Rating: 
Summary: This makes my brain hurt
Review: Although the historical parts of this book are great, these moments are few and far between. It seemed to me that this entire work was solely the author's attempt to justify why she did not have children. Instead of standing up for her decision she makes it well known throughout the book that she missed her chance(s) to procreate. This book is most likely for women who fall into that catagory and not for the determined childfree.
Rating:
Summary: Difficult to get through
Review: Although the historical parts of this book are great, these moments are few and far between. It seemed to me that this entire work was solely the author's attempt to justify why she did not have children. Instead of standing up for her decision she makes it well known throughout the book that she missed her chance(s) to procreate. This book is most likely for women who fall into that catagory and not for the determined childfree.
Rating: 
Summary: Thank you Laurie
Review: As an independent woman settling into my mid-twenties, its refreshing to have language that really addresses the choice of fertility and the personal and social relationship with that choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Childlessness and Womanhood
Review: As someone who is intentionally childfree and has never experienced much ambivalence on the issue, I was disappointed that this book did not really speak to my experiences. I found myself becoming irritated every time Lisle stopped to reassure the reader that, in fact, she quite likes children. It was almost as if she was constantly apologizing for not having any of her own, and rather than "challenging the stigma of childlessness," these apologies seemed almost to reinforce that stigma. I think it would have been a better (more meaningful, more significant) book if she had come to her decision not to have kids out of a position of conscious childfreedom, rather than ambivalent childlessness. While people who are childless, or who are contemplating not having children might find this book useful, I would not recommend it for those who know they are childfree.
Rating:
Summary: More for the childless than the childfree
Review: As someone who is intentionally childfree and has never experienced much ambivalence on the issue, I was disappointed that this book did not really speak to my experiences. I found myself becoming irritated every time Lisle stopped to reassure the reader that, in fact, she quite likes children. It was almost as if she was constantly apologizing for not having any of her own, and rather than "challenging the stigma of childlessness," these apologies seemed almost to reinforce that stigma. I think it would have been a better (more meaningful, more significant) book if she had come to her decision not to have kids out of a position of conscious childfreedom, rather than ambivalent childlessness. While people who are childless, or who are contemplating not having children might find this book useful, I would not recommend it for those who know they are childfree.
Rating:
Summary: This makes my brain hurt
Review: I am a highly educated woman, but the language of this book is very hard to grasp. It gives wonderful historical information and facts, which is what the 2 stars are for, but my brain had to translate at least 1 word in every 2 sentences, making reading slow and difficult.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you Laurie
Review: I chose to not have children at age 18 - and I've never regretted it. Now in my thirties, I've spent countless hours reviewing and explaining my choice, often for people who had no right to know but insisted anyway. But here, for the first time ever, all the arguments and thoughts I've had about choosing childnessless are discussed in depth and wonderfully in this book. Ms. Lisle wrote the book I would have written if I could have done so. She has my eternal respect and gratitude for putting in print what I've been trying for years to explain.
Rating:
Summary: Very well researched; in great depth and feeling; EXCELLENT
Review: I chose to not have children at age 18 - and I've never regretted it. Now in my thirties, I've spent countless hours reviewing and explaining my choice, often for people who had no right to know but insisted anyway. But here, for the first time ever, all the arguments and thoughts I've had about choosing childnessless are discussed in depth and wonderfully in this book. Ms. Lisle wrote the book I would have written if I could have done so. She has my eternal respect and gratitude for putting in print what I've been trying for years to explain.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: My husband and I chose not to have kids before we married. Some people and especially family members find this decision hard to take. I read this book after having an older family member tell me (for an hour and a half!)I would never be a complete woman without having children. I wanted historical background from this book. I wanted to be able to explain the courage involved in our decision, especially in our society. I love kids in my life, but don't want them to be my life. This book helps me to explain that there is nothing wrong with that. Thank you Laurie Lisle!
Rating: 
Summary: Dry and dull
Review: This was a real disappointment. The author's presentation of the historical and personal material is very dry. this book reads like a textbook, threaded with her personal story. The sociological and historical data are interesting, and her insights are ocassionally enlightening, but the delivery is BLAH.
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