No Way Baby! Exploring, Understanding and Defending the Decision NOT to Have Children

by Karen Foster

Now updated for 2012! The bookshelves are lined with book after book telling the expectant mother what she has to look forward to once she has finally reached the pinnacle of womanhood and become a mother. But what about those of us who are forgoing this so-called rapturous event? Forty years after throwing off the shackles of a patriarchy that demanded nothing less than marriage and babies from its female citizens, women continue to fall prey to the conventional wisdom that you "grow up, get married and have children." This is just the tip of the melting ice berg. While our planet struggles to maintain the over 6.5 billion humans already ravaging her splendor, women (and men) still encounter discrimination, shunning and constant nagging by family and friends solely because they have decided not to breed another ravenous consumer. In "No Way Baby!" the ongoing objections thrown at the childfree are analyzed, scrutinized, and finally debunked once and for all. With ongoing narrative intertwined with insights from 50+ childfrees living on the front lines, Karen Foster makes the case that it is time to stop obligatory procreation and recognize that childfree adults make a valuable contribution to society - that benefit everyone (even children).

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Psychology

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 4, 2010

Reviews

[Ms. Missy BooFul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a beautiful voice for CHILDFREES. This has been the best book I have read this year. Karen explains how parenting is a CHOICE and not an obligation. She makes us feel understood and that here is a place for us in this baby crazed world. This book had done so very much for me.

[Tarva Yonzom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative

I liked this book because it approached the subject from different angles and addressed possible problems people might face whether they choose or not to have children.
I would liked this book even more if it approached the subject in depth from even more philosophical, spiritual and psychological position.
I would recommend it to those who value their life and others' life as well.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interviewed for this book long ago, but this review is not biased, I swear. This is a very informative and eye-opening book on the decision not to have children. A lot of the experiences detailed in the book are things I've dealt with as a childfree personally, but what made the book for me was the research and facts that backed up the author's opinions. Overall, a good read.

[Alex Strasser · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought many of the arguments in the first several chapters were a bit quick and immature, but the last two chapters made reading the book worth it, as the 2nd to last chapter contains more info about elder care than other similar readings I've seen, and the last chapter about regret is also quite useful.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Way Baby! is an informative read for individuals who wish to remain childfree. Basically, anyone who has made the conscious decision not to have a child. Foster makes it a point to distinguish this group from the childless.

There is a growing number of people who are choosing not to have a family in the traditional sense - individuals who do not feel the need to have their own kids. They may love their nieces and nephews or their friends' children, but that need to have their own does not exist. Some of them decide this as soon as they are teenagers.
Since society is always progressing in one way or another, it is important to understand the options available to us. This book is very useful in that it provides information for those of us who don't necessarily feel the calling to become a mother or a father. It provides information on the opposition and encouragement in making your own decision, not one that society has placed on you.Apart from being informative in the decision-making process, it also provides information on those lingering questions one has, such as, without kids, what happens to us when we grow old? Etc.

This book brought up many worries I didn't even know I had. However, as someone who is not sure about having children, it is a necessary reality to think about how life will be without children. In a world full of uncertainties, this book provides you an in-depth, informative look into one of the options that we grow up not hearing about.

With that said, I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with the decision of not having children (either deciding or dealing with the aftermath of making the decision), as well as those who are not able to have children. Although Foster directs this books to the childfree, the later chapters help with providing information for others. I also suggest this book for anyone who has a childfree in their family or as a friend - it will help them to better understand the other side of the fence, so to speak.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well... I don't know. The book says a lot of stuff I agree with, but it also veers wildly off into areas that barely relate to the main topic. This left me feeling like I'd just read a Michael Moore book. The author goes out of her way to make some stuff way more political than it needed to be (even though I agree with her on most points). I'll give her a lot of credit for being mostly balanced in a lot of her views/stances. This was definitely not an anti-parent or anti-baby book. However, it did often slide into moments of "...but really, the childfree option is the most ethical/sensible/realistic/economical/Eco-friendly choice..." which didn't always feel well supported.

I'm not sure what I was hoping for in this book, but I didn't find it.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting this book to be so informative. A mix of facts and anecdotes from the childfree, No Way, Baby! breaks down the fantasy world that most Americans subscribe to when contemplating parenthood. The author is great because she speaks to all adults: parents, the childfree, parents of the childfree... and it's nice because she isn't accusing anyone of making the wrong decision. Her purpose is to promote love and understanding between all chosen paths of life: "chosen" because to parent or not is a choice (for some) that many adult Americans don't realize they have.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I read about being childfree. I browsed a few others and selected Foster's because I like her writing style, which is well-crafted and easy-to-read. Although I was surprised that this book is so political, No Way Baby changed my attitude about being childfree from apologetic to proud!

[Latasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic in that it gave me a lot more arguments than I previously had when I let people know I plan on remaining childfree. Also it gave a lot more in-depth information that solidified my decision. I am extremely left wing politically, so a lot in this book spoke to me. However I don't recommend this for right wing or non-political childfrees.

[Helen Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although very centred around America, there's some really interesting view points explored that are relevant to someone living in the U.K. as well. I thought this was a really interesting read, it was not anti children but pro choice about whether you want to have children.

[Radicaleinzors · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off good but then she kinda got whiny there towards the end.

[Sibel Oz · Rating 3 out of 5]

She is off-topic a lot of times...