Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed - Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have Kids

Author(s): Meghan Daum

Feminism

One of the most provocative and talked-about books of the year, Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed is the stunning collection exploring one of society's most vexing taboos. One of the main topics of cultural conversation during the last decade was the supposed "fertility crisis," and whether modern women could figure out a way to have it all-a successful career and the required 2.3 children-before their biological clock stopped ticking. Now, however, conversation has turned to whether it's necessary to have it all (see Anne-Marie Slaughter) or, perhaps more controversial, whether children are really a requirement for a fulfilling life. In this exciting and controversial collection of essays, curated by writer Meghan Daum, thirteen acclaimed female writers explain why they have chosen to eschew motherhood. Contributors include Lionel Shriver, Sigrid Nunez, Kate Christiensen, Elliott Holt, Geoff Dyer, and Tim Kreider, among others, who will give a unique perspective on the overwhelming cultural pressure of parenthood. This collection makes a smart and passionate case for why parenthood is not the only path to a happy, productive life, and takes our parent-centric, kid-fixated, baby-bump-patrolling culture to task in the process. In this book, that shadowy faction known as the childless-by-choice comes out into the light.


Product Information

A New York Times bestseller Sixteen literary luminaries on the controversial subject of being childless by choice.

MEGHAN DAUM is a columnist for the "Los Angeles Times, " the author of "The Unspeakable," "My Misspent Youth," "Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House, " "The Quality of Life Report, "and the editor of "Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed." Her essays and reviews have appeared in "The New Yorker," "Harper's," "The New York Times Book Review," "Vogue," and other publications.

General Fields

  • : 9781250081643
  • : picador
  • : picador
  • : April 2016
  • : May 2016
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Meghan Daum
  • : Paperback
  • : en
  • : 306.874
  • : 288