Book Description
Provocative study of women who chose to be childless based on extensive interviews with women aged between 40 and 78. A significant contribution to debates about choice, the private and the public, gender and diversity.
Customer Reviews:
Important book, but not quite thorough or comprehensive enough.......2006-01-13
It's important to know in considering this book that it is pretty much Morell's thesis, so if you dislike dry, academic work, it's probably not for you. While the book addresses many of the issues that intentionally childless women face (especially the 'compensation' and 'regret' stereotypes), it really hesitates to delve deeply into the sociopolitical/psychological causes and implications. I felt the book was far too heavily reliant on extensive and repetitive quotes from Morell's survey respondents- as such, it really prevented the narrative from gathering speed or developing into something powerful or revelatory. The scope of the research and the profiles of the intentionally childless women presented by Morell are extremely limited, as she herself acknowledges: mostly middle-aged, Caucasian, heterosexual, and married/in an LTR. In short, this book is the first of its kind, and it is groundbreaking. But as a feminist reader and a happily child-free woman, I'm ready for the next step.
This should be in every bookshop.......2004-09-30
At last, a book which attends to a growing number of women who have made probably the most important decision of their lives. I am one of them: After considerable thought, ongoing medical problems,lousy family experiences and observing other women, I have decided that I do not want to have children. Why do I have to go online to find a book which illustrates to me that I am not alone? This book is a beautifully written revelation. It highlights the many many reasons behind deciding to remain childless/childfree. Any woman who has experienced doubts about whether motherhood is what she wants should read this book - it will help her think through her own life. Thank you for this wonderful book. All shops in the UK and USA should stock it.
An affirmation for the child-free woman.......2000-08-08
My husband's and my decision to not have children has been met with some of the most heated, argumentative and prejudiced attitudes possible. Our former status as a cohabitating, nonmarried couple did not even approach the censure that our deliberately childless status receives.
The title of Carolyn M. Morell's book sums it up perfectly: "Unwomanly Conduct -- The Challenges of Intentional Childlessness." Society is full of pressures to reproduce and the women who go against this norm run the risk of being accused of selfishness, pitied as incomplete or having their achievements dismissed as compensation for the absence of a child.
Having encountered this kind of prejudice repeatedly, it was refreshing to read excerpts from Morell's interviews with some 40 women, mostly in their mid-40s, who have chosen to remain childfree. Actually, Morell scrupulously uses the term "childless", having dismissed "childfree" because she says it implies that a woman wants to get rid of children. I personally prefer to describe myself as "childfree" because of what I consider to be its more positive connotation.
Our differing opinons on symantics was the only part of Morell's book that I could not relate to. It was comforting to learn that many of the women profiled within have undergone the same prejudices, assumptions and dismissals heaped upon them by society at large, felt the same barriers in their relationships with mothering women -- and shared the same belief that their choice was and is a valid one.
Published in 1994, Morell's book is a groundbreaking one. Moreover, it is an affirmation for the childfree woman. Morell, herself a childfree woman, even admits that she set out to write a book that she could read. I recommend this book to any woman who wants reassurance that her decision not to bear children is a valid one.
Book Description
This book covers most of the social issues related to parents, husbands, wives, and children. It is beneficial for all members of the family, those starting out on family life and those families which have already developed as a basic unity of society.
Customer Reviews:
Highly recommended........2005-04-06
This is an excellent book for parents. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I finished it. This book helps you see your weak points as a parent and offers you solutions to fix them. It is very easy to understand and relate to. I would really recommend this book to all the parents and to those who are looking forward to have kids.
Excellent Book for converts.......2005-03-19
I was especially pleased with this book being muslim for only the last year of my life. I can honestly relate to this book as well as begin to understand what aspects of raising a muslim child are important. I am expecting my first baby girl in july and will always hang on to this book. I'm sure I will read it 5 more times in the years come. Easy to read, easy to understand. Thank you.
Salaam'a'lakum,
Ibrahim Hawk
An enlightening book for non-Muslims, too.......2003-01-01
I purchased this book for parents of one of my students, as a present; and then apologized to them for reading it before they got to see it. I opened it, just to take a quick peek, and found it so interesting I didn't want to set it down.
The excerpts from the Qu'ran, the insights into the values of American Muslim families, the balance of heart and head, make this a wonderful book. This book has nothing to do with politics - it is purely about parenting and the priorities Muslim families place on providing guidelines/boundaries with love, for their children.It has a very good section on the affects of television on all families,and the importance of both setting limits and talking with children about what they see and hear in the media.
The book gives non-Muslims a rare glimpse into the parenting messages of the Qu'ran and to see the similarities in families of ALL faiths when it comes to child rearing.This book is definitely worthwhile reading for teachers who want to be more sensitive and supportive to Muslim students and their parents.
Mash'allah! (Whatever Allah wants to give, He gives).......2000-11-22
Alhmadu Lillahi Rabbil 'Alamin ... This beautiful book wasgiven to me as a gift, and I have found it very interesting-andinsightful. I am a Muslim-American, so this book helps me relatebetter to children who grow up in America, following Islam. I amdoing some graduate work in Elementary Education, and I find that thisbook ties in a great deal with that subject, as well. I wouldrecommend this book to a Muslim and a non-Muslim--especially a teacheror parent who's interested in relating better to Muslim children andtheir families. Overall, it is a very positive book.
A 'must-read' for up and coming parents!.......2000-04-15
This book is extremely beneficial to existing or soon-to-be parents living in any westernized society. It contains the solutions to dealing with every-day difficulties parents face in managing their familes, as well as numerous real examples that make this book all the more easy to understand. It also demonstrates how Islam provides practical and efficent ways of maintaining good family life.
Book Description
An in-depth look at gay and lesbian parenting in America.
"An important book whose time has come!"-Adele Starr, First President of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) National, and Larry Starr, Co-Founder of PFLAG, Los Angeles, California
With an estimated six to fourteen million children living with a gay or lesbian parent, there is a real need for accurate information for and about the realities of these families. With honesty and compassion, Lesbian and Gay Families Speak Out explores the variety of issues they face: from interpersonal relationships and sexual and psychological development, to coming out, dealing with prejudice, and finding a spiritual foundation. Using the compelling stories of over two dozen families in which gay fathers and lesbian mothers are raising children in a wide variety or settings and styles, Drucker proves that children thrive in an environment of love, regardless of the number, gender, or sexual orientation of the adults who provide that love.
Book Description
This edited volume addresses one of the central issues of family studiesùparenting. Editor Terry Arendell uses the social constructionist and the feminist lens to examine current controversies and issues of interest to family professionals and students. This important new volume deals with the history and demography of parenthood, parenting styles and structures, and issues of parenting within the broader community and policy context. A long-awaited text, Contemporary Parenting is ideal for students and professionals in the fields of family studies, sociology, developmental psychology, social work, children/youth/adolescence, gender, counseling.
Customer Reviews:
Review of Contemporary Parenting:Challenges and Issues.......2006-08-04
I purchased this book as I needed to write a paper on current parenting and the issues facing parents today. While it was a fairly well written book, I felt it centered around a fairly traditional type of family set-up and even though it embraced divorce and re-marriage, the diversity of parents in the community is far broader than depicted in the book. I feel it needed to be more "rounded out" to truly represent parenting today. having said that, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it as a general interest read rather than a text.
Average customer rating:
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The Challenge of overpopulation and food shortages: Summary of a colloquium held in cooperation with Planned Parenthood Association of Northeast Texas ... (Conference Board report ; no. 684)
Manufacturer: Conference Board
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ASIN: 0823701182 |
Book Description
The second volume in Gordon C. Rhea's peerless five-book series on the Civil War's 1864 Overland Campaign abounds with Rhea's signature detail, innovative analysis, and riveting prose. Here Rhea examines the maneuvers and battles from May 7, 1864, when Grant left the Wilderness, through May 12, when his attempt to break Lee's line by frontal assault reached a chilling climax at what is now called the Bloody Angle. Drawing exhaustively upon previously untapped materials, Rhea challenges conventional wisdom about this violent clash of titans to construct the ultimate account of Grant and Lee at Spotsylvania.
Customer Reviews:
Highly detailed, but readable military history.......2007-03-03
Having previously read Rhea's first volume on the 1864 Overland Campaign, I moved on to this work. Just like the first volume, Rhea has written a winner here. I had gotten somewhat tired of "military history" books because they were either overly detailed and dry and boring or they often focused too much on the commanders and not enough on the ordinary soldier. Well, no such problems with this book. Rhea has a very balanced prose focusing on the generals, the privates, and everyone in between. Furthermore, despite being full of enough detail for any military history buff, the book is very readable and Rhea writes in a style that makes you feel as if you are amongst the action, making you turn page after page. Other reviewers can probably write much better than I, but simply put, this book is a must have for anyone interested in military history or the Civil War.
The Overland Campaign series.......2006-07-22
The Battle of the Wilderness May 5-6, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 520 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (July 1994)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807118737
The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern May 7-12, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 483 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (May 1997)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807121363
To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13-25, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 505 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (May 2000)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807125350
Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 552 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (September 2002)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807128031
I am reviewing the four books a single series although each book is a full stand-alone history. This is a highly detailed military history of Grant's Overland Campaign of 1864. Two of the best generals commanding two of the best armies, in American history, decide the Civil war in the East. Gordon Rhea gives this month the detailed attention it requires and had never received. The 2,000 pages allows for the full story of the campaign, the personalities, failures and success.
The first book covers the major battle of The Wilderness an area Grant wished to clear and Lee hoped to trap him in as he had Hooker in 1863. Through a series of Union miscalculations and command problems, Lee manages to get in Grant's way. What follows is a confused bloody two-day battle that has been termed "Bush whacking on a grand scale". An excellent series of maps, help the reader stay abreast of the battle and understand the confusion of both sides. Lee loses Longstreet and starts to make the hard decisions about personnel that he has avoided since 1862. Grant while testing his relationship with Meade and Burnside, is trying to learn the AOP's generals too. This process dominates the four books as repeatedly Grant is forced to deal with the problems this creates and Lee takes steps that were unthinkable in 1863.
The second book moves the battle from The Wilderness south to Spotsylvania and Yellow Tavern. Grant refuses to "play the game" and retreat behind the Rappahannock but pushes past Lee and continues south. What follows is a race from defensive point to defensive point, which the AOP concedes to the AoNV. Union commanders hesitate at critical moments while the AoNV reinforces the objective. This allows Lee to stay up or ahead producing one of the bloodiest battles in our history at Spotsylvania. In addition, this book covers the critical cavalry operations, Grant's reasoning, and the price paid in taking Sheridan away from Meade. J.E.B. Stuart's death, is well covered. Both in terms of what it means to the AoNV, to Lee and to the Confederacy.
After one of the hardest weeks in their history, the two exhausted bloodied armies eye each other over their entrenchments. Lee understands that he is being trapped and that defensive war can only end in defeat. Grant is trying not to be stuck in a siege and determined to continue south. What follows is a series of forced marches and small battles as Grant and Lee test each other. Each general wins and loses daily as the armies march, counter march and fight. However, at the end of each day, Grant is always closer to Richmond. Lee produces a brilliant trap, Grant takes the bait but circumstances keep lee from springing it. Almost to late, Grant sees the trap pulls back, changes direction and continues south. Book 3, To the North Anna River covers this brilliant and exciting time in detail. Rhea produces some excellent analysis of both commanders and the developing personnel problems they are facing. Neither man is having an easy time of it and both understand they have never faced an enemy like this.
The last book takes us to Cold Harbor, one of the most controversial battles of the war. The detail history and excellent analysis leads us through this battle and produces some startling conclusions. As always, the author provides full support and justification for them. This might be the most important book of the series and the definitive book on the battle of Cold Harbor.
Each book has a full set of maps and illustrations. The writing is uniform and very readable. While detailed, the actions are understandable and you are seldom lost in a sea of names and/or unit numbers. Each book is a stand-alone history and is readable as such. The books were published from 1994 to 2002 and had to be written that way. This is the best account of the Overland Campaign available. It is both an invaluable reference and a great reading experience.
More Civil War.......2006-03-09
I have recenty - in the past two ot three years - become interested in the Civil War. The Shelby Foote series is wonderful, but still leaves a lot of detail to be fleshed out. The more you read the more you want to know. Much about the War remains a mystery. The battles can be presented in much detail and Rhea's writing is clear and lucid. There is considerable detail in presenting excerpts from diaries, reports and the like to make the battles real from a human standpoint. The books are much like the work of Stephan Sears.
All are well written and enjoyable, although I do recommend a bit of lighter reading between volumes.
The only quibble that I have is with the maps. They often neglect detail that could help follow the action. Plaaces mentioned in the text are sometimes not to be found on the maps.
This complaint can be applied to virtually every Civil War book that I have read. If you are interested in the civil war, this series is excellent.
Excellent Study of Bloody Spotsylvania.......2005-08-22
Recently I spoke to someone who had read all of Rhea's books published thus far. The person commented that he thought Rhea was too dry an author to be enjoyed. After having read Rhea's title on the Wilderness and now just completing his Spotsylvania book, I wonder if my acquaintance was talking about the same person!
In my humble opinion, Rhea has written the defintive study of the campaign that reflected Grant's determination to destroy Lee's army at any cost - Spotsylvania. The book's narrative flows freely and the writing style is easy to follow without being simplistic. He covers in great detail the armies' movements to Spotsylvania, the battles of Spotsylvania, Todd's Tavern, Yellow Tavern, and other engagements. In other words, I believe the professional historian and Civil War layperson will both enjoy the book.
Rhea seems to be fair and balanced in his praise and criticism of both sides - Lee, Early, Anderson, Meade, Upton, Hancock, and others get praise while others (Grant, Ewell, Burnside - surprise surprise!, and others) are criticized for their performance. Since I am a Civil War layperson, I will leave it to the "experts" to analyze whether Rhea's praises and criticisms are warranted. Instead, I am choosing to focus on the book's content and writing style.
I do have one criticism of a shortcoming I find in many Civil War Campaign Studies - the maps. While the maps are well drawn, there could have been at least 10 more and could have gone down to regimental detail. Doing so makes following the flow of action much easier and interesting.
Criticism aside, I highly recommend the title as the definitive study of the continuing struggle between Lee and Grant. The book will serve as a valuable guide to my next visit at Spotsylvania.
Great Book on a Battle that Changed the Course of the CW.......2005-08-14
Rhea does a wonderful descriptive job on the Battle that changed the Civil War in the east forever. Any romantic feelings of cavaliers and great flanking maneuvers is at a loss for this grim beginning of the complex battle of entrenchments that eventually extend to Petersburg, This battle is ugly in the sense of great casualties as waves of humanity go up against mine balls, canister, bayonets and the well entrenched foes, in the case of the latter, Lee's ANV. Rhea does an outstanding job in two particular areas, one is the study of command for both the Union and Confederates and in his excellent detail descriptions of the many battles at Spotsylvania that culminates in the horrid bloody assaults at the mule shoesalient including the equally high casualty counter attacks. In reference to the command structure, Rhea describes a continuation of the Union problems of command initially described in his preceding Wilderness book (one of a four part series on the Overland Campaign). In this case; however, Grant is much more involved and Meade is seemingly relegated to a senior staff officer position. An example is Meade's dissatisfaction with Sheridan's inability to cut through to Spotsylvania and beat the confederates only to be subjected to Grants intervention to allow Sheridan to cut loose with the entire cavalry in a run at Richmond and Stuart. And ackwardly, Burnside still maintains an independent command under only Grant. Rhea articulately studies the confederate command particularly in reference to Stuart's cavalry brilliantly blocking Sheridan at Todd's Tavern, and Anderson's timely march to support Fitz Lee at Laurel Hill that plants one of the main defenses of Spotsylvania setting the stage for the confederates extended defense works. Rhea does an astonishing job of tracking the complex maneuvers of virtually every brigade from Hancock's attempt to move two exposed divisions north of the Po River attacked by Early to Hancock's attack at the salinet's maze of entrenchments. Rhea equally tracks the confederates in the salient from the initial defenders to those in the many brigades involved in the counterattack. Rhea also highlights the emergence of Gordon that parallel's the demise of Ewell in Lee's eyes. The account of the bloody angle is with first hand quotes of the miraculous charge by Hancock, the bad luck of the Confederates (weather, fog, movement of artillery) and the virtual free for all fight for control of the angle. Krick has a more poignant description of the battle of the mule shoe salient but Rhea provides the whole battle scheme brilliantly. The importance of Laurel Hill is well described and not forgotten nor is Early's late flanking attack against Burnside. Inclusive in this monumental task is a vivid account of Sheridan's raid and Stuarts attempt to harass and finally stop his better-supported foe. As Rhea points out, unlike Sheridan, Stuart left half his troop with Lee while Sheridan took his entire corps. The consequences are better for Lee but not so for Stuart at Yellow Tavern. The book concludes with great analysis of the command success and failures of both sides. Of interest is Warren's conflicts as Grant is frustrated with Warren's desire to avoid headlong attacks against well-entrenched foes (seemingly appropriate), while Warren may be right but he was better served to working for Meade who had a similar cautious nature. Also a good look at Grant's drive to destroy Lee and end the war while suffering great casualties. Two items that could use more detail, was Ewell that bad at Spotsylvania to be reduced in command or was Gordon's star just eclipsing Ewell at this point as Gary Gallagher suggests? And what was the reason why the confederates maintained the salient position that became exposed? Some authors suggest that the layout was the result of night marches with units forming where they stopped at whatever terrain vantage points seemed best in the dark. Fascinating account of Lee as he continues to take an active battlefield role as his officer corps becomes decimated. An excellent book and as the author says in the last chapter, "Twenty-five miles south, toward Richmond, the North Anna beckoned". After reading this book, you are ready for that next part of the campaign.
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- What Was It Before It Was Orange Juice (What Was It Before - Let's Find Out Book)
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