Maxed Out

American Moms on the Brink

By: Katrina Alcorn

Narrated by: Katrina Alcorn

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Katrina Alcorn was a 37-year-old mother with a happy marriage and a thriving career when one day, on the way to Target to buy diapers, she had a breakdown. Her carefully built career shuddered to a halt, and her journey through depression, anxiety, and insomnia - followed by medication, meditation, and therapy - began.

Alcorn wondered how a woman like herself, with a loving husband, a supportive boss, three healthy kids, and a good income, was unable to manage the demands of having a career and a family. Over time, she realized that she wasn't alone. As she questioned other working moms, she realized that many women were struggling to do it all, crashing, and feeling as if they were somehow failing as a result.

Mothers are the breadwinners in two-thirds of American families, yet the American workplace is uniquely hostile to the needs of parents. Weaving in surprising research about the dysfunction between the careers and home lives of working mothers, as well as the consequences to women's health, Alcorn tells a deeply personal story about "having it all,” failing miserably, and what comes after.

Ultimately, she offers readers a vision for a healthier, happier, and more productive way to live and work.

©2013 Katrina Alcorn (P)2013 Katrina Alcorn

Fantastic read ... err ... Listen

This book was so good. Her story is so similar to mine she could almost be reading my biography. It evoked many feelings in me: sympathy, motivation, anger (at the injustice of American regulations compared to other countries), and a passion to engage in the change the author is persuading her readers to participate in. If you are a working mom, striving to be perfect at all your responsibilities, but feel overwhelmed and that you lack the ability to perform any of them well, you should definitely read this. It won't necessarily solve all your problems but will definitely help you feel better in knowing that you are not the only one. (Not by a long shot!) There is no perfect solution for the many women feeling this pressure, but hopefully many people that read/listen to this book will be inspired to play a role in bringing about a long-overdue change in this country.

Perfect Timing, Powerful Message, Personal Account

Would you consider the audio edition of Maxed Out to be better than the print version?

I loved listening to Katrina read her story. I felt like I was on a phone call with a best girlfriend who was telling me about her life and relating it to mine. The print version is powerful, of course, and I own both, but I prefer hearing the inflection of her voice and the emphasis and emotion she ads to the story. Also, it's hard to read while driving. ;-)

What did you like best about this story?

I think there are a lot of women who can relate to this story. Not only that, though, this is a bigger, global issue of valuing family and supporting parents in the workplace. This story is a personal account but also provides factual data in a journalistic style. When a dad tells me, "Dads struggle with that, too," I can relate, of course, I know dads struggle with balancing family and work but there's the additional data backing up why women, specifically, still have the bigger burden of guilt, childcare, family planning, etc.

Which character – as performed by Katrina Alcorn – was your favorite?

Herself.

If you could give Maxed Out a new subtitle, what would it be?

Everyone, especially your CEO, should read this.

Any additional comments?

Katrina is the every-mom. She's telling her story but relating it to all of us. She's the most personable author and even reaches out to her readers. I've enjoyed knowing her through her book but now feel like I've found a friend through her story. As I, personally, am in the grips of leaving a corporate job in the same field as Katrina, facing the prospect of another corporate job, looking at how many schedules we balance and bills and laundry, I needed to hear this story at this very time. Thanks for recommending it, Audible. It was because of your suggestion of titles, I found this life altering, powerful message.

A story about my life

This book is absolutely amazing. Listening to her life experiences made me feel like I wasn't alone. I've have and am currently facing the same struggles of work and family life. It's so refreshing to listen to how another mom faced adversities and to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I recommend this to anyone raising kids that is struggling to balance their life.

Great Book

Any additional comments?

This book appealed to me as a working mom. Would recommend to anyone doing too much and feeling overwhelmed.

Loved it!

Where does Maxed Out rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In general, I love audiobooks. I especially love them when they're read by the author. And now with this partnership with amazon (and the audible.com app), the audiobook picks up right where I leave off with the book on my Kindle. So Katrina Alcorn read her awesome book to me in the car, picking up the story where I stopped reading the night before. I love it, since I don't have hours to sit and read quietly (sigh - someday)!

Any additional comments?

As for the book itself, it is terrific. Readable and relatable and throughly enjoyable because it made me feel like others are in the same boat, trying to earn a living and raise healthy, happy children and and run a household. And not doing it perfectly and sometimes feeling like a big failure. I love that Katrina shared her story without sugarcoating - it is honestly written and I really, really appreciate that! Highly recommended.

This could have been my story

Where does Maxed Out rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is a stand-out work of non-fiction. It not only tells you the author's personal story, but it provides structure and perspective from outside sources. And beyond that it gives you a message of hope and purpose.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

As a full-time working mother, I swear this could have been my narrative spoken straight from my lips. I had experienced my breaking point not two weeks before I stumbled upon this book. It helped me so much to know that I wasn't alone.

Must read for 'over'-working moms

Would you consider the audio edition of Maxed Out to be better than the print version?

Yes, Katrina's voice over makes her story come out clearly and genuinely

What did you like best about this story?

It is true and relevant. Many of us can put ourselves in Katrina's place in many situations.

Which character – as performed by Katrina Alcorn – was your favorite?

Katrina!

Any additional comments?

The authenticity of Katrina's emotions and experiences as well her extensive and solid research make the book a doubly attractive. At points, I wanted to reach and give Katrina a hug and at others I was teary eyed remembering how I struggled to balance work and home when my kids were little. The thinking part of my brain got stimulated by her research and conclusions. The last part - call to action, motivated me to adopt some action items for my life. I recommend this book to my 'over'-working moms all over.

Interesting

Would you listen to Maxed Out again? Why?

It was interesting, but didn't really apply to me with children 10 and 13. I was hoping for some more insight on how to not be Maxed Out.

PUT EVERYTHING I FEEL INTO WORDS!!!

Would you listen to Maxed Out again? Why?

This deeply honest book details like no other the emotional toll that working mothers feel. It very honestly confronts the physical, mental, and emotional impact that American working moms experience while trying to parent and provide financial stability for her family. The book details not only the author's experience which is shared by many women, but also analyzes the dysfunctional social construct that has created the situation in America.

A "Must Listen" for Moms who are Self-Critical

Would you consider the audio edition of Maxed Out to be better than the print version?

I really enjoyed listening to the author's actual voice in this memoir format. Only she could bring her own experiences, emotions and frustrations to life in the way that was true to her story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"When a Mother walks away from Societal Expectations"

Any additional comments?

As a mother of three children, I could truly relate to this memoir. I found it very encouraging and would definitely recommend it to any mom, (stay-at-home or working outside the home) who is trying to do it all. This book just makes a woman realize that so many of us go through the same stressors and struggles, but it takes guts to be genuine about it, like Katrina did in her book.