Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America

I read this twice in two weeks. As soon as I finished the audiobook version, I knew I had to get my hands on a physical copy. The second reading demanded that I underline sentences, paragraphs, and sometimes nearly full pages. Carmon combines the intimate personal narratives of five women navigating pregnancy in modern, post-Roe America with research into the history of obstetrics and the legislation and criminalization of pregnant (and, ugh, pre-pregnant) bodies. This book exposes how the political and personal can intersect to devastating effect when it comes to fertility, abortion, and pregnancy. Maggie, Hali, Christine, Alison, and Yoshica's lived experiences serve to illuminate specific ways the legal and medical systems can and do fail individuals across the country, from rural Alabama to New York City. As I read and reflected on the suffering and resiliency found in these pages, and on the need for more compassionate, patient-centered care, I was reminded of another book I read and loved that inspired rage and awe: The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service. I highly recommend both.