Hannah's Children

The Stories of Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth

De: Catherine Pakaluk

Narrado por: Jaimee Draper

A portrait of America's most interesting yet overlooked women.

In the midst of a historic "birth dearth," why do some 5 percent of American women choose to defy the demographic norm by bearing five or more children? Hannah’s Children is a compelling portrait of these overlooked but fascinating mothers who, like the biblical Hannah, see their children as their purpose, their contribution, and their greatest blessing.

The social scientist Catherine Pakaluk, herself the mother of eight, traveled across the United States and interviewed fifty-five college-educated women who were raising five or more children. Through open-ended questions, she sought to understand who these women are, why and when they chose to have a large family, and what this choice means for them, their families, and the nation.

Hannah’s Children is more than interesting stories of extraordinary women. It presents information that is urgently relevant for the future of American prosperity. Many countries have experimented with aggressively pro-natalist public policies, and all of them have failed. Pakaluk finds that the quantitative methods to which the social sciences limit themselves overlook important questions of meaning and identity in their inquiries into fertility rates. Her book is a pathbreaking foray into questions of purpose, religion, transcendence, healing, and growth—questions that ought to inform economic inquiry in the future.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Catherine Pakaluk (P)2024 Oasis Audio

Inspiring and well read

This book changed my perspective on raising children and helped me overcome fears of taking the plunge on that first child. The narrator was engaging and pleasant to listen to. The many stories warmed my heart. Often the stories of family love and relationships brought tears to my eyes. Some parts of the book were more complex and fact filled and required undivided attention to follow. Mostly though it was a narrative of enjoyable interviews and conclusions and similarities gathered from them. I highly recommend this book.

A fascinating look into big families & the women that birth them.

It’s enlightening to hear from a wide range of mothers of large families, on their varied reasons for making countercultural choices.

I was surprised that rising infertility rates were not noted as a possible cause for dwindling birth rates, since this is a huge issue facing many, many women today who would love to have children.

Fascinating Insights

I loved hearing the personal stories of each mom. They all had such fascinating insights. This would be good for all moms and dads to listen to even if they have smaller families because of insightful reflections on family in general. Narrator did an exceptional job.

Compelling Listen.

I enjoyed listening to the authors interviews. All these women have been called by God to have large families and they shared wisdom that families with less than 4 children could learn from and creatively work to instill in their children. I myself am a college educated female who waited too long to have more than my three children. I share the same views as these women and hope to encourage my daughters to consider children and family more important than a career.

Thought provoking!

This book is one of a kind and so thought provoking. I don’t necessarily agree with all the author’s views but love hearing all the stories and thinking about the concepts presented. This is a great book for mothers considering having more children!

A brilliant, pathbreaking book

A fresh approach to the catastrophic decline in fertility. It focuses not on why women do not have babies but on why some - educated with shining paths to career and material success choose to buck the trend and have large families. it explores their reasons of head and heart by allowing them to tell their own stories. Pakaluk as an economist and social scientist illuminates how these stories cast light on the futility of current public policy efforts to reverse the birth dearth. She proposes a better approach.

Fascinating!

I liked the explanation of the desires of the heart. The interviews with the women. So well done!

Necessary Data for Policy makers

In some ways it is sad that even the most obvious life-truths require to be researched and mathematically dissected. But, then again that seems to be the only way policy wonks will pay attention to an issue. Well documented, presented, and concluded.

an economist's analytical approach layered atop a mother's nuanced perspective.

Excellent content-rich interviews with each of the mothers, chapter by chapter. Thought-Provoking and challenging, for sure. fascinating to hear from the 5% bucking the downward spiral of the birth dearth, and giving birth to Hannah's children.

Love it!!

I love this book so much - it speaks to my soul!! I’ve been saddened hearing many of my peers decide not to have children (I’m in my late 20’s), and I am so encouraged by these women quietly defying the birth dearth. Sharing this with all my friends!!

The narrator also did an excellent job!! She truly brought the women’s stories to life by her voice acting!! Bravo!!