But the author looks up, surprised to not only be talking to someone who doesn't even look old enough to be at a bar, but instead of sharing their own birth story which countless people must have done, actually rephrased the main idea of the text she spent months giving birth to asks, "Really, which parts were most effective or important for you?" When you answer, "Well, in the last third of the book you focused on a topic which doesn't have to much light shed on it usually, which is the father's role in birth and what they go through physically, mentally, and emotionally in the months while their partner is pregnant and the moments of delivery which added another angle to the first 2/3rds of the book. But let me be more specific." And then you listed the top 3 ideas/pieces of evidence/insights/questions from that final third of the book (and somehow even listed page number references because your just that good). I especially appreciated how you discussed
1. What the father's role in birth is and how that isn't really a choice anymore. Personally I don't think it ever should have been. This obviously isn't the way it always was and it's important that we make that connection and are able to move forward with our new understanding.. (207)
2. Learning about how other cultures compare and contrasted with our culture with the whole concept of the father being allowed in the delivery room. (208)
3. The bonding process, and how it is important for the mother and child to be together soon after birth.It seemed as if it was a biological need and a emotional need. (228)
At this point, realizing that she's having a unique conversation with such a charming, intelligent young man with dashing good looks who is a serious reader of her book, the author asks - "But what could I have done to make this a better book - that would more effectively fulfill its mission?" You answer, "Well, let's be clear - your text sought to provide historical analysis, from the perspective of doctors the book-reading-public to better understand pregnancy & birth in our culture. Given that aim,and your book, the best advice I would give for a 2nd edition of the text would be, to add that personal connection to your book, which could really help make the reader feel as if they are connecting to you as a person instead of you as an author(note the key distinction there).Your audiences may not always want to simply feel as if there reading about you researching the history of birth. Just add a little drama in there. But I don't want you to feel like I'm criticizing. I appreciate the immense amount of labor you dedicated to this important issue and particularly for making me think about the historical aspects of birth and the effect it has had on everyone that read it's perspectives . In fact, I'm likely to do my own births when the time becomes right for me differently as a result of your book. I thank you sincerely because as the average person on the street I didn't even know anything about midwifery. In fact I looked down on people who had home birth's, I thought it was dirty and I thought it was illegal. Everyone being born in a hospital seemed right because they need to run all there "super important tests" and they need to do fingerprinting and etc. You really helped broaden my horizon." The author replies, "Thanks! Talking to you gives me hope about our future as a society! Your generation has a long and bright future I feel confident that your generation will excel and make this world a better place with intellectuals running it.
: )
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