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Todays parenting

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-08-25

This book reflects modern parenting culture and the societal normalization of child-worship. It explores how some parents—though not all—idolize their children, often causing frustration among other parents and childfree individuals. It also highlights how society tends to overly revere parenthood and children, while marginalizing the childfree, childless, the elderly, and even middle-aged adults as less significant members of society

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Childfree and pronatalism

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-04-25

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The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World
Laura Carroll
3.66
257 ratings43 reviews

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In the movie The Matrix, the character Morpheus offers two pills to Neo—if he takes the blue pill, he will go on with life as he has before, believing what he has always believed. If he takes the red pill, he will find out what the “matrix” really is, and many of his earlier beliefs will be shattered. When it comes to taking a hard look at a specific set of beliefs about parenthood and reproduction that has driven our society for generations, The Baby Matrix is the red pill.We commonly think our desire to have children boils down to our biological wiring, but author Laura Carroll says it's much more than that. Unlike other books on parenthood, The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World takes a serious look at powerful social and cultural influences that drive the desire for the parenthood experience, and lays out why we need to be very aware of these influences to make the most informed decisions about parenthood.The Baby Matrix looks at long-held beliefs about parenthood and reproduction, and unravels why we believe what we believe. It lays out: -the historical origins of beliefs about parenthood and reproduction-why many of these beliefs no longer work for society or were never true in the first place-why we continue to believe them anyway-the prices society pays as a result The Baby Matrix shows us how we got here, brings to light what is true, which includes knowing about the powerful influence of “pronatalism,” and explains why society can no longer afford to leave pronatalism unquestioned. “This is not a book about convincing people not to have children,” says Carroll. “I want people to be very aware of the long-held social and cultural pressures, and be able to free themselves from those pressures when making parenthood choices. This will result in more people making the best decisions for themselves, will foster a society in which those who are best suited to become parents are the ones who have children and one that knows what it means to bring a child into the world today.”This book will make you examine your own intentions and beliefs, will rile you, and might just change your mind. Whether you are already a parent, want to become a parent, are still making up your mind, or know you don’t want children, you’ll never think about parenthood in the same way. The Baby Matrix is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology, sociology, anthropology, parenting issues, environmentalism, and social justice. But most of all, it’s for anyone, parent or not, who reveres the truth and wants the best for themselves, their families, and our world.

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Genres
Nonfiction
Feminism
Sociology
Parenting
Psychology
Childrens
Philosophy
177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 2012

This edition
Format
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published
July 9, 2019
ASIN
B07V2BRQL5
Language
English
More editions
The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World Book Cover
Kindle Edition
2012
The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World Book Cover
Kindle Edition
LiveTrue Books
2012
The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World Book Cover
Paperback
LiveTrue Books
2012
The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds from Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World Book Cover
Audible Audio
Laura Carroll
2019
The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World Book Cover
ebook
2024
Show all 6 editions
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Laura Carroll
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Ratings & Reviews
My Review
Profile Image for Elisabeth.
Elisabeth
3 reviews
April 4, 2025
Finally, a childfree book that advocates for childfree people in a well-researched and thoughtful way. It explores the history and evolution of pronatalism, highlighting how it continues to shape today’s society—through the media, politics, schools, workplaces, and culture. It also emphasizes that childfree individuals deserve equal rights when it comes to work-life balance, especially since parenthood is a personal choice. The book challenges common myths and the romanticization of parenthood, while respectfully acknowledging the fulfillment parents experience in raising children—just as childfree individuals find fulfillment in their chosen lifestyle. It also sheds light on the often-ignored realities such as childabuse in dysfunctional homes and children in foster care. This broader perspective calls on us not to turn a blind eye to pressing issues like overpopulation and our carbon footprint

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shocking story

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Story
1 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-15-23

the narrator had a great voice. the way the story was potrayed,tales of the past woven into the more recent times was well done. I found the resentment the lady felt towards her husband throughout the story shocking. Especially telling him that she had given up her desire for children for him and therefore forcing him to let her quit her job because she gave up her desire for children for him. He was not even aware that she gave up her desire for children for him.

Also good to know there is a lot of mention of rape in this book.

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