Laura S. Scott

I truly enjoyed this book. I was/am an "early articulator" (I knew I didn't want children at a very, very young age) so this book wasn't a decision maker for me; however, it is nice to know I'm not alone in not having even a little bit of a maternal instinct. It's one of those books where you're constantly saying "YES!! THAT'S ME!!" If you are unsure about having kids or if you know for sure you want to be childless/childfree, this is definitely the book for you. I always knew I would be happiest without children in my life and sometimes I feel pretty left out of society - like I'm abnormal or weird. This book made me kind of sigh with relief because I read stories about people who not only were extremely pleased with their lives without children, but who also felt like the odd one out in their social circle because of that fact. Two thumbs up!… (mehr)

Laura Scott was happily childfree and increasingly frustrated by other people’s reactions to her choice. Curious to understand the “childless by choice” and eager to give them a voice, she set out to create a sociological study to identify the most compelling reasons to remain childfree and to better understand the decision-making process of those who decide to do so.

Two is Enough: A Couple’s Guide to Living Childless by Choice presents Scott’s findings, gleaned from surveying 171 childless by choice individuals andconducting in-depth interviews with many of them. Scott’s goal is not to convert or convince anyone to make the choice to remain childfree. This book is not a polemic for childlessness. Scott’s only agenda is to push society to move beyond the assumption of parenthood and to “redefine gender roles and what we call family.”

Two is Enough provides excellent guidance and insight for individuals and couples considering the childfree choice, with words of wisdom from people who have been there and done that. Author Laura S. Scott argues against the pronatalist assumption of parenthood, identifies and explores the most compelling reasons for remaining childless, examines the decision-making process and the four primary types of childless-by-choice individuals, and provides suggestions for living childless by choice in a society that seems to be obsessed with babies. But this isn’t just a book for the childfree.

Scott’s thorough research and thoughtful interviews with childless couples shed light on how and why people decide not to be parents and will be interesting and useful for anyone who wants to understand the decision. If I had my way, Two is Enough would be required reading for all, as we move toward a more inclusive, accepting society with a more contemporary definition of family.

Read my full review at The Book Lady's Blog. … (mehr)