Sixteen literary luminaries on the controversial subject of being childless by choice, in this critically acclaimed, bestselling anthologyOne of the most provocative and talked-about books of the year, Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed is the stunning collection exploring one of society's most vexing taboos.One of the main topics of cultural conversation during the last decade was the supposed "fertility crisis," and whether modern women could figure out a way to have it all-a successful career and the required 2.3 children-before their biological clocks stopped ticking. Now, however, the conversation has turned to whether it's necessary to have it all (see Anne-Marie Slaughter) or, perhaps more controversial, whether children are really a requirement for a fulfilling life.In this exciting and controversial collection of essays, curated by writer Meghan Daum, thirteen acclaimed female writers explain why they have chosen to eschew motherhood. Contributors include Lionel Shriver, Sigrid Nunez, Kate Christensen, Elliott Holt, Geoff Dyer, and Tim Kreider, among others, who will give a unique perspective on the overwhelming cultural pressure of parenthood.This collection makes a smart and passionate case for why parenthood is not the only path to a happy, productive life, and takes our parent-centric, kid-fixated, baby-bump-patrolling culture to task in the process. In this book, that shadowy faction known as the childless-by-choice comes out into the light.

CONTENTS Introduction by Meghan Daum ¿ 1Babes in the Woods by Courtney Hodell ¿ 11Maternal Instincts by Laura Kipnis ¿ 31A Thousand Other Things by Kate Christensen ¿ 47The New Rhoda by Paul Lisicky ¿ 63Be Here Now Means Be Gone Later by Lionel Shriver ¿ 77The Most Important Thing by Sigrid Nunez ¿ 97Mommy Fearest by Anna Holmes ¿ 119Amateurs by Michelle Huneven ¿ 131Save Yourself by Danielle Henderson ¿ 14The Trouble with Having It All by Pam Houston ¿ 163Beyond Beyond Motherhood by Jeanne Safer ¿ 185Over and Out by Geoff Dyer ¿ 197Yoüd Be Such a Good Mother, If Only You Weren¿t You by M. G. ¿ 209Lord The Hardest Art by Rosemary Mahoney ¿ 227Just an Aunt by Elliott Holt ¿ 245The End of the Line by Tim Kreider ¿ 261Acknowledgments ¿ 275 Contributors ¿ 277