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 Parenting & Families Relationships Sociology Women 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)
All stars
Most relevant
Beautifully written book, if you are thinking about having children, have children, want to know what it actually is like to have kids, read it. Especially if you are a man:)

honesty

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This book was a lot less chaotic than The Panic Years and not as overshary. Frizell is a good writer for sure but I did feel like she could have been a bit more intimate with this book. There were moments of rawness but I guess it felt a bit too journalistic/activist at times and I found those parts less interesting. Was a bit (maybe a lot) uneasy when she started talking about getting her husband to have another baby that he wasn't keen on by simply taking out her coil... when a guy takes off a condom without forewarning, that it considered incredibly serious but somehow Frizell views it differently the other way around because its her body... I felt very uneasy about that. I read this book out of curiosity as I don't have kids and sometimes wonder a bit how my life could have been had I... fortunately I still have no fomo after reading this, although it's clear that to some women, motherhood really is am enriching experience. I'd imagine other mothers would find some kinship and comfort in this book but I think it could have been less journalistic and more personal...

Mixed feelings

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I listened to this book when waking up to feed my 10 week old baby girl. Nell really uncovers the unfairness of mothers and fathers on maternity leave and the first couple of years of your child’s life. I loved it and listening to Nells voice during the early hours was incredibly soothing x

I nodded my head throughout listening to this book like a nodding dog.

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