The Worthwhile Mess of Living: a review of "Family Unfriendly"
Last winter,
punted a book review request to me. Seeing as I had precisely zero published essays to my name, this was quite flattering. However, I soon realized how invested I had become in investigating and reading about the constellation of factors involved with the topic. Anyone who has received this newsletter for a decent amount of time will notice some recurring themes. So, this was hard work—yet so fun. Who knew I was waiting for such an assignment where I could explore zoning, walkable urbanism, women’s health, and a dystopian novel by in the same piece? A very Life Considered essay.The Worthwhile Mess of Living
Thanks to
for writing the book, and for the editorial help of Felix and Veronica at The European Conservative.Here are a few other reviews (from people you can’t go wrong reading in general). They each take on their own angle, providing a variety of emphases pulled from the book and colored by their own perspectives.
- , First Things
Why Aren't Americans Having Children? —
, Current- , Current
- , Claremont Review Of Books
Make America Family-Friendly Again — Robert VerBruggen, Institute For Family Studies
Honey, We Shrunk The Family —
, Christianity Today- , The Gospel Coalition
How America Became 'Family Unfriendly’ —
, The DispatchWhat Makes America Family Unfriendly? A Q&A With Tim Carney —
, The Public Discourse
*Annnddd I found those typos in the piece… yikes. Please overlook, forgive, etc.
Congrats!
I really loved your title, as well as this phrase in your closing: "who resist perfecting ourselves out of everything that makes us human."
I think that's just it.
Well done, a great review on an important book for our time. My copy is currently on loan to a mom friend. I can't count how many times it has come up in conversations, and it's only been out for a few months. I really appreciate your interaction with all the issues at play in the book using your wide breadth of knowledge! And, I will note here that you did not offer "increased government funding" as the solution to the decline in fertility rates. ;)
It’s like reading all the thoughts between the pieces you choose to share :) I’ll have to read the book at some point, but you did a great job drawing a lot of threads together!