Holding the Baby cover art

Holding the Baby

Milk, Sweat and Tears from the Frontline of Motherhood

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Holding the Baby

By: Nell Frizzell
Narrated by: Nell Frizzell
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

It's time to share the motherload.

A memoir culminating in a manifesto, Holding the Baby sets out to understand why we still treat early parenthood as an individual slog rather than a shared cultural responsibility. Tracing her own journey to the nadir of sleeplessness via social retreat and murderous rage, Frizzell draws on the latest research to explore:

  • What effect does parenting have on your career?
  • How can we make childcare affordable and fit for purpose?
  • If parenting is so hard, why does anyone ever do it more than once?

Funny, reassuring and radically ambitious, Holding the Baby sheds light on the ways in which we fail new parents, and offers a rallying crying that we fight for a better alternative.

©2023 Nell Frizzell (P)2023 Penguin Audio Biographies & Memoirs Gender Studies Parenting & Families Relationships Sociology Funny

Critic Reviews

"My favourite person on the politics of parenthood. Read it and feel comforted, cheered and galvanized (even when your brain and body are melting)." (Pandora Sykes)

"Exhilarating, infuriating, urgent and human...an excellent journalistic investigation. I think this book is required reading for the child free, as it will help us to understand and support the choices of all parents." (Daisy Buchanan)

"A blazing, brilliant read, combining style and message to powerful effect...compassionate, convincing and funny." (Amy Liptrot)

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Careful, clear, comforting

The whole book was comforting in its mad relatability

So thought provoking - swayed politically left but not aggressively so. Compassionately so and offering consideration for sourcing finances so society can better support parents - although sometimes I wish it dove into the financial possibility further.

I don’t know if it’s the postpartum hormones but the last chapter had my crying my eyes out just like the baby I hold.

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