Book · 2001 · Motherhood
A life's work
On Becoming a Mother
- mentions
- 6
- people
- 4
- podcast
- 1
- episodes
- 5
- recommendation
- 1
She was attacked for A Life's Work. I love that book.
What they say about it
- Discussion of author memoirs“because of a life's work”2
The best things said about it
It's the books that are not parenting books that but that are books that in some way deal with parenthood in a way that I find to be interesting where the tone I mean one example is Rachel Cusk's book Life's Work which a lot of people are put off by.
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
A Life's Work by Rachel Cusk is a candid and intellectually rigorous memoir that explores the complex, often unsettling realities, cultural expectations, and psychological transformations of becoming a mother. On The Book Review, Elisabeth Egan mentioned the memoir as a companion book recommendation, while Pamela Paul discussed its initial publication in the United States around 2001. Parul Sehgal brought up the book on the same podcast when discussing non-parenting books that deal with parenthood in an interesting, albeit controversial, tone, noting that many people are put off by it. Heidi Jivitz and Pamela Paul further discussed Cusk's reputation as a memoirist, connecting A Life's Work and her later book Aftermath, and noting how Cusk faced severe public criticism and attacks regarding her frank treatment of marriage and motherhood. Across these podcast discussions, the speakers highlighted how the memoir challenged conventional domestic narratives and polarized readers. Although the book sparked intense backlash and discomfort for its unflinching honesty about the domestic sphere, it remains a heavily referenced and influential text in contemporary discussions about the true personal cost and societal pressures of modern parenting and maternal identity.
Every mention
Elisabeth Egan and the other was a life's work by Rachel kusk 1
“and the other was a life's work by Rachel kusk”
Pamela Paul We know her again to the extent that we do in this country as a memoirist because of aftermath because of a… 3
“We know her again to the extent that we do in this country as a memoirist because of aftermath because of a life's work”
“I think here the first is a life's work on becoming a mother which came out in 2001 at least I think here in the states”
“I'm not sure because I actually haven't read aftermath but just from my understanding just the sort of objection from what I recall at the time was just her treatment of the marriage just H also she was really attacked I I think as a mother she was attacked for a life's work I love that book”
Heidi Jivitz probably the reason that she has that reputation in part is because of a couple of Memoirs that she wrote o… 1
“probably the reason that she has that reputation in part is because of a couple of Memoirs that she wrote one uh which was about her life after she had her children”
Parul Sehgal in some way I think in terms of tone it's the books that are not parenting books that but that are books th… 1
“in some way I think in terms of tone it's the books that are not parenting books that but that are books that in some way deal with Parenthood in a way that I find to be interesting where the tone I mean one example is Rachel cusk's book life's work which a lot of people are put off by”
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“and it's a little bit like reading Rachel cusk's a life's work where you you just feel this resentful feeling”