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Eve: The Disobedient Future of Birth
SELECTED AS A NEW SCIENTIST 'BOOKS TO EXPAND YOUR MIND'
'THOUGHTFUL ... EXAMINES THE BOUNDARIES OF MOTHERHOOD THROUGH AN UNUSUAL ARTIFICIAL WOMBS. ... A SKILLED WRITER WITH A CAREFUL GRASP OF HER SUBJECT AND ITS FASCINATING HISTORY' Angela Saini, Telegraph
'AN ENGROSSING INSIGHT INTO THE FUTURE OF BIRTH THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE MOST PRESSING WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES OF OUR ERA' New Statesman
Throughout human history, every single one of us has been born from a person. So far. But that is about to change.
Scientific research is on the cusp of being able to grow babies outside human bodies, from machines, for the very first time. Claire Horn takes us on a truly radical and urgent deep dive into the most challenging and pertinent questions of our age. Could artificial wombs allow women to redistribute the work of gestating? How do we protect reproductive and abortion rights? And who exactly gets access to this technology, in our vastly unequal world?
In this interrogative and fascinating story of modern birth, Eve imagines with eye-opening clarity what all this might mean for the future of humanity.
AS HEARD ON RADIO 4'S TODAY PROGRAMME and TIMES RADIO
'THOUGHTFUL ... EXAMINES THE BOUNDARIES OF MOTHERHOOD THROUGH AN UNUSUAL ARTIFICIAL WOMBS. ... A SKILLED WRITER WITH A CAREFUL GRASP OF HER SUBJECT AND ITS FASCINATING HISTORY' Angela Saini, Telegraph
'AN ENGROSSING INSIGHT INTO THE FUTURE OF BIRTH THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE MOST PRESSING WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES OF OUR ERA' New Statesman
Throughout human history, every single one of us has been born from a person. So far. But that is about to change.
Scientific research is on the cusp of being able to grow babies outside human bodies, from machines, for the very first time. Claire Horn takes us on a truly radical and urgent deep dive into the most challenging and pertinent questions of our age. Could artificial wombs allow women to redistribute the work of gestating? How do we protect reproductive and abortion rights? And who exactly gets access to this technology, in our vastly unequal world?
In this interrogative and fascinating story of modern birth, Eve imagines with eye-opening clarity what all this might mean for the future of humanity.
AS HEARD ON RADIO 4'S TODAY PROGRAMME and TIMES RADIO
224 pages, Hardcover
Published March 2, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 25, 2024
Questo volume parla di giustizia riproduttiva e autodeterminazione nelle scelte riproduttive da una prospettiva transfemminista e antirazzista. Il fil rouge è l’analisi dell’ectogenesi, ovvero la gestazione fuori dal corpo umano. Sebbene l’utero artificiale non sia (ancora) disponibile, l’autrice sostiene che la sua introduzione potrebbe non essere così lontana e che sarebbe opportuno interrogarsi fin da ora sulle implicazioni morali e sociali di questa tecnologia.
Il volume è ricco di riflessioni speculative anche se non manca una parte più “storica” sulle sperimentazioni che hanno riguardato la gestazione, dall’invenzione delle incubatrici fino ai più recenti progressi scientifici sulla fecondazione in vitro.
La giustizia riproduttiva è trattata anche in relazione molti altri temi: le disuguaglianze nel settore sanitario, il diritto all’aborto, le politiche eugenetiche ecc.
Le due cose che ho apprezzato di più:
- L’approfondimento sulle politiche eugenetiche
- I riferimenti ben ponderati alla fantascienza
Il libro in una frase: non esiste una soluzione tecnologica a un problema sociale.
Personalmente condivido le idee e la prospettiva dell’autrice. Forse l’unica “pecca” è proprio che questo libro non ha messo in discussione le convinzioni che già avevo prima di leggerlo.
Il volume è ricco di riflessioni speculative anche se non manca una parte più “storica” sulle sperimentazioni che hanno riguardato la gestazione, dall’invenzione delle incubatrici fino ai più recenti progressi scientifici sulla fecondazione in vitro.
La giustizia riproduttiva è trattata anche in relazione molti altri temi: le disuguaglianze nel settore sanitario, il diritto all’aborto, le politiche eugenetiche ecc.
Le due cose che ho apprezzato di più:
- L’approfondimento sulle politiche eugenetiche
- I riferimenti ben ponderati alla fantascienza
Il libro in una frase: non esiste una soluzione tecnologica a un problema sociale.
Personalmente condivido le idee e la prospettiva dell’autrice. Forse l’unica “pecca” è proprio che questo libro non ha messo in discussione le convinzioni che già avevo prima di leggerlo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2025
The first book in my journey to reading more non-fiction in 2025!! Very exciting. The content was very intriguing. When I think about a baby gestating outside of the womb, I can’t help but picture some very sci-fi-esque images of tiny fetuses floating around in an unknown substance. I also vaguely remember a Grey’s Anatomy episode where one of the doctors brings up research of baby lambs gestating in bags. But looking beyond the sci-fi imagery there are the very real-world implications.
On the one hand, artificial wombs represent lifesaving technology that would no doubt help countless families. But, the potential for this technology to be misused and instead be made to suppress bodily autonomy is terrifying. It’s scary to think about these things but unfortunately, we have to face them head on. Now more than ever we need people to be aware of looming reproductive injustices.
A quote that really stuck with me was:
“You are carrying the weight of your own emotions, your expectations, hopes and fears, formed by your identity, your past experiences, your family history and your own particular circumstances.”
On the one hand, artificial wombs represent lifesaving technology that would no doubt help countless families. But, the potential for this technology to be misused and instead be made to suppress bodily autonomy is terrifying. It’s scary to think about these things but unfortunately, we have to face them head on. Now more than ever we need people to be aware of looming reproductive injustices.
A quote that really stuck with me was:
“You are carrying the weight of your own emotions, your expectations, hopes and fears, formed by your identity, your past experiences, your family history and your own particular circumstances.”
December 4, 2023
3.5 stars. Women give birth to babies. But sometimes babies are delivered early and need to be cared for in an incubator. Younger and younger pre-term infants are able to survive. Research laboratories are able to create embryos that are viable for longer and longer periods of time. Currently, there is common agreement that these lab-grown babies are not allowed to continue past 14 days even though the technology could allow them to. At some point in the not too distant future it may become possible to “grow” a baby in an artificial womb until it comes to full term. This book focuses on the moral and social implications. Should a woman carrying an at-risk fetus be expected to transfer it to an artificial womb? Could a healthy woman choose to transfer a fetus to an artificial womb? Could this be an alternative to abortion? If a baby is conceived, grown, and delivered outside of a woman’s body who would be responsible for it? These and other questions are raised and discussed. A thought provoking book.
November 30, 2024
Questo libro tratta della tematica dell' ectogestazione in chiave femminista, lgbtq+ e inclusiva. Si parla di gestazione, di infertilità, di aborto, di corpi, di diritto riproduttivi ma anche di genitorialità.
L' autrice ci narra di come, nella storia dell' uomo, si è arrivati ad un concetto di gestazione che possa non essere riservato solo alle donne e si sofferma molto sul diritto all' aborto e le conseguenze dell' introduzione dell' ectogestazione come possibile chiave per "liberare" la femmina dalla gravidanza, ma anche come modo per donare la genitorialità a chi, per malattia o per genere di nascita, non può viverla.
L' ho trovato ben scritto, un po' ridondante in certe parti e sicuramente di parte.
L' autrice sembra provare ad esporre anche i punti di vista diversi dal suo, ma è palese quale sia il suo pensiero e quindi potrebbe dare fastidio a chi non condivide certi ideali.
Ho trovato davvero molto ben trattato il tema della maternità in riferimento al cambiamento del corpo e della mente della donna.
Lo consiglio!
L' autrice ci narra di come, nella storia dell' uomo, si è arrivati ad un concetto di gestazione che possa non essere riservato solo alle donne e si sofferma molto sul diritto all' aborto e le conseguenze dell' introduzione dell' ectogestazione come possibile chiave per "liberare" la femmina dalla gravidanza, ma anche come modo per donare la genitorialità a chi, per malattia o per genere di nascita, non può viverla.
L' ho trovato ben scritto, un po' ridondante in certe parti e sicuramente di parte.
L' autrice sembra provare ad esporre anche i punti di vista diversi dal suo, ma è palese quale sia il suo pensiero e quindi potrebbe dare fastidio a chi non condivide certi ideali.
Ho trovato davvero molto ben trattato il tema della maternità in riferimento al cambiamento del corpo e della mente della donna.
Lo consiglio!
October 6, 2024
Under Claire Horn's pen we are presented to a vivid timeline on how far and fastly science has progressed when it comes to perinatal care and our understanding of the conditions the unborn require for a healthy development - we are also exposed to the fact that we did not accompany this progress in societal and cultural terms.
A very thought-provoking insight (particularly on its second half) on what the challenges lie ahead in access to natal healthcare, not only in the sense of what we can do, but also how and why we should do it.
A very thought-provoking insight (particularly on its second half) on what the challenges lie ahead in access to natal healthcare, not only in the sense of what we can do, but also how and why we should do it.
December 1, 2024
This was such an interesting read as to what the future of the reproductive system may look like, the process of artificial wombs feels like a double-edged sword. Particularly within the context of heath inequality that’s already deeply prevalent today. Claire Horn does well to address many perspectives as to what challenges artificial wombs may present along with the exciting future that ectogenesis could hold. Although I’m keen to learn more as to what the possibilities are, the ethical issues this opens up are unlimited and very scary….
January 19, 2024
I liked this book- it was an interesting exploration of the ethical dilemmas surrounding women’s health, childbirth, and specifically that of ectogenesis aka a fetus developing in an external womb. The medical research itself was fascinating, and I liked how Horn used each chapter to present a different ethical dilemma and discussion. 3/5 because I enjoyed this topic but didn’t find the writing to be especially stellar.
September 23, 2025
An interesting look into the history of artificial wombs and the possible future. While it was very informative it was also a bit repetitious. Despite being relatively short it felt longer, though that may be due to me not having a biology background.
Also while I did like the portions where she discussed being pregnant and comparing that with how it would be done artificially, I felt it could have been incorporated more.
3.5 rounded up
Also while I did like the portions where she discussed being pregnant and comparing that with how it would be done artificially, I felt it could have been incorporated more.
3.5 rounded up
September 22, 2025
My thoughts on this are too complex to put in a review but I especially liked getting the historical context of incubators.
June 28, 2026
Interesting ideas but I struggled to stay interested with the manner it is written. I also would have liked more science/biology
August 20, 2026
Ectogenesis is the concept of babies being born outside the womb, or more broadly the development of a fetus outside a natural environment. It’s debatable how advanced the technology may get in the future (who could predict that?) but little doubt that it will be a site of contention for competing interests.
Author Claire Horn believes that once the technology is available, it will be used / available, in ways that reflect longstanding power imbalances. BLACK people, HISPANICS, and even lower income whites will find their reproductive decisions and their very health being controlled by the patriarchy. She also believes that existing biases and phobias regarding transwomen who want to give birth will be amplified in this “brave new world.”
I can’t pretend to be able to speculate ably about this subject, as I have no great insight here or what market predictors call “informational asymmetry” at my command. I only wish that Ms. Horn had spent more time talking about the nuts and bolts of ectogenesis and the technology involved. The early section on neonatal experiments (conducted at Coney Island, no less!) was fascinating to read about, and confirms much of what I suspected about how important human touch and basic nurturing are in keeping children alive and healthy during the earliest stages of development. Likewise, the review of speculative literature on the subject was welcome, if a bit too facile, hitting only the highlights like Huxley.
The book tended to drag, though, when Horn began focusing instead on her own theories of bioethics and their intersection with her own reading of feminism. She rejects TERF (Trans Exclusive Radical Feminism) and thinks this anti-progressive phenomenon is deeply entrenched in Great Britain, and more broadly in the anglosphere. Like most people, she also has strong feelings about abortion, and what role (if any) males should play in shaping decisions about reproductive rights and duties.
My personal feeling on the subject—and I know, from polling data, that many people share it—is one of complete exhaustion. For now the decision rests with the states rather than the State, thanks to the overturning of Roe V. Wade. There are people who wanted Roe overturned because they regarded it as poorly formulated law, and there are those who had religious objections to it. Likewise, there are people who would like to see it not only reinstated, but expanded upon. They each have an argument and I’m familiar with most of those arguments. I’m also more than familiar with the pro-lifers who wear sandwich boards with pictures of bloody aborted fetuses plastered there and I’ve no desire to debate them, either.
I guess, my ultimate point is that I was expecting more of the basic science, and less of a personalized polemic in which I got to hear details about the author’s pregnancy, how her body reacted to cheese, her dizzy spells, how the baby disrupted her exercise routine, etc. More science and less of the feels would have been appreciated.
That’s just me, though.
Author Claire Horn believes that once the technology is available, it will be used / available, in ways that reflect longstanding power imbalances. BLACK people, HISPANICS, and even lower income whites will find their reproductive decisions and their very health being controlled by the patriarchy. She also believes that existing biases and phobias regarding transwomen who want to give birth will be amplified in this “brave new world.”
I can’t pretend to be able to speculate ably about this subject, as I have no great insight here or what market predictors call “informational asymmetry” at my command. I only wish that Ms. Horn had spent more time talking about the nuts and bolts of ectogenesis and the technology involved. The early section on neonatal experiments (conducted at Coney Island, no less!) was fascinating to read about, and confirms much of what I suspected about how important human touch and basic nurturing are in keeping children alive and healthy during the earliest stages of development. Likewise, the review of speculative literature on the subject was welcome, if a bit too facile, hitting only the highlights like Huxley.
The book tended to drag, though, when Horn began focusing instead on her own theories of bioethics and their intersection with her own reading of feminism. She rejects TERF (Trans Exclusive Radical Feminism) and thinks this anti-progressive phenomenon is deeply entrenched in Great Britain, and more broadly in the anglosphere. Like most people, she also has strong feelings about abortion, and what role (if any) males should play in shaping decisions about reproductive rights and duties.
My personal feeling on the subject—and I know, from polling data, that many people share it—is one of complete exhaustion. For now the decision rests with the states rather than the State, thanks to the overturning of Roe V. Wade. There are people who wanted Roe overturned because they regarded it as poorly formulated law, and there are those who had religious objections to it. Likewise, there are people who would like to see it not only reinstated, but expanded upon. They each have an argument and I’m familiar with most of those arguments. I’m also more than familiar with the pro-lifers who wear sandwich boards with pictures of bloody aborted fetuses plastered there and I’ve no desire to debate them, either.
I guess, my ultimate point is that I was expecting more of the basic science, and less of a personalized polemic in which I got to hear details about the author’s pregnancy, how her body reacted to cheese, her dizzy spells, how the baby disrupted her exercise routine, etc. More science and less of the feels would have been appreciated.
That’s just me, though.
September 9, 2025
I believe anyone who calls themself a feminist should read this book. There is so much I thought I knew about reproductive health and rights until I read this book. Now I know I have so much more to learn.
The book focuses on reproductive rights and the ethics of developing/using technology that would allow ectogenisis. This is the gestation of a fetus outside of the human body. The book is factual and informative, but not neutral.
Throughout the book, she agrees that our legal and social systems are unfair and outright harmful for all women. However, she argues that even "liberal" and "feminist" advocates and policy makers throughout history have knowingly or unknowingly placed the rights of white, cis women above Black, Indigenous, Asian, and LGBTQ+ women and pregnant people. She maintains that white, cis women have always had better access to abortion, contraceptives, and other reproductive health resources, while at the same time, marginalized women are not only denied these same resources, but are criminalized for using them. In addition, she shares how many WOC/LGBTQ+ women are coerced into giving away their reproductive rights under legal or financial pressures. She uses statistics to highlight these legal and social barriers that marginalized women face.
Throughout the book, she makes it clear that while "progressive" or "liberal" advocates might be fighting for women's reproductive rights, true progress cannot be made unless white, cis women are decentralized. She gives a really good example of how a lot of feminst groups advocate for the right to choose abortion. While women should of course be able to choose to have an abortion, she explains how that view alone is white-centric. It does not acknowledge that thousands of Black and Indigenous women in the USA, UK, Canada, and many other countries have been forcefully sterilized, even if these women wanted to have a baby. Forced sterilizations didn't stop until the 1970s... Also even in modern day, marginalized women who want to have a child are denied, either due to lack of safe health resources, or even being forced to use long-term contraceptives in order to even access health resources. She gives specific examples of this.
Point being, she asserts that there cannot be true progress unless the reproductive rights of ALL women are secured and protected. These includes the right to terminante a pregnancy, or even to be pregnant in the first place. And she outlines all the social and legal barriers that must be dismantled for true equity.
im tired of writing this review but this book is so good and so inspiring and you should go read this book especially if u call yourself a feminist. there is so much to learn.
The book focuses on reproductive rights and the ethics of developing/using technology that would allow ectogenisis. This is the gestation of a fetus outside of the human body. The book is factual and informative, but not neutral.
Throughout the book, she agrees that our legal and social systems are unfair and outright harmful for all women. However, she argues that even "liberal" and "feminist" advocates and policy makers throughout history have knowingly or unknowingly placed the rights of white, cis women above Black, Indigenous, Asian, and LGBTQ+ women and pregnant people. She maintains that white, cis women have always had better access to abortion, contraceptives, and other reproductive health resources, while at the same time, marginalized women are not only denied these same resources, but are criminalized for using them. In addition, she shares how many WOC/LGBTQ+ women are coerced into giving away their reproductive rights under legal or financial pressures. She uses statistics to highlight these legal and social barriers that marginalized women face.
Throughout the book, she makes it clear that while "progressive" or "liberal" advocates might be fighting for women's reproductive rights, true progress cannot be made unless white, cis women are decentralized. She gives a really good example of how a lot of feminst groups advocate for the right to choose abortion. While women should of course be able to choose to have an abortion, she explains how that view alone is white-centric. It does not acknowledge that thousands of Black and Indigenous women in the USA, UK, Canada, and many other countries have been forcefully sterilized, even if these women wanted to have a baby. Forced sterilizations didn't stop until the 1970s... Also even in modern day, marginalized women who want to have a child are denied, either due to lack of safe health resources, or even being forced to use long-term contraceptives in order to even access health resources. She gives specific examples of this.
Point being, she asserts that there cannot be true progress unless the reproductive rights of ALL women are secured and protected. These includes the right to terminante a pregnancy, or even to be pregnant in the first place. And she outlines all the social and legal barriers that must be dismantled for true equity.
im tired of writing this review but this book is so good and so inspiring and you should go read this book especially if u call yourself a feminist. there is so much to learn.
January 2, 2026
Queste vacanze natalizie spiaggiata sul divano a casa dei miei mi hanno permesso di immergermi in tantissimi libri di argomento vario pescati a caso sul mio e-reader. Pensando di leggere una distopia sulla possibilità di avere vita al di fuori della gestazione in un corpo mi sono ritrovata a leggere un saggio bioetico e ad interrogarmi con l'autrice su quali sono le conseguenze dei due lati dello spettro delle ricerche scientifiche sulla vita dei feti. Da un lato quindi l'ectogenetica la possibilità quindi di far crescere un embrione oltre i 14 giorni normati dalle comunità scientifiche, dall'altro l'"utero artificiale", dispositivi che permettono la gestazione al di fuori del corpo di una persona incinta prima delle 24 settimane di vita di un feto. Le nozioni scientifiche lasciano presto il posto a interrogativi sui diritti riproduttivi, sull'aborto, sull'accessibilità di questo genere di cure e quali possono essere le conseguenze etiche e legali di una gravidanza che non viene interrotta e prosegue all'interno di una macchina. Siamo pronti come società ad accogliere il progresso e non limitarlo solo ad una parte di popolazione: bianca, ricca, nata nella parte giusta del mondo? Non dovremmo lavorare prima sul rendere sicura la gestione di un momento tanto delicato nella vita delle persone prima di lanciarci in voli del genere? Se da un lato offre possibilità di salvezza in casi clinici estremi, dall'altro non è un altro modo di controllare la vota delle persone? Questi ed altri difficili quesiti sono presentati sa Claire Horn che non fornisce risposte, ma spunti di riflessione su argomenti controversi su cui non si riflette abbastanza.
October 22, 2024
A thorough and fascinating exploration of innovation reproductive technologies and the false assumptions that accompany all they promise to deliver.
I learned. I was shocked. I was heartbroken. There is so much more to do for reproductive justice for all before we’re ready for what reproductive tech can do…
I learned. I was shocked. I was heartbroken. There is so much more to do for reproductive justice for all before we’re ready for what reproductive tech can do…
May 1, 2025
Saggio molto interessante sull'utero artificiale, dopo un primo capitolo scientifico e storico dove l'autrice ti spiega l'inizio e i progressi avvenuti nella creazione dell'utero artificiale si arriva alle domanda che continueranno per tutto il libro: come si può fare ricerca e prove in maniera etica? e soprattutto come verrebbe usato all'interno della nostra società?
August 12, 2024
This was so interesting and she had very nuanced, well developed takes on artificial wombs. There is a great balance of science and ethics in this book written in a very conservational, easily understood manner. I really enjoy this subject and the implications of artificial wombs and excited to study this topic further !!
September 8, 2026
Strange but powerful book to read in this chapter of my life, made all the more meaningful by the author’s own status as an actively pregnant person. Both her condition and mine helped the research and reflections resonate with me at a higher frequency.
May 25, 2025
di salute riproduttiva, ectogenesi ed utero artificiale.
le tecnologie non posso essere niente, se non si riparte da un nuovo concetto di cura.
le tecnologie non posso essere niente, se non si riparte da un nuovo concetto di cura.
August 14, 2026
Interessante progetto, peccato si articoli intorno a pochi concetti chiave ripetuti continuamente. Il messaggio centrale legato all'ectogenesi e alla sua evoluzione da fine ottocento ad ora (con le sue implicazioni scientifiche e sociali) viene accostato ad altre implicazioni strettamente correlate: aborto, accesso ai servizi medici per le minoranze, eugenetica. Lo avrei compattato in poco più di cento pagine per renderlo più efficace e diretto
March 18, 2023
I loved this book! It was a thought-provoking read that clearly delivered scientific concepts and ethical questions in an accessible and engaging way. The author offers a fresh and necessary viewpoint on reproductive technologies, challenges traditional narratives and social inequities, and invites readers to do the same. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the intersection of technology, reproductive and abortion rights, and ethics.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews