The definitive investigation into why - across continents, classes, cultures and religions - we''re having fewer children, by an award-winning journalist
''Wise, compassionate and non-judgmental'' EMILY MAITLIS
''An entertaining and meaningful read'' CLAUDIA GOLDIN
In Britain, one in five couples have no children, and almost half of all families have only one. The populations of China, Japan, Russia and Italy are shrinking. Pronatalists cry that feminism has killed the family. Governments throw money at childcare. Would-be grandparents wring their hands at the apparent selfishness of the young. But the conversation is in the wrong place.
Camilla Cavendish offers a startling blend of data and stories to uncover what is really driving the baby bust, meeting people with a diverse range of experiences, including millennial women going it alone, men who''ve missed out and communities quietly bucking the trend. Rather than the standard economic explanations, her interviews point to a myriad of cultural influences: from a dating recession to a loss of faith in the future; from the pressures of modern parenting to infertility struggles; from the atomisation of society to a deeply human instinct to copy one another that''s amplified by the smartphone.
By examining the profound implications of a world in which fewer children are born, Generation Maybe argues for a future in which we respect the happily childfree while genuinely empowering those who long for children. Incisive, frank, eye-opening and humane, this book is for anyone who cares about the world we may - or may not - choose to make for the next generation.
FAQs
"What is Generation Maybe about?
Generation Maybe: Why We’re Having Fewer Children, and What It Means for Us All looks at falling birth rates across countries and cultures. Camilla Cavendish talks to people with very different experiences to find out what is really going on.
Why are birth rates falling?
Cavendish argues it’s not just about money. She points to a dating slump, fading optimism about the future, the pressures of modern parenting, infertility, isolation and social imitation, intensified by smartphones.
Who is Camilla Cavendish?
Camilla Cavendish is a Financial Times columnist, a crossbench member of the House of Lords and former head of the 10 Downing Street Policy Unit. She also wrote Extra Time: 10 Lessons for an Ageing World.
What does Generation Maybe suggest we do?
She argues society should respect people who choose not to have children while giving real support to those who want them, because, as she puts it, the conversation is in the wrong place.
Will I be notified when my order ships?
Yes. You’ll receive an email from Chapters Bookstore as soon as your order is dispatched. In-stock books are usually sent within 72 hours."





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