Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line

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Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line

by Abby Johnson, Cindy Lambert (Contributor)

4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 · rating details · 1,707 ratings · 412 reviews

Retailers Choice Award winner, 2012Abby Johnson quit her job in October 2009. That simple act became a national news story because Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas who, after participating in her first actual abortion procedure, walked across the road to join the Coalition for Life. "Unplanned" is a heartstopping personal drama of life-and-deat...more

Hardcover, 267 pages

Published January 11th 2011 by SaltRiver (first published 2010)

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Jan 13, 2011 Jeff Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Update: see bottom for update

In 2009 it made the national news that Abby Johnson the directory of a Planned Parenthood in Texas had resigned and went to the Coalition for Life for help. Now it was easy to celebrate this a a victory on the pro-life front and a mark in our column. It is easy to forget the person behind the story sometimes and the new book Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey across the Life Line by Abby Johnson tells here s...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Chelsea Meyers rated it 1 of 5 stars

What's so wonderful about this book, besides being so poorly written and so utterly devoid of actual emotion and the glossing over of the 'hard' parts of the authors life, is the fact that the author clearly has a vendetta against Planned Parenthood.
What's also so amazing about this book is that it is clearly the type of book that someone who is pro-life is going to read and get a hard on over while telling everyone else, 'its such an amazing book'. Speaking as a literature major, no its not a...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Karen Locklear rated it 3 of 5 stars

Pathos defined.

That's not necessarily bad. Pathos has its place.

However, her emotional appeal has its skeptics, including four former co-workers, two friends, and a feminist radio talk show hostess out of Bryan, Texas. These people were very quick to speak out, and did, both to the media and in court. Apparently, Johnson had motive: she was mad at Planned Parenthood regarding an HR issue that put her on review, and she was having serious financial troubles. (Google the book or Abby Johnson and...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Excellent book! I was crying by page 6, but only teared up maybe one other time throughout. It was a very quick read, and I recommend it highly!

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Jan 24, 2011 Johanna Torres rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was an amazing journey and I felt like I got to experience the journey with Abby Johnson. As she was challenged to reconsider her beliefs on abortion, as was I. There were times when I wasn't exactly on board 100% with her but by the end of the book, I was completely on her team. The book was well written and well organized and I definitely didn't want to put it down. I'm proud of Abby for not being afraid to make public the good, the bad, and the ugly of her journey. Not many people h...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Barbara Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Unplanned is Abby Johnson’s testimony to what the Hand of God can do in your life. She tells the story of how she joined Planned Parenthood as a volunteer while she was still in college, and eventually made it to Director of her local Planned Parenthood clinic. Her story is not about how good or bad Planned Parenthood is, but how the Lord worked a miracle in her life and how He turned her life around and upside down.

She did not know it at the time but there were literally dozens of people pray...more Unplanned is Abby Johnson’s testimony to what the Hand of God can do in your life. She tells the story of how she joined Planned Parenthood as a volunteer while she was still in college, and eventually made it to Director of her local Planned Parenthood clinic. Her story is not about how good or bad Planned Parenthood is, but how the Lord worked a miracle in her life and how He turned her life around and upside down.

She did not know it at the time but there were literally dozens of people praying for her. And
most of those doing the praying were from the pro-life people who were considered enemies by the Planned Parenthood people.

She tells of a fence that surrounded the clinic, and the pro-life people had to stay outside the fence. She tells of when she first went to work as a volunteer that there were some people on the other side of the fence who caused some concern, but over the years got to know that the people on the other side of the fence were loving prayerful people and she actually got to know them.

Throughout the book she tells honestly how she felt, stating that at time she was nieve, and at other times she just looked the other way. Since she was never really involved in the abortions she never considered herself an abortionist. She told herself she was “helping these women in crisis”, that she was giving them birth control pills and counseling them.

The turning point of the entire book was the first chapter when she was asked to help with an ultrasound guided abortion. It was at that time she actually saw with her own eyes that a “baby” was being killed and not a “fetus” being taken care of. By calling it a baby she realized what had been happening around her for years while she looked the other way, telling herself that she was “helping women in crisis”.

To say she was shocked would be an understatement; she was horrified. She truly though that she was doing God's work by helping those women. This one event, this one day, changed her life forever. In the two weeks that followed this she was told that Planed Parenthood needed more money and she needed to perform more abortions to make the extra money. God was truly working on her heart.

I found Ms. Johnson to be completely honest in her story, even when what she tells is extremely personal, painful, and even embarrassing. She gives her witness to these events and tells the story so well you almost feel you are there.

I especially liked the very last sentence. She was talking about a new volunteer and asked herself “I wonder what her story is, and what God is going to do in her life.”

I am so happy to have read this book and now I want everyone I know to read it. AND I won this book on Goodreads and thank the Lord for that!

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May 02, 2011 Cafelilybookreviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I watched the Unplanned documentary with a lump in my throat. This is a powerful story of one woman’s choices and how those choices led her to be pulled into not only the worst experience of her life, but also led her to become a spoke person for the unborn. Her description of what she witnessed during an abortion procedure in her clinic is very hard to listen to – but necessary.

Had Abby Johnson never worked for Planned Parenthood, she might not have the passion for life and the drive to share...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is one I could not put down p.e.r.i.o.d. A woman who so eloquently describes her inner most private journey in a novel for the world to read is my hero. This is what Abby Johnson succeeded in. She identifies issues between pro-life/pro-choice that can be considered compatible by some, and she hits the nail on the head with the differences. There are parts of being pro-life that are difficult (to say the least) to explain to the world, especially when being forced to justify your person...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Abbe added it

Shelves: in-library

Review

When Johnson quit her job as the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, the media went wild; lawsuits were filed; prolife advocates rejoiced. Now this former clinic director reveals the details of her dramatic move from abortion rights advocate to "the right side of the fence" and the prolife movement. Johnson began as a volunteer, moving through the ranks until becoming director of the Bryan, Tex., clinic. Then she witnessed an ultrasound-guided abortion, and she changed. "I

...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Beth Barkley rated it 1 of 5 stars

I think that when you have an opinion on something like abortion, you should be able to challenge yourself by viewing the "other side" and knowing clearly why you've chosen the side you're on. It was in that frame of mind that I picked up this book, hoping to get some logical, reasonable views from an anti-choice advocate who used to stand up for women's rights. Boy was I disappointed.

First of all, this book is written about as well as something you'd see coming out of a middle school English cl...more I think that when you have an opinion on something like abortion, you should be able to challenge yourself by viewing the "other side" and knowing clearly why you've chosen the side you're on. It was in that frame of mind that I picked up this book, hoping to get some logical, reasonable views from an anti-choice advocate who used to stand up for women's rights. Boy was I disappointed.

First of all, this book is written about as well as something you'd see coming out of a middle school English class. The author's arguments lack reason and structure, it's more about what she "feels" and how the people she surrounds herself with pressure her.

Abby accuses Planned Parenthood of being manipulative and choosing their words carefully to advance their own agenda (as every organization does, because they want to spread a message), then turns around and does the exact same thing when speaking out against them - obviously expecting her readers to be as dumb as she is. She paints herself as being a young, confused girl, and that just doesn't cut it in my book. If you feel confused or conflicted about something you're being told, look into it! Get second opinions, do some research, or do as the author does, and follow along like a good sheep who wants a job.

In the first half of the book we learn that Abby has been pregnant three times in her twenties, and had terminated two of those pregnancies. I'm glad that she had the freedom to undergo these procedures in a much safer manner than she would have if abortion were illegal. However, it absolutely blows my mind that a grown woman, one who worked for an organization that educates and distributes various forms of birth control no less, somehow managed to get pregnant three times while, as she says, on a form of birth control. I refuse to believe that this could happen while using an FDA-approved method of birth control in the correct manner. She doesn't specify which type she was using, so I can only assume it involved tribal shamans and no-baby dances.

Lastly, I was disgusted by how heavily this book leans on faith. When debating two sides of an argument, I want to know FACTS. If I wanted to hear a sermon I'd go to church. Through the second half of this book the words "God" and "prayer" were peppered on almost every page (I started to count, but it turned my stomach so I gave that up), along with various psalms and passages. If you can't argue your point without relying on an unproven basis like Christianity, then your point is moot. Also, when Abby tried to imply that her second church made her feel unwelcome because she defected to the anti-choice side, I laughed out loud for the rest of the day every time I thought about it. You're telling me that a church, in Texas no less, made you feel unwelcome because you opposed abortion? Blatant lies, and until I see proof I refuse to believe otherwise. Unfortunately for me, this book was sorely short on proof of anything but stupidity and brainwashing.(less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Shelley rated it 5 of 5 stars

It was a “shot heard around the world” when the news came out that a director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic had defected. The news hit pro-choice activists right between the eyes and reinforced sidewalk-counseling endeavors for the pro-life movement. Abby Johnson bared her soul in un-PLANNED—a book that came out 1-11-11 and made #8 bestseller on Amazon and #3 at Barnes & Noble soon after. Abby tells of her journey as first a volunteer, then “up the ladder” to director of an aborti...more It was a “shot heard around the world” when the news came out that a director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic had defected. The news hit pro-choice activists right between the eyes and reinforced sidewalk-counseling endeavors for the pro-life movement. Abby Johnson bared her soul in un-PLANNED—a book that came out 1-11-11 and made #8 bestseller on Amazon and #3 at Barnes & Noble soon after. Abby tells of her journey as first a volunteer, then “up the ladder” to director of an abortion “clinic,” and, after a total of eight years, out the door to the pro-life efforts of the local Coalition for Life.
This “memoir” is a transparent look at the inner feelings and desires of a pro-choice activist as well as the machinations of Planned Parenthood and how their actions defy their proclamations. Offering a look at the “inside,” the book provides, finally, a fair focus on the truth about what is really happening behind closed doors. This should be in every pro-lifer’s personal library as a source for referencing Planned Parenthood’s true underpinnings
Abby’s story shares how she is won over to the cause at a college volunteer fair by a Planned Parenthood presenter who not only has a small-town affability and a professional persona—two traits Abby admires—but says the right things : “we help women who are facing a crisis,” “our clinics are so important to the safety of women, “our goal at Planned Parenthood is to make abortion rare,” and “caring for women in crisis is what we are about” (12-13). These comments all fall on the fertile soil of Abby’s heart and soul and her desire to help women in crisis (it also lent her a means for validating her own abortion), and so she is swept into the arms of the abortion industry. But her hopes and beliefs that Planned Parenthood means what it says when they say that their goal is to prevent unwanted pregnancies and thereby reduce the number of abortions are thwarted when she is thrust into having to increase abortions to shore up the family-planning facet of her “clinic” which needs abortion money for its upkeep. In turmoil over the disconnect she experiences between Planned Parenthood saying one thing and doing another, seeds have been sown for her exit strategy.
The thing that pushes her over the top, however, is the assist she has to make with an actual abortion. Up until now she has remained comfortably in the counseling and administrating end of the clinic and has not been an active participant in extracting babies. Short on nurses, she is asked to hold the ultrasound probe for the doctor to get the best spot for the cannula (the instrument used for suctioning the dismembered parts of the baby). She is in agony when seeing the ultrasound of this soon-to-be aborted, 13-week-old baby which reminds her of her own ultrasound three years prior; the baby wiggling away from the cannula, sensing harm, perhaps; and the doctor’s insensitive, crass remark “Beam me up, Scotty,” signaling the nurse to turn on the suction,opened her eyes to the harsh reality. Her thoughts—That was a human baby—fighting for life!—came crashing down on the empire she had built within her mind to justify her pro-choice beliefs. It is this event that drives her to reckon with the voices that have been vying for her attention for a long time from within and without. Within a few days, she clears out her desk, writes a letter of resignation, and heads out the door, washing her hands of Planned Parenthood and its shedding of innocent blood.
Abby’s world is one the pro-life community has speculated about but never really known until now. She spills her feelings about why she gave of herself to women who need the care of others to get through their unseemly predicaments. And we can learn from her words. If we have not done so, we can make it our practice to engage the women of our day in healthy friendships and inform them consistently about going to the right places for their needs. We should also extend our ministry to not only the mothers of our focus but to those clinic workers who also need our loving, caring intrusion into their lives. Read this book and be ministered to, knowing that our work is not in vain.This is a must-read for all those concerned with the sanctity of life. It yields a heart-rending look at how we can best influence the abortion-bound and their babies’ lives—our great white hope.
I challenge abortion-clinic personnel to take up this book and query your own heart whether or not you, like Abby, have become disenchanted with the state of affairs behind the business of abortion. Reading her story was a shocking expose’ of how women can be misled by those who move them into a cause that claims to help women.
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Jul 26, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’d been wanting to read “Unplanned” for a while. It’s the story of Abby Johnson, who joined Planned Parenthood right out of college. I was a little confused about how Abby, who’d grown up going to church and with seemingly “decent” parents, seemed pretty clueless about Planned Parenthood to the point where a volunteer recruiter totally sold her on the idea that PP was all about helping women, rainbows, and unicorns.

Anyway, Abby eventually becomes the director of a PP in Texas. She’s still mildl...more I’d been wanting to read “Unplanned” for a while. It’s the story of Abby Johnson, who joined Planned Parenthood right out of college. I was a little confused about how Abby, who’d grown up going to church and with seemingly “decent” parents, seemed pretty clueless about Planned Parenthood to the point where a volunteer recruiter totally sold her on the idea that PP was all about helping women, rainbows, and unicorns.

Anyway, Abby eventually becomes the director of a PP in Texas. She’s still mildly against abortion (although she had two herself), and convinces herself that her goal at PP is to reduce the number of abortions while helping women. There are some warning signs: one church that she and her husband want to join tells her she can’t, because of her job. At a regional PP meeting, a leader tells the directors that they need to raise more money, and the way to do this is to perform more abortions. Still, Abby loves her job overall.

After eight years of this, one day she is called in to assist with an abortion. She sees a baby actually broken up and sucked up with a tool, and it horrifies her. She realizes that she’s been complicit in causing many deaths over the years and pretty much loses it, running out of her building and over to the nearby pro-life center, whose volunteers she has mocked publicly over the years.

She does a total 180, joining the pro-lifers and even helping a couple of friends from her PP office who were also having qualms about their employment. She helps these friends work on resumes to find work elsewhere.

The rest of the book tells about her day in court, where she lands because PP files suit claiming that she compromised confidential PP information?? (either I didn’t really understand exactly what information that was, or it wasn’t fully explained, or the whole charge was bogus). She wins her case, and with that the tale wraps up.

As a pro-lifer, I enjoyed the book. It was an encouragement to keep praying — Abby mentions several pro-lifers who had prayed for her faithfully during the many years she worked at PP. We never know what may be going on in hearts, even when things look hopeless from our human perspective.
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Jul 09, 2012 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am extremely pro-life, as any genuine Christian should be, so I was very interested in reading this book.

The book talks a lot about Abby's growing-up years and up through college, which is where she became involved with Planned Parenthood.

I found it fascinating to get a look at what goes on in the mind of someone who is pro-life and works at an abortion facility, and also hearing from people who are on the front lines of the pro-life movement, battling for the lives of innocent babies.

This i...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Debra Brinkman rated it 5 of 5 stars

I first heard the story of Abby Johnson on Focus on the Family about a year ago (and they happen to be re-airing that yesterday and today... go check it out!) and was really intrigued. Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, and during a 40 Days of Prayer event at her clinic, she ended up walking off the job and walking into the Coalition for Life headquarters.

So when I saw she had written a book about her experiences, I knew I wanted to read it. Unplanned by Abby Johnson...more I first heard the story of Abby Johnson on Focus on the Family about a year ago (and they happen to be re-airing that yesterday and today... go check it out!) and was really intrigued. Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, and during a 40 Days of Prayer event at her clinic, she ended up walking off the job and walking into the Coalition for Life headquarters.

So when I saw she had written a book about her experiences, I knew I wanted to read it. Unplanned by Abby Johnson was a compelling -- and challenging -- book to read.

I loved this book. There was so much that struck a chord for me. I started college calling myself pro-life, but I had never truly thought through why I said that. Various experiences in college led me to some pretty similar conclusions to Abby's -- I felt that abortion needed to be legal so that women wouldn't be butchered in back-alley procedures. I wanted adoption to be pushed a lot harder as the preferred alternative. I bought the 'legal, safe and rare' line of the pro-choice movement.

My attitudes were fueled by some of the really hateful and unchristian attitudes of some in the pro-life movement. The in-your-face attacks of the 80s convinced me that pro-lifers were really anti-women zealots, though I always believed that many were truly wonderful, caring people... there just were not enough of them to stop the bullies.

So, in reading how Abby Johnson got started volunteering and then working for Planned Parenthood, I could really understand.

This was a book I couldn't put down. Even though I more or less knew the ending, I found it compelling. And she made me think. It's easy for me (now) to read about how she struggled with the thoughts about late-term abortion but was perfectly okay with the procedure if it happened just a week or two earlier and think -- how could you hold such contradictory views? But don't I do that with other issues? Not that I care to give examples, thankyouverymuch. I just never really thought about why people end up working at abortion clinics.

This story reminds me that there are real people involved. And while some of them may just seem evil, many feel they are doing their part to help women and to provide options. They are there because they care.

I think anyone who cares about sanctity of life issues really needs to read this book. You can start with the first chapter, or go check out Abby's blog, or check out the book's webpage.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review. (less)

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Jun 09, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-life, christian-non-fiction, autobiography, library-book, tyndale

This is a book that will have you either affirming your belief in the pro-life movement, doubting your belief in the so called pro-choice movement or getting you off the fence all together. I read this book in one day - one day I couldn't put it down because I was gripped by Abby's story of giving into Planned Parenthood and rising through the ranks and then her realization that what she was seeing was wrong and that that 'fetus' is a baby. It took an act by an abortionist for her to see what he...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Shelby the Incredible rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was thrust upon me by a friend of my mom’s (yeah, strange…). And I want to thank this friend of my mom’s right now. Because I would probably have never read this book if it hadn’t been for her. Why?
1) I had never heard of it…ever.
2) I don’t usually read biographies. Ever. I’m a fiction girl at heart.
3) Well…I don’t have a third reason. But maybe if I had heard of it and liked biographies, I still might not have read it, because abortion isn’t something I love to go reading about. It’s...more This book was thrust upon me by a friend of my mom’s (yeah, strange…). And I want to thank this friend of my mom’s right now. Because I would probably have never read this book if it hadn’t been for her. Why?
1) I had never heard of it…ever.
2) I don’t usually read biographies. Ever. I’m a fiction girl at heart.
3) Well…I don’t have a third reason. But maybe if I had heard of it and liked biographies, I still might not have read it, because abortion isn’t something I love to go reading about. It’s sick and perverted.
But man oh man. This book was GREAT. AMAZING. FANTASTIC. I flew through it (well, I had no choice…I had to fly through it. It was due the next day and it was checked out on my mom’s friend’s card. Yeah, bummer. But I called her and she most graciously allowed me to keep it for a couple more days if I paid the fine. Something I don’t suggest you do often, kids). But I digress.
Abby Johnson never knew where her journey with Planned Parenthood would lead her, but she certainly wasn’t expecting it to turn into an eight year career. But that’s what it did. One day she was just a naïve Texas college girl, and the next thing she knew she was director of one of the fastest growing abortion clinics in the country. And she loved it. Until one day.
That one day changed Abby’s life and countless others. It was the day that she actually participated in an abortion herself. She saw the baby in the womb, and she saw it die. And she’ll never forget it. That was the day she switched sides. She crossed the fence.
I’m so psyched about this book that I want to tell you every little detail of it! But that wouldn’t be much of a book review, would it? It would be a…a book spoiler.  I loved the way Abby wrote this book. She didn’t condemn. She didn’t favor one side to another. She had her views, then they changed. But she didn’t shun pro-lifers or pro-choicers. One thing she did do was give us a peek at both sides and what it’s really like on the other side of the fence (by the “fence” I mean the iron barrier that encircles every clinic). She showed us pro-lifers that clinic workers just want to help women just like we do. They are filled with compassion and love just like we are for these desperate women. They aren’t blood thirsty murders- most clinic works don’t even like the idea of abortion- they abhor it, just like we do. She showed us that most every woman that walks into the door of a clinic is scared, confused, and anxious. They’re in need of a lot of love.
I also loved how Abby used the fence as a symbol of the tension between the two “warring sides.” She made us think of it as a battle ground, as a wall that marked the end of one side and the beginning of the other. It separated the two groups, the abortionists (I don’t like calling them that, but I have to for lack of a better word…bear with me) and the pro-lifers. It was meant to keep people out, but instead of serving its purpose, it kept people in (such as the clinic workers who loved serving women in this way but didn’t like the idea of having a hand in abortions).
One other thing that touched my heart was the dedication and sincere love that the Coalition for Life volunteers showed by praying at the fence. It must be such a scene to see something so genuine. Sincere love for people you don’t even know is very rare these days, but these people literally radiate love from their smiles, their kind words, and their fervent prayers for these despairing women.
In conclusion, I loved Abby’s book and grew to love her and all the Coalition for Life people that she featured in her story. This is not a light read in the least, but it is a story of hidden guilt, buried sorrows, redemption, forgiveness, love and compassion. It will make you look at abortionist, pro-choicers, pro-lifers, and abortion in general in a whole different light. It will make you want to reach out to those on the other side of the fence. It will touch your heart. I guarantee it. 
Note: The first chapter of this book features a real abortion. It goes into detail of the abortion and how it was done. It’s not something that’s pleasant to read, and it bothered me emotionally. I don’t suggest just anyone to read this- only the most mature teens and adults. I don’t want this to make you shy away from the book, though. Sometimes it’s a good thing to be bothered by things like this, but this is just a warning for the squeamish.
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Oct 03, 2011 Leslie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography

Abby Johnson's story is about her own growth process and unwillingness to view anything (especially herself) below the surface. She made her most important life decisions while floating along in a bubble of shallow conclusions that contain no consequences. There is much danger in believing our own stories that we weave and never allowing ourselves to think beyond what is easy and comfortable. She truly desired to help others and felt she could create a life of service in her career with Planned...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Loren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: political-socialization

If you picked up this book in the hopes of encountering a bipartisan look on the issue of abortion, you've come to the wrong place.
Although the author majored in psychology she readily chooses to confuse feelings with facts, emotions geared justifications with logic and reason. She too heavily relies on her emotions and feelings to discern the rights and wrongs of her past, present and future leaving her depth of analysis void of validity. This woman has deeply ingrained psychological issues fr...more If you picked up this book in the hopes of encountering a bipartisan look on the issue of abortion, you've come to the wrong place.
Although the author majored in psychology she readily chooses to confuse feelings with facts, emotions geared justifications with logic and reason. She too heavily relies on her emotions and feelings to discern the rights and wrongs of her past, present and future leaving her depth of analysis void of validity. This woman has deeply ingrained psychological issues from a very conservative Christian upbringing that would certainly make her first abortion spiritually damaging from her already negative perspective. And to then have another? How foolish. When she does get to a point where she feels society would welcome a pregnancy (married to the right guy with the right finances), she still admittedly suffers mentally and goes into a period of depression following the birth of a child she amusingly names Grace. Oftentimes Abby is so wrapped up in her own impressions that she fails to see the betrayals of trust and confidence along the way. Clueless. Ambivalent. Judgmental. Un-authentic. Unplanned.
"Right reasons, wrong choices" is how she chooses to explain what she deems good people doing very bad things to women at Planned Parenthood. Why did she wait nearly a decade before she chose to witness an abortion? Why did it "shake the foundation" of her "values and change the course" of her life? She never advocated the practice she herself did twice, once before and once while working at Planned Parenthood. If you pay attention carefully, her story is not wish-washy at all. It follows on like a straight line. Woman is grounded in Christian values, woman leaves for school and becomes undone, woman feels shame for her actions and tries to justify her decisions, woman returns to original rhetoric. All this "wrong side of the fence" nonsense she perpetrates masquerades under her concisely linear motives. "I love babies and family..." Let me guess.... and stuff? Her perception is greatly biased and ignorant of just basic concepts. The second the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice debate involves God, souls and other metaphysical material, it no longer becomes a debate of reason but of mystical things. And these magical things have no place in the concrete issue of living breathing thinking tangible life. It is easy for her to look back with regret, but she never adresses the damnation in life, not death that would of awaited her admittedly failed toxic union had she kept her first two pregnancies. Let us not displace her detest for increasing abortion revenues with the true culprit, capitalism, which also has no place in issues of ethics.

"I approached the Planned Parenthood fence and drove through the open gate. It felt as if darkness were descending on me as I entered. Dread-that's what I was feeling. Even though I'm now appalled at what happens inside this fence, I'm crossing through it as if everything is fine. But it's not fine. This is a death house. A prison. And I've been both prison guard and prisoner."

I wonder what her God would say about that? Oh wait, He does:

"The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird, for your children will die at birth or perish in the womb or never even be conceived. Even if your children do survive to grow up, I will take them from you. It will be a terrible day when I turn away and leave you alone. I have watched Israel become as beautiful and pleasant as Tyre. But now Israel will bring out her children to be slaughtered." O LORD, what should I request for your people? I will ask for wombs that don't give birth and breasts that give no milk. The LORD says, "All their wickedness began at Gilgal; there I began to hate them. I will drive them from my land because of their evil actions. I will love them no more because all their leaders are rebels. The people of Israel are stricken. Their roots are dried up; they will bear no more fruit. And if they give birth, I will slaughter their beloved children." (Hosea 9:11-16 NLT)(less)

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Sep 03, 2011 Susan B rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-biography

Abby Johnson was a 19-year-old junior when she attended a volunteer fair at Texas A&M and was recruited by Planned Parenthood. Raised in a Christian home, you might think she'd be reluctant to partner with an organization known to provide abortions, but Abby believed in Planned Parenthood's stated mission of offering health care, contraceptives and counseling to women in order to reduce the number of abortions, and the talking points and semantics used by Planned Parenthood were convincing....more

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Aug 30, 2011 Margaret rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Margaret by: Amy

I heard about this DVD from a blog tour invite, but did not have the availability at the time to tour it. My friend Amy did however and she let me borrow it after she was finished. I was not sure how I would feel about it, but I was interested and trust pretty much most things that come from Focus on the Family with out a doubt. The documentary starts with explaining how Abby was just a normal good girl growing up until the pressures of college and things changed a bit. She never was really bad,...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Pam B. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this book and read it rather quickly. Abby's story is interesting--not always easy to read but interesting. She probably won't be remembered as a great writer but I do think she felt called to tell her story and she experienced a sincere and sudden conversion of heart--I always find those stories compelling. I am solidly in the pro-life camp but I have friends who are pro-choice, so the book did not tell me anything about the two sides of the fence that I did not already know but I imagi...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Nora St Laurent rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Thoughts -
UNPLANNED the DVD interviews ABBY JOHNSON, her family, friends, and co-workers. This was a great discussion builder. After watching this with my family we had a lengthy conversation about what is abortion and how Abby Johnson was deceived. She wanted to help woman like herself who got in trouble and saw no other way out at the time but abortion. She also was going to school to become a counselor to help people. Abby Johnson honestly thought the health care side of Planned Parenthood...more My Thoughts -
UNPLANNED the DVD interviews ABBY JOHNSON, her family, friends, and co-workers. This was a great discussion builder. After watching this with my family we had a lengthy conversation about what is abortion and how Abby Johnson was deceived. She wanted to help woman like herself who got in trouble and saw no other way out at the time but abortion. She also was going to school to become a counselor to help people. Abby Johnson honestly thought the health care side of Planned Parenthood was helping women and they did up until the point they were pushing abortion and how easy it was to young girls in trouble. They made more money on the abortion side then the birth control side.

This DVD documents her journey in life. Abby was raised in a Christian Family. Went to church Wed. night, Sunday and was a youth leader. She goes off to a big 4 year university and her world starts to change. She wants to fit in and belong to something. She starts to try things she never did before and her life takes turns she never thought it would.

I appreciated Abby Johnson's honesty in expressing how she was deceived and how she believed the lies that Planned Parenthood was telling her. After becoming a director things started to change for her. Planned Parenthood's funding was being threatened and they were forcing her to do things she didn't believe in.

I loved how this DVD captured the peaceful way the protesters treated Abby Johnson as she went to work each day. They would faithfully go to the Clinic and pray. One time they even left flowers in the drive with a note that said they loved her and were praying for her. Abby remembered their kindness and sought out the very people that were paying for her and asked for help, Christian Coalition. She felt that she couldn't do the work she’d been doing one more day. She needed to get out but she also needed a pay check. It was very cool to see in modern times how God provided a way for Abby to get out when there seemed to be no way out. She thought she’d go peacefully in the night but God had other plans. I’m so thankful she told her story! It’s one that needed to be told!

The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org (less)

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Jun 09, 2011 Jeannie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, non-fiction, women-authors, abortion

Rating: 3.5 stars

Plot (mild spoiler warning):

The subtitle for this book pretty much says it all. Abby Johnson started as a volunteer for Planned Parenthood. She had a great desire to help women, prevent them from getting in crisis situations, and to decrease the number of abortions. A recruiter working a Fair at Abby's college convinced Abby she would fulfill these desires by working with Planned Parenthood. As time progressed, Abby moved up the Planned Parenthood ladder until she was director t...more Rating: 3.5 stars

Plot (mild spoiler warning):

The subtitle for this book pretty much says it all. Abby Johnson started as a volunteer for Planned Parenthood. She had a great desire to help women, prevent them from getting in crisis situations, and to decrease the number of abortions. A recruiter working a Fair at Abby's college convinced Abby she would fulfill these desires by working with Planned Parenthood. As time progressed, Abby moved up the Planned Parenthood ladder until she was director the Planned Parenthood clinic where she started. After participating in an ultrasound-guided abortion, she saw abortion for what it is: the termination of a baby. She has several epiphanies and eventually crosses the literal and proverbial fence to seek help from the local pro-life chapter. And, that is where she is now.

My opinion:

The book was...good. It was engaging--I had a hard time putting it down. I rejoiced in Abby's enlightenment. However, I don't really know if this book is great by any means. It is an account of Abby's reflection. But I kept feeling like I was reading a drama. Perhaps I am too familiar with her story (I vaguely remember when the climax of this book happened). I do not discourage anyone from reading this book. It would be really good for people struggling with whether they are pro-life or pro-choice since Abby discusses both sides fairly. I also see radical pro-lifers (people who cannot understand how anyone can be pro-choice) benefiting from this book for the same reason. However, since the target audience for this book is the average pro-life Christian (I first heard about this book from Focus on the Family, then from Tony Perkins, and then from LifeWay Christian Books, and then Amazon picked up on me being a White, Anglo-Saxon Protestant), she is preaching to the choir.

Bottom line: good book, amazing story, but I feel like the marketing strategy is more to make money than to inspire people. Perhaps this book will get better with time and maybe after Abby has added a few chapters about what she's been doing since leaving Planned Parenthood.

This book did have a comforting Scripture reference in it:

It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

(less)

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May 25, 2011 Pamela Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

The word abortion polarizes people—you are either for it or against it. A line drawn in the sand; a fence metaphorically and literally that forces you to choose sides. It effects all aspects of life; personally, politically, monetarily and spiritually. Unplanned shows us both sides: an inside look by someone who has been on each side of that fence.

By the time Abby Johnson started college she knew she wanted to help women in crisis. During her junior year, at a volunteer opportunities fair at he...more

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May 05, 2011 Dianne rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was glad to read Abby's story of conversion from pro choice to anti-abortion, but I felt that the book was rather self-serving. She spends more than half the book defending why she could not see what was right in front of her. She says she did not realize until 2009 that abortion is the industry that makes planned parenthood all the money. I think most of the readers have known that fact for many years. She is an intelligent woman, and both her family and husband, albeit gently, have tried to...more

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May 04, 2011 Lifeverse rated it 5 of 5 stars

unPlanned by Abby Johnson is a dramatic autobiography about a former Planned Parenthood director and her eight-year journey from pro-choice to pro-life. This book is an examination of abortion from both sides of the fence and from Abby’s personal abortion experiences. While at times the book is difficult to read, the message is one to be embraced from both sides. Abby’s message is one of compassion. She viewed her own compassion for her clients inside the walls of Planned Parenthood, while at th...more unPlanned by Abby Johnson is a dramatic autobiography about a former Planned Parenthood director and her eight-year journey from pro-choice to pro-life. This book is an examination of abortion from both sides of the fence and from Abby’s personal abortion experiences. While at times the book is difficult to read, the message is one to be embraced from both sides. Abby’s message is one of compassion. She viewed her own compassion for her clients inside the walls of Planned Parenthood, while at the same time the Coalition for Life group was sharing their compassion for Abby, the patients, the unborn, and the Planned Parenthood staff.

Though Abby was trained by Planned Parenthood mentors to argue with pro-life demonstrators, her heart was opened to listen, as she was a woman of faith. For the eight years Abby worked inside the abortion clinic, she believed she was working in the best interest of women and offering birth control as a method to prevent abortion. Her goal and her purpose was to stop the abortions, from inside the clinic walls. She learned the Planned Parenthood scripts, followed the rules to never use the word “baby” and counseled many women as they made a choice to abort their children. Abby even attended pro-choice rallies and was passionate about her cause and the clients of Planned Parenthood.

One day, her world changed when Abby assisted in an abortion procedure and performed the ultrasound on a child about to lose a life. As she watched the ultrasound, she saw the life of the unborn stripped away by choice. Observing with her own eyes the image of a baby sucked into a vacuum, Abby had enough. In an instant she saw the lies, she saw the suffering of her patients and she watched an unborn child struggle for life. Abby made a decision to end her career, though she was director of a Planned Parenthood clinic and had recently won an award as a model employee. Share her journey from inside the walls of an abortion clinic and see how the 40 Days For Life impacted the life of Abby Johnson.(less)

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May 04, 2011 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography, christian

Abby Johnson grew up in a Christian home, raised to be kind and honest, to work hard, and to always do her best in school. She excelled in her Texas high school and excitedly went on to college at Texas A&M University. While there, she felt overwhelmed, as many young college students often do, and her choices began to affect her negatively. Abby began dating an older guy and became pregnant. She was confused and lost, unsure what to do or how to handle the situation. Her boyfriend wasn’t sup...more Abby Johnson grew up in a Christian home, raised to be kind and honest, to work hard, and to always do her best in school. She excelled in her Texas high school and excitedly went on to college at Texas A&M University. While there, she felt overwhelmed, as many young college students often do, and her choices began to affect her negatively. Abby began dating an older guy and became pregnant. She was confused and lost, unsure what to do or how to handle the situation. Her boyfriend wasn’t supportive and simply assumed Abby would have an abortion. He drove her to an abortion clinic in Houston, and the deed was done. She would later become pregnant by him again, and that pregnancy resulted in another abortion.

Abby met Planned Parenthood staffers at a campus volunteer day at A&M and was taken in by their promises of health care services for women. She worked as a clinic escort and later as a counselor for them, thinking she was helping women, all while knowing that her parents didn’t approve of her choices, and knew she wasn’t doing what they’d raised her to do.

She rose through the ranks of Planned Parenthood, eventually becoming director of the office she’d first volunteered at. She married a longtime friend, gave birth to their daughter, Grace, and worked on her master’s degree in counseling. Even though her parents and husband did not support her career, she forged ahead, certain what she was doing was right.

But, just outside the clinic’s fence, there were always pro-lifers praying. There were the typical loud and harassing ones, with the large photos of mangled baby bodies, but the ones that caught Abby’s attention were the quiet ones who just stood there praying. One, named Elizabeth, struck up conversations with Abby and over time won her trust. Elizabeth prayed for Abby, and one day gave her flowers with a Bible verse and promise of prayer attached. Abby thought this gesture was odd, but kept the card and never forgot Elizabeth.

Abby’s life changed in October 2009 when a doctor visited the clinic to do surgical abortions while using an ultrasound machine. Abby was called from her office to assist, and as she watched the horror of what unfolded before her on screen, her mind and heart were changed. The ultrasound was so similar to the ones she’d experienced during her pregnancy with Grace, and when the baby looked frightened and in pain and tried to get away from the doctor’s abortion instruments, Abby knew she could never again be partner to abortions.

She went down the street to the local Coalition for Life office, and in tears, asked them for help. Abby left her job at Planned Parenthood immediately, and has since become a Christian pro-life activist, eager to counsel women away from the horrific and painful choice of abortion and toward choosing life for their babies.

Abby’s new book, Unplanned tells her story in riveting detail. The accompanying DVD offers a glimpse into her story, in her own words and through interviews with her family and Coalition for Life members who prayed for her. (less)

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May 01, 2011 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

Abby Johnson quit her job in October 2009. That simple act became a national news story because Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas who, after participating in her first actual abortion procedure, walked across the road to join the Coalition for Life.
Unplanned is a heart stopping personal drama of life-and-death encounters, a courtroom battle, and spiritual transformation that speaks hope and compassion into the political controversy that surrounds this issue. Telling A...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Katie marked it as to-read

I had heard of Abby in the past, when her story made headlines... But I recently came across a review of her book on an adoption site I follow, and the more I read- the more captivated I was. I appreciate so much that this is not a woman painting a story of Good vs. Evil. She is working to helping us see the pain, helplessness, and hopelessness that leads many to abort a pregnancy. She is helping to debunk the culturally accepted attitudes of "MY body, MY choice..." to see the larger picture, an...more I had heard of Abby in the past, when her story made headlines... But I recently came across a review of her book on an adoption site I follow, and the more I read- the more captivated I was. I appreciate so much that this is not a woman painting a story of Good vs. Evil. She is working to helping us see the pain, helplessness, and hopelessness that leads many to abort a pregnancy. She is helping to debunk the culturally accepted attitudes of "MY body, MY choice..." to see the larger picture, and the other LIFE involved in the decision... but she seems to do this with love, empathy, and compassion.

Over the many months we have been working toward adopting, we have been touched by Birth Mothers who have struggled with the decision of abortion, and made the courageous choice of adoption. We have met women who have had abortions in their past, and decided to adopt out their current pregnancy after the devastation and pain of past abortion(s). Just last weekend, we were involved with a birth mother who had gone through the horrible trauma of being raped, and becoming pregnant. She had had a previous abortion, and felt she could not go through that again- for her sake or that of her baby. She made the choice to adopt out her baby, understanding that this child did not choose how or when he was conceived, and that her pain from that experience did not give her the right to terminate that child's life. This has been an amazing and eye-opening experience for me to see the reality of this issue.

The line dividing each side of this battle is thin, often invisible... Judgement does nothing to serve anyone... Shame only pushes this issue deeper into the battlefield, and drives out healing, hope, and love. I hope more people can adopt the attitudes of empathy, compassion, and a willingness to LISTEN to what the real issue is... because abortion is only a symptom of the real issue. Extremism, hatred, coercion, and dogmatic tactics of "camp-building" can only distract from ever getting to the core of what this gaping wound is truly about- and being able to heal it.(less)

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Apr 23, 2011 Leah Beecher rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This true account is a very truthful, intelligent, and uplifting account of ones woman's journey with abortion, and spirituality. What makes this book so compelling is that she gives readers insight to the question: "Why do so many Christian women get abortions? and "Why are so many "good" or "religious" women pro-choice?
She really unveiled for me the truth that many women who volunteer or work for planned pregnancy truly have compassion for women. Her own personal spiritually journey, and God...more

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About Abby Johnson

Abby Johnson’s life was changed on October 6, 2009. That was the day that she resigned from the largest abortion corporation in the nation…Planned Parenthood.

Abby worked and volunteered for Planned Parenthood for eight years. For the last year of her employment, Christ had been working on her heart. Although she didn’t understand why, Abby had begun to question her work and the motivations of the...more Abby Johnson’s life was changed on October 6, 2009. That was the day that she resigned from the largest abortion corporation in the nation…Planned Parenthood.

Abby worked and volunteered for Planned Parenthood for eight years. For the last year of her employment, Christ had been working on her heart. Although she didn’t understand why, Abby had begun to question her work and the motivations of the company she had dedicated herself to for eight years.

In September 2009, she saw something that forever changed her mind on the issue of abortion. Abby was asked to assist in an ultrasound guided abortion procedure. On the ultrasound screen she saw a 13 week baby in the womb fight for its life…only to lose the battle in the end.

Not knowing where to go, Abby turned to a local pro-life resource group, The Brazos Valley Coalition for Life. She explained the events that she had witnessed and swore that she would begin to advocate for life in the womb, instead of destroying it. Even though she had not intended on being a public figure, God had different plans.

When Planned Parenthood found out about Abby’s change of heart, they were frightened that others would hear her story and then change their minds on abortion. Their defense was to silence her with a temporary gag order and eventually take her to court. They also decided to inform the media of their gag order.

The media were very interested in Abby’s story. A local news affiliate ran the story on the 10pm news…by Monday morning she was receiving calls from Mike Huckabee and Bill O’Reilly. On November 10, 2009, Planned Parenthood faced off with Abby in the courtroom. It was easy for the judge to see that the lawsuit was a sham. After an hour of testimony from Planned Parenthood, the judge dismissed the case on the spot.

On November 11th, Abby appeared on the O’Reilly Factor. Since her departure from Planned Parenthood, Abby has been traveling the country sharing her story and motivating others to continue the pro-life fight. She also works on projects for the national 40 Days for Life team. Abby lives in Texas with her husband and daughter.(less)

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“If I have this child? Why wasn’t it obvious to me that I already had a child, who was growing inside of me? Once you are pregnant, there is no if. That child, though tiny and in an early stage of development, already exists!” — 1 person liked it

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Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line

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