I have really enjoyed two of the other Sears books, The Pregnancy Book and The Baby Book. Both were well-balanced, informative and, when I needed it, comforting.

The Birth Book is where the Sears really lost me. There was something about the tone of the book that really grated on me… some underlying current seeming to insinuate that if you didn’t approach your imminent birthing experience the way that they suggest, then you’re really falling short. I forget which comment it was in the book that made me hurl it into the hallway and force my husband to throw the book into the recycling bin, but it was something along the lines of, “Of course you’re going to do it this way! You’re a great mother!”... propaganda via flattery.

I guess, aside from the irritation, one should be aware that this book very much argues the case for a certain type of birth. It isn’t a level, unbiased edification on the ways and whiles of modern birth. It’s a tract, of sorts. If you are looking to have the sort of birth the Sears promote in this book, then you are certain to benefit from their information, angling, and cheerleading. If you are still looking around for a particular birth philosophy (or aren’t even convinced you need to have a birth philosophy) this may not be the book for you.