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Everything Conceivable: How the Science of Assisted Reproduction Is Changing Our World
Award-winning journalist Liza Mundy captures the human narratives, as well as the science, behind the controversial, multibillion-dollar fertility industry, and examines how this huge social experiment is transforming our most basic relationships and even our destiny as a species.Skyrocketing infertility rates and dizzying technological advances are revolutionizing American families and changing the way we think about parenthood, childbirth, and life itself. Using in-depth reporting and riveting anecdotal material from doctors, families, surrogates, sperm and egg donors, infertile men and women, single and gay and lesbian parents, and children conceived through technology, Mundy explores the impact of assisted reproduction on individuals as well as the ethical issues raised and the potentially vast social consequences. The unforgettable personal stories in Everything Conceivable run the gamut from joyous to tragic; all of them raise questions we dare not ignore.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
16 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Liza Mundy
7 books385 followersLiza Mundy is an award-winning journalist and the New York Times bestselling author of five books, including CODE GIRLS, and her latest, THE SISTERHOOD.
Published in 2017, CODE GIRLS tells the story of more than 10,000 female code breakers recruited during World War II to perform work that saved countless lives, shortened a global war, and pioneered the modern computer and cybersecurity industries.
Available October 2023, THE SISTERHOOD is a gripping history of women in the CIA across three generations--beginning with unlikely female spies who served in the war and its aftermath, through to the women who tracked down Osama Bin Laden.
Her other titles include MICHELLE: A BIOGRAPHY; THE RICHER SEX; and EVERYTHING CONCEIVABLE.
In addition to her work as a narrative non-fiction author, Liza, a former staff writer for The Washington Post, writes about history, culture, and politics for publications such as The Atlantic and Politico.
At various points in her life as a working parent she has worked full-time, part-time, all-night, at home, in the office, remotely, in person, on trains, in the car, alone, in crowds, under duress, and while simultaneously making dinner.
Published in 2017, CODE GIRLS tells the story of more than 10,000 female code breakers recruited during World War II to perform work that saved countless lives, shortened a global war, and pioneered the modern computer and cybersecurity industries.
Available October 2023, THE SISTERHOOD is a gripping history of women in the CIA across three generations--beginning with unlikely female spies who served in the war and its aftermath, through to the women who tracked down Osama Bin Laden.
Her other titles include MICHELLE: A BIOGRAPHY; THE RICHER SEX; and EVERYTHING CONCEIVABLE.
In addition to her work as a narrative non-fiction author, Liza, a former staff writer for The Washington Post, writes about history, culture, and politics for publications such as The Atlantic and Politico.
At various points in her life as a working parent she has worked full-time, part-time, all-night, at home, in the office, remotely, in person, on trains, in the car, alone, in crowds, under duress, and while simultaneously making dinner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 18, 2020
Damn. Really amazing book. Very thought-provoking. There were so many things that will stick with me after reading this: the widely observed notion that adults in search of fertility treatments are more motivated than cancer patients, the downstream consequences of ICSI for male infertility, and the unregulated nature of the fertility industry. The relationship between abortion, prochoice and prolife positions and the attitudes toward various assisted reproductive technologies was very illuminating to me. This book honestly challenged my own preconceptions about this one certain common ART procedure in ways I did not expect. I bought this book for a pittance at a Goodwill. I got more than my money's worth. I don't think I'll look at the many children in my neighborhood quite the same now. Just how many of them were conceived and/or carried via ART?
May 9, 2009
Everything Conceivable does what I would not have imagined possible - examines the complicated ins and outs of assisted reproductive technology (and all the associated social consequences) without losing compassion for those seeking to have children, or minimizing the related scientific, social, and individual risks.
There's a great deal here to give heart to those trying to deal with infertility - male sterility is all but vanquished in the United States, for example, thanks to new ways of introducing sperm to the nucleus of an egg - and Mundy emphasizes just how much the children born of parents utilizing reproductive technologies are loved and cherished. There are no shortage of incredible stories about the lengths parents go to to conceive, and the deep satisfaction they feel when they meet their child; stories about families being woven of whole new cloth, of gay and lesbian parents, of half-siblings who have become kin to one another despite being born a thousand miles apart, linked by the a biological donation of an egg or sperm.
Yet Mundy is also exacting in detailing how unprepared we are - societally and evolutionarily - to deal with the consequences of ART. Infertility, for example, often has a purpose, preventing a parent who is a carrier of disease from passing that on to another generation. (Rates of cystic fibrosis, for example, have significantly increased since the use of ART.) Men are now passing genetic infertility on to their sons, and women the idiosyncrasy of their womb's shape, size, or capability to carry a child to term. Without registries to provide medical information about sperm and egg donors - most are completely anonymous - there is no way for a child to know his or her complete genetic medical history, and there is the possibility of half-siblings unknowingly dating, marrying, and having children with one another. The United States also maintains a ban on embryo research, meaning that we have no idea if the culture medium in which embryos are grown has any effect on the child who grows from their cells. (Very early research abroad suggests yes, it's possible - children conceived through IVF are, for example, more likely as embryos to spontaneously split and become twins than their naturally-conceived counterparts, and culture medium is the most likely cause.) As the author points out, the long term effects of IVF and high-dose fertility drugs on children have not been explored - can't be explored because of the ban on embryo research. Then there's the effect on a woman's body of carrying multiples - even twins are a rare phenomenon in non-ART pregnancy, but with ART pregnancies, multiples become more and more common. Aside from developmental problems experienced by children as a result (which escalate wildly with three and more babies) there's the cost to the mother, whose womb is evolutionarily designed to carry about 10lbs, no more.
Mundy does not suggest that any of this should outweigh the joy that a much-wanted child brings to a family. She does persuasively argue, however, that we have given sufficient thought to the long-term consequences of ART. Her prescription is not that ART should cease, but that we should step up to the plate with better regulation of the ART industry, better public health information about the causes of infertility (of which the most common - in women - is age), and a more comprehensive support and counseling system for would-be parents. She also challenges the women's movement to figure out how to better support women as they navigate the challenge of infertility. The most sophisticated assisted reproductive technologies are available to those who can pay, or whose jobs have liberal enough insurance policies to cover most costs. Where does that leave poor women? Non-white women whose nearest infertility specialist is racist? Lesbian women in places where no doctor supports their vision of family? Women with incomplete medical information who believe the doctor who tells them it's necessary to implant four, five, six embryos? The women's movement, Mundy charges, has a responsibility not only toward women seeking to control their reproduction by choosing not to have children at a given moment in time, but also to women who want kids and need help to make it happen.
I can't help but think of the proverb that cautions - may you live in interesting times.
There's a great deal here to give heart to those trying to deal with infertility - male sterility is all but vanquished in the United States, for example, thanks to new ways of introducing sperm to the nucleus of an egg - and Mundy emphasizes just how much the children born of parents utilizing reproductive technologies are loved and cherished. There are no shortage of incredible stories about the lengths parents go to to conceive, and the deep satisfaction they feel when they meet their child; stories about families being woven of whole new cloth, of gay and lesbian parents, of half-siblings who have become kin to one another despite being born a thousand miles apart, linked by the a biological donation of an egg or sperm.
Yet Mundy is also exacting in detailing how unprepared we are - societally and evolutionarily - to deal with the consequences of ART. Infertility, for example, often has a purpose, preventing a parent who is a carrier of disease from passing that on to another generation. (Rates of cystic fibrosis, for example, have significantly increased since the use of ART.) Men are now passing genetic infertility on to their sons, and women the idiosyncrasy of their womb's shape, size, or capability to carry a child to term. Without registries to provide medical information about sperm and egg donors - most are completely anonymous - there is no way for a child to know his or her complete genetic medical history, and there is the possibility of half-siblings unknowingly dating, marrying, and having children with one another. The United States also maintains a ban on embryo research, meaning that we have no idea if the culture medium in which embryos are grown has any effect on the child who grows from their cells. (Very early research abroad suggests yes, it's possible - children conceived through IVF are, for example, more likely as embryos to spontaneously split and become twins than their naturally-conceived counterparts, and culture medium is the most likely cause.) As the author points out, the long term effects of IVF and high-dose fertility drugs on children have not been explored - can't be explored because of the ban on embryo research. Then there's the effect on a woman's body of carrying multiples - even twins are a rare phenomenon in non-ART pregnancy, but with ART pregnancies, multiples become more and more common. Aside from developmental problems experienced by children as a result (which escalate wildly with three and more babies) there's the cost to the mother, whose womb is evolutionarily designed to carry about 10lbs, no more.
Mundy does not suggest that any of this should outweigh the joy that a much-wanted child brings to a family. She does persuasively argue, however, that we have given sufficient thought to the long-term consequences of ART. Her prescription is not that ART should cease, but that we should step up to the plate with better regulation of the ART industry, better public health information about the causes of infertility (of which the most common - in women - is age), and a more comprehensive support and counseling system for would-be parents. She also challenges the women's movement to figure out how to better support women as they navigate the challenge of infertility. The most sophisticated assisted reproductive technologies are available to those who can pay, or whose jobs have liberal enough insurance policies to cover most costs. Where does that leave poor women? Non-white women whose nearest infertility specialist is racist? Lesbian women in places where no doctor supports their vision of family? Women with incomplete medical information who believe the doctor who tells them it's necessary to implant four, five, six embryos? The women's movement, Mundy charges, has a responsibility not only toward women seeking to control their reproduction by choosing not to have children at a given moment in time, but also to women who want kids and need help to make it happen.
I can't help but think of the proverb that cautions - may you live in interesting times.
February 20, 2008
The desire to reproduce is out of control. Women and their partners are paying billions of dollars annually with the hopes of creating new life (as if there isn't enough life for this planet to support). Well researched and non-judgemental, Everything Conceivable challenges reproductive technologies today as well as the concepts of mother and fatherhood, brother and sister and what it means to be pregnant.
October 16, 2008
I found this book to be incredibly informative and gave a great deal of insight on Modern Reproduction. It scored extra points because she(the author, Liza Mundy) did not go for the panic angle, as I had originally worried at the beginning. She does come back to how little we know about the assisted reproduction and the full effects it has on children (and the future offspring of them), but not gratingly. As well, she gives many examples on the effect it has socially(family dynamics).
I definitely recomend this book to others who have an interest in the subject
I definitely recomend this book to others who have an interest in the subject
June 26, 2007
This was a fascinating look at the ever-growing fertility industry, and the medical professionals and patients involved in it. For the most part, it is quite even-handed and thoroughly researched, and raises some compelling questions (even if they remain unanswered in this book) about the future of human reproduction.
March 30, 2018
I bought this book because I loved Mundy's Code Girls and wanted to read something similar. She does a wonderful job of taking far-reaching and broad topics and making them manageable without reducing the scope of her inquiry. It is more than ten years out of date at this point, but it provides a useful background for anyone interested in the subject.
January 2, 2019
The most thorough and exhaustive book I have read on this topic to date.
May 27, 2020
Assisted reproduction: It seemed precisely the sort of social situation for which alcohol was invented: You are an egg donor, seated in the midst of a large group of strangers looking at you with goodwill and curiosity, and yes indeed you would like a margarita, please very much and thank you.
In fact, assisted reproduction has given humankind many changing legacies. It has transformed families, their size and structure and make up. Simultaneously a science and a social construct, “it truly is a culture. People think medicine is a science, but it’s a human civilization that has mores, practices, behavior, just like a primitive tribe. In medicine, our practices, mores, and behaviors are veiled in a cloak of professionalism, and even worse, there’s a kind of cargo cult of science.” “This being America, parenting is an ideology. The morally acceptable Holy Grail of the modern two child family is balance: one boy, one girl.” But assisted reproduction has also “dramatically impacted our thinking about human life: when life begins, what life is, and morally what can and should be done with it. Most of all, what reproductive science is done is remind us that having children and loving children is an unstoppable urge; that humans have an overpowering need to have—to be—a family...Reproductive science is a testament to what we will do, we women, we men, to have the children we love and long for.”
In her litany of acknowledgements, Mundy concludes with a poignant and pertinent tribute to her own children. “Possibly no one takes books as seriously as elementary school students, who are often were told so often the books matter, and who, wonderfully, believe this to be true. And possibly no one considers the topic of trying to have children as worthy as children themselves.”
Required reading for our contemporary page in history.
In fact, assisted reproduction has given humankind many changing legacies. It has transformed families, their size and structure and make up. Simultaneously a science and a social construct, “it truly is a culture. People think medicine is a science, but it’s a human civilization that has mores, practices, behavior, just like a primitive tribe. In medicine, our practices, mores, and behaviors are veiled in a cloak of professionalism, and even worse, there’s a kind of cargo cult of science.” “This being America, parenting is an ideology. The morally acceptable Holy Grail of the modern two child family is balance: one boy, one girl.” But assisted reproduction has also “dramatically impacted our thinking about human life: when life begins, what life is, and morally what can and should be done with it. Most of all, what reproductive science is done is remind us that having children and loving children is an unstoppable urge; that humans have an overpowering need to have—to be—a family...Reproductive science is a testament to what we will do, we women, we men, to have the children we love and long for.”
In her litany of acknowledgements, Mundy concludes with a poignant and pertinent tribute to her own children. “Possibly no one takes books as seriously as elementary school students, who are often were told so often the books matter, and who, wonderfully, believe this to be true. And possibly no one considers the topic of trying to have children as worthy as children themselves.”
Required reading for our contemporary page in history.
Read
April 30, 2016I chose this book as one of my Pregnancy & Birth readings for my certification because assisted reproduction is just something I don't know about from personal experience - and I'm sure I've already worked with families using assisted reproduction as a doula and childbirth educator, whether I know it or not.
Actually, I know I've worked with families using assisted reproduction since I was a young teenager; one of the families I babysat for then was a single lesbian mom who eventually had 6 children, 4 or 5 by birth and 1 or 2 by adoption. The ART she used was pretty low-tech as far as I know.
I learned a lot about how modern ART works, what the options and possibilities are, and what some of the pitfalls and challenges may be.
Favorite quote: "Urologists . . . have refined microsurgery to the point where if a man has a pocket of motile sperm anywhere - if, for example, the majority of his sperm are dead but there is live sperm in one tubule - they can retrieve it and use it. They're like the SWAT team of reproductive surgeons, trained to get the hostage out safely. (In military hospitals, these are actually called 'commando extractions.'" (p. 74)
Actually, I know I've worked with families using assisted reproduction since I was a young teenager; one of the families I babysat for then was a single lesbian mom who eventually had 6 children, 4 or 5 by birth and 1 or 2 by adoption. The ART she used was pretty low-tech as far as I know.
I learned a lot about how modern ART works, what the options and possibilities are, and what some of the pitfalls and challenges may be.
Favorite quote: "Urologists . . . have refined microsurgery to the point where if a man has a pocket of motile sperm anywhere - if, for example, the majority of his sperm are dead but there is live sperm in one tubule - they can retrieve it and use it. They're like the SWAT team of reproductive surgeons, trained to get the hostage out safely. (In military hospitals, these are actually called 'commando extractions.'" (p. 74)
September 8, 2010
I'm not usually a huge non-fiction person (in fact, I'm pretty sure this is the first non-fiction book I've ever read outside of school for pleasure reading), but I saw this at the library and was intrigued. It's a pretty big read--almost 400 pages of material, but it kept me interested the entire time.
The book explores all aspects of Assisted Reproduction and many of the moral ramifications that have come about because of it. Mundy discusses everything from stem cell research, increased births of multiples, the impact of this technology on the gay and lesbian communities and more. Most of the book is fueled by personal accounts from people who are navigating this virtually unknown territory. This gave me a look at the overarching human struggle for happiness (and children) that we all experience--gay and straight--and was unexpectedly moving to me.
The book explores all aspects of Assisted Reproduction and many of the moral ramifications that have come about because of it. Mundy discusses everything from stem cell research, increased births of multiples, the impact of this technology on the gay and lesbian communities and more. Most of the book is fueled by personal accounts from people who are navigating this virtually unknown territory. This gave me a look at the overarching human struggle for happiness (and children) that we all experience--gay and straight--and was unexpectedly moving to me.
March 18, 2013
This is an excellent book. It is written in an easy to read, gripping way that presents complicated medical information in an easy to understand way without oversimplifying. The author takes complicated moral, emotional, social, economical issues related to conception and presents them in a way that really makes you think about the possible long reaching consequences of choices that are being made every day. She also manages to do it in a clear, unbiased way that is not pushing any kind of agenda other then giving information and encouraging you to think. Despite having friends that have struggled with infertility and having worked as a nurse in Mother/Child/Newborn Health for 13 years there was so much information in this book I had never heard of and possible ramifications I had never even thought of. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Read
February 5, 2009Liza Mundy, an award-winning feature writer for the Washington Post, delivers a dispassionate, comprehensive view of assisted reproduction in the 21st century. She has clearly done her research, building the project from an initial assignment to look at infertility among minorities to a book that examines the manifold ramifications of our newfound ability to circumvent evolution. Her clear-eyed look at the world strikes a few reviewers as a bit too removed, and her interviews and case studies sometimes gloss over deeper sociocultural issues, but the overall consensus is that Mundy wades through this complicated, emotional subject with aplomb.
This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.
May 7, 2008
Fascinating expose on the world of assisted reproductive technologies. This book looked into every possible facet, and put a very human face on a very personal and painful issue for couples. The author was incredibly respectful to the subject matter, and was pretty accurate in her description of technologies, costs, options, etc. As an academic who worked on infertility studies, I appreciated the human face she gave to a complex issue. This book should definitely be read by anyone struggling to have children, and maybe those who didn't but might want to get a feel for what it would be like to struggle for a family.
July 6, 2007
this was one of the best non-fiction books i've read in a long time. it sheds much needed light on the issues, possibilities and questions of fertility and reproduction in our times. there are so many ethical conundrums that we need to start thinking about! liza mundy intertwines statistics, vignettes, social history and scientific background and her own thoughts in an engaging, but not overwhelming manner. read this book!
June 12, 2011
A must-read, especially for ALL women (and men) of reproductive age! I wish doctors of fertility clinics would make it required reading for their patients. This book reveals some shocking, fascinating and sometimes disturbing facts about the profound societal impact of assisted reproduction technologies. It includes the history of various technological advances as well as lots of moving anecdotes from couples who have struggled to start their own families.
March 9, 2010
A compelling look into all aspects of infertility treatments. Sometimes it left my head spinning with the complexity of choices we have created for ourselves. Infertility will make you see things in a different light, and this book dives into anything and everything possible.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who has infertility issues in their family. My husband is especially glad I finally finished this book so we don't have discuss it each night. :)
I'd recommend this book for anyone who has infertility issues in their family. My husband is especially glad I finally finished this book so we don't have discuss it each night. :)
June 22, 2007
Again, part of my niche reading. Well-researched, objective yet sensitive book on the subject of infertility and artificial reproductive technology. It takes on the history, science, sociology, and ethics of this Industry (and it is an industry ... one I've had to deal with). A must-read on the subject.
September 9, 2007
Very very very interesting and important. It's definitely something that will affect everyone in some way or another and I'm still up in the air on what I think about the topic at hand. Just to read the history part is worth buying the book, not to mention the chapter I just read on making paralyzed men ejaculate using some electro-wand up their backside, crazy.
January 9, 2008
This was absolutely fascinating, and much better written than many of the nonfiction books on current topics that I tend to pick up at the library. I found myself constantly reading sentences aloud to my husband because it was so interesting. Admittedly, I'm a bit of a wannabe biology/medical geek, but I really recommend it to anyone with an interest in this subject.
February 26, 2008
Devoured this book. Really fascinating and very salient to my life and career. If you're interested in reproductive health and rights -- you should definitely read this book. It's a side of my work that I needed more information about. Everytime I see a celebrity pregnant with twins now I wonder -- donated eggs? IVF? Will JLo's babies look like her? :)
July 26, 2009
This is an amazingly comprehensive look at a topic that is much bigger and more complex than I'd ever imagined. Especially thought-provoking were the sections about the ethics of implanting multiple embryos and the consequences of higher-order multiple pregnancies. Mundy is skilled at narrative--I had trouble putting the book down.
May 12, 2012
¨After taking fertility drugs, the woman with the forearm graft noted that a patch of her forearm was hard and spikey. That´s because her arm was ovulating.¨
This book was so informative, well written, well researched, yet.. So readable. I read it quickly and loved it. If only more non-fiction/topic books were like this.
It made me want to read whatever else the author will write.
This book was so informative, well written, well researched, yet.. So readable. I read it quickly and loved it. If only more non-fiction/topic books were like this.
It made me want to read whatever else the author will write.
September 1, 2014
A very readable and well-researched book about assisted reproduction and the medical and ethical dilemmas that have come about as a result. Having some knowledge of the field of ART, I found the information she presented to be accurate and unbiased. A fascinating book about a field which mostly operates out of the limelight but has a lot of real implications for our society.
January 25, 2016
A great overview of Assisted Reproductive Technology. If you are not aware of the current state of ART, this book will open your eyes. Although Liza tries to present an un-bias account her descriptions of conservatives are less than flattering. Her worldview is obviously vastly different than mine, but as a whole the book is informing and well-written
February 2, 2016
Amazingly comprehensive, easy to read, and well-written. It lends a new perspective on modern reproduction and the reasons for the revolution of how the modern world views and handles fertility. As a student, I highly recommend it to college women who are facing some of the social stigmas and larger life choices discussed.
Read
July 20, 2007Journalist's overview of the assisted reproduction revolution and the implications for everything from genetics to childhood development to what constitutes family. Fascinating, bizarre, sad and slightly creepy, but completely relevant!
August 31, 2007
Another book I could not put down. There is a chapter on every aspect of fertility treatment and interviews with those who have undergone it, from donor eggs to surrogacy to selective reduction of multiple pregnancy. Fascinating and interesting.
September 12, 2007
Mundy's chatty tone coexists beautifully with the huge amount of technical and emotional detail presented in this riveting book. Deals with every aspect of assisted reproduction, including some I never thought of- and I was an infertility patient for 8 years. Very topical and completely engrossing.
March 24, 2008
As a lesbian, I've got to be thinking of these things! If/when I decide to get pregnant, I want to know what's out there, and this book is a great primer not just on what technologies we have access to, but also what ethical dilemmas these technologies raise. It definitely got me thinking.
May 5, 2008
Covers all the issues currently coming up in the field, along with lots of juicy anecdote. I really enjoy thinking about reproduction, and this was just what I wanted-- feminist, science-y but still very readable, comprehensive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews