Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Second Life

By: Amanda Hess
Pre-order free with Premium Plus

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Pre-order for $37.98

Pre-order for $37.98

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

At Amanda Hess's seven-month scan, the doctor analysing the ultrasound saw something he 'didn't like' - a potentially serious abnormality in her baby. Telling the moving story of this moment and everything that happened afterwards, Amanda Hess explores how it feels to become a parent in a culture in which everything is mediated by the internet and technology, in which the click of a mouse can conjure infinite information at any time - along with infinite opinions, suggestions and judgements.

Exploring the outer reaches of different approaches to parenthood - from genetic testing and the pursuit of 'a normal baby' to freebirthers' refusal of any medical care or intervention into pregnancy - she explores compelling questions about how technology is changing culture, our relationships and our most fundamental human experiences. At the heart of the book is her own deeply emotional story - told in brilliantly stylish prose, alive with sharp insight and wry humour.

©2025 Amanda Hess (P)2025 Hachette Audio UK
activate_samplebutton_t1

Critic Reviews

'Second Life is a tender, perceptive account of pregnancy and early motherhood - and a stylish confrontation with the demented landscape of digital parenting content. It also happens to be a subtle indictment of a healthcare system that leaves some parents scrolling for alternatives. Hess is a smart, savvy, and generous guide' (Anna Wiener, author of Uncanny Valley)

What listeners say about Second Life

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.