The Elusive Embryo: How Men and Women Approach New Reproductive Technologies

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book!
Review: Reproductive technology fails for 80% of the people who try it, but all you ever read in the press (which relies on the advertising dollars of pharmeceutical companies)are the success stories. Very important reading for anyone considering fertility treatment.

Rating:
Summary: Broad but not deep
Review: This book is great at laying out and discussing a variety of issues related to infertility, the complex technologies used to treat it, and the emotions that arise from these things. However, I was continually frustrated while reading this book because I felt that the author did not analyze very well the things she said. She would point out interesting comments made by couples seeking fertility treatment, but then give the same anaytical comments over and over again about these comments. Also, I felt she was too biased and critical in her assessment of fertility treatment. It seemed like every couple (indeed, virtually everyone in the book was a married couple, very little representation from anyone else) felt the same way, ultimately -- disillusioned, doubtful about themselves, cynical about the process, and overall disappointed, even angry and bitter. This has not been my own personal experience, and I have a hard time believing that everyone in her large study sample was so dismal. It just wasn't a sophisticated, layered analysis. But it will probably be interesting to non-academics who would like to get a foundation for some of the negatives associated with infertility treatments, and with having problems with infertility.