Families of Two

Rating:
Summary: An intimate look at love, marriage, & living your own truth.
Review: I enjoyed reading stories of real couples who shared their most intimate thoughts on life, love, marriage, and on their decision not to have children.

The couples presented in Families of Two remind us that we are ultimately responsible for our own happiness, which may or may not conform to the expectations of others. The stories presented clearly illustrate that there are "a myriad of ways to live a rich, full life and that more and more people see that the choice not to reproduce is a legitimate and worthy choice."

Whether or not you are considering not having children, this book provides a revealing look at the beauty and power of honoring your own personal truth, and on living a more authentic life. After reading Families of Two, I was reminded that my life is a unique and incredible adventure filled with choice and opportunity. Very inspirational!

Rating:
Summary: a keeper
Review: I read this book from the library and liked it so much, I've decided to buy it. I found the 13-page introduction intriguing, where she summarizes her findings. The points that she makes resonated with the discussions that my husband and I have had about having children. In her introduction, she states that most of the interviewees are from California, New York, and Connecticut. While I found that I did not relate completely to some of their lifestyles because I'm in the Midwest, I enjoyed their answers to questions about whether to have children - and I marveled at how we can all be different and yet have much the same thoughts and feelings. I definitely recommend this book. I have been married for 10 years, and it was encouraging to me to read interviews of people who have been happily married for 25, 30, 35 years, etc. without children.

Rating:
Summary: a keeper
Review: I read this book from the library and liked it so much, I've decided to buy it. I found the 13-page introduction intriguing, where she summarizes her findings. The points that she makes resonated with the discussions that my husband and I have had about having children. In her introduction, she states that most of the interviewees are from California, New York, and Connecticut. While I found that I did not relate completely to some of their lifestyles because I'm in the Midwest, I enjoyed their answers to questions about whether to have children - and I marveled at how we can all be different and yet have much the same thoughts and feelings. I definitely recommend this book. I have been married for 10 years, and it was encouraging to me to read interviews of people who have been happily married for 25, 30, 35 years, etc. without children.

Rating:
Summary: Real Talk from Real People
Review: If you want to get a candid look at couples who are living happily ever after without children, you won't be disappointed. I have to disagree with one of the reviewers who criticized the author's lack of analysis. She gives detailed explanations of the couples and her research in the first chapter. This is not a dense or academically oriented book--It is a presentation of real talk from real people, and the couples' commentary provide the comparisons and contrasts themselves. It is refreshing to read a book that gives the information from the horse's mouth, rather than one step removed by an author who writes 300 pages to make a few main points. In this book, we get to know insightful couples from a wide array of backgrounds and lifestyles. We also get an even closer sense of them through some great photos. It was an informative and reassuring read; I left feeling very clear about not having to feel guilty or strange for not wanting to be a parent.

Rating:
Summary: Insights into Very Personal Choices
Review: The author interviews couples from around the country about their choice not to have kids, and she does an excellent job of asking these couples insightful, probing questions about their choice. Each interview has its own chapter, and each interview follows a similar format, with similar questions. I liked that because I could compare the various stories of the couples. What's interesting is that while there are some commonalities, the reasons the people being interviewed gave for not having children vary widely.

The author writes a little intro for each couple, describing the setting and what each person does for a living. The people talk about their histories and how they met. So even though this book is nonfiction, I like the sort of character development that comes out. Plus, with all of the well-done pictures, you can easily follow their stories, and you aren't left wondering what people who choose not to have kids *really* look like.

I would definitely recommend this book. I think it quells some myths about the types of people that choose not to have children. It's a must-read, especially for those still deciding whether to have children, for people interested in the choices of others, and for those who know someone that has made the choice. I haven't seen any other books like it, but I sure hope more follow, at least if they're as well done as this one.

Rating:
Summary: Not like us after all
Review: Wow! I thought I was going to fall asleep reading this one.

It's the same questions over and over again and then, nothing. Just the questions, with some answers. Most answers were generally the same, as most CF people have made the decision not to have children for the same reasons.

I forced myself to finish it, but I was not impressed at all.

I would not recommend this book.