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Joan Raphael-Leff describes herself as a ‘practising psychoanalyst and social psychologist’. Her book shows very clearly the depth and breadth of her knowledge and experience in both fields. She has covered what is probably the totality of the psychological aspects of the childbearing field and she has succeeded in organising her material in a manner which allows the reader to focus on whichever topic interests him/her most at any particular time. The text is based on the author's immense familiarity with the problems of childbearing, but it also takes into account a formidable number of other authors and professional fields. We have statistical data, as well as fascinating ethnological information; we learn about present sociological mores and obtain a history of how they developed to this form; we are given facts but also detailed arguments to justify the author's opinions; consistently, problems are discussed and then followed by various ways in which they could be helped; and readers have the further benefit. of a succinct summary at the end of each chapter, which helps to check on their understanding of the text.
Professor Marshall Klaus wrote the Foreword to this book and he comments on the courage and beauty of the author's formulations regarding the momentous changes