{"product_id":"selfish-shallow-and-self-absorbed-sixteen-writers-on-the-decision-not-to-have-kids-9781250081643","title":"Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have Kids","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSixteen literary luminaries on the controversial subject of being childless by choice, in this critically acclaimed, bestselling anthology\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOne of the most provocative and talked-about books of the year, \u003ci\u003eSelfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed\u003c\/i\u003e is the stunning collection exploring one of society's most vexing taboos. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOne 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 clocks stopped ticking. Now, however, the 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 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 Christensen, Elliott Holt, Geoff Dyer, and Tim Kreider, among others, who will give a unique perspective on the overwhelming cultural pressure of parenthood. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMEGHAN DAUM\u003c\/b\u003e is a columnist for the \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times, \u003c\/i\u003e the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Unspeakable\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMy Misspent Youth\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLife Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House, \u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe Quality of Life Report, \u003c\/i\u003eand the editor of \u003ci\u003eSelfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed\u003c\/i\u003e. Her essays and reviews have appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHarper's\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eVogue\u003c\/i\u003e, and other publication\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Picador USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50556688597266,"sku":"9781250081643","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_7f7a016c-50fb-462e-9781-98626e9d567b.jpg?v=1731760194","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/selfish-shallow-and-self-absorbed-sixteen-writers-on-the-decision-not-to-have-kids-9781250081643","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}