself at multiple points thinking hmm are we over complicating things, are we thinking too much about this? At first I thought maybe I was having these thoughts as I do not often think about what it would be like to be a mum. And that chapter feels very far away for me. But as I continued through the book I came to realise perhaps I am a bit scared to really hone in on these thoughts. I’ve always known I’d love to be a mum, and to have as many kids as possible (myself or via adoption). But I am uncomfortable thinking about what that looks like in my life…
- the environmental chapter really hit me hard, and made me super super anxious.

Im sure I’ll add to this review in the next few days as I process the end of the book :)

[Tamara Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a 30 year old woman, who is at that stage where you begin to wonder what the next steps are, this book was so so illuminating. It raised very interesting questions, and made me face my own worries, anxieties and concerns in a way I haven't thought much about. I would have like more depth into certain topics, but I guess that's my own bias based on what my worries about motherhood are.

[RocioST · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for my personal 52 Book Challenge 2023 under the category “On Preganancy”.

I give this book 3 stars because though it is interesting and well written it doesn't do what its set to, I would've liked to hear more from the authors personal perspective/thoughts alongside the data and research. I much prefer 'Motherhood' by Sheila Heti.

[Shan Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was astonishing. From the end of the first chapter to the last page, every single chapter felt like it had peered into my soul and acknowledged every thought I’ve ever had about the decision to have children or not.

It was brilliant, fiercely smart and beautiful. I will be immediately going to read Gina Rushton’s newest book.

[Adele Diniotis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done on your research but this book was heavy and a struggle to get through - I don’t feel anymore confident after reading this book

[Courtney Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Not only a discussion about the decisions that go into parenthood, but also a wider commentary on the state of the world that we live. Definitely a must read for every person in their 20s and 30s.

[Neha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and eye opening book about motherhood, its challenges in today’s society and its gifts.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super articulate and thoughtful exploration around all of the anxieties of choosing between children and child-free. I really enjoyed Rushton's approach and would recommend this to anyone who has complex feelings about parenthood and/or the act of deciding what to do with your life.