Hannah's Children

The Stories of Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth

De: Catherine Pakaluk

Narrado por: Jaimee Draper

A portrait of America's most interesting yet overlooked women.

In the midst of a historic "birth dearth," why do some 5 percent of American women choose to defy the demographic norm by bearing five or more children? Hannah’s Children is a compelling portrait of these overlooked but fascinating mothers who, like the biblical Hannah, see their children as their purpose, their contribution, and their greatest blessing.

The social scientist Catherine Pakaluk, herself the mother of eight, traveled across the United States and interviewed fifty-five college-educated women who were raising five or more children. Through open-ended questions, she sought to understand who these women are, why and when they chose to have a large family, and what this choice means for them, their families, and the nation.

Hannah’s Children is more than interesting stories of extraordinary women. It presents information that is urgently relevant for the future of American prosperity. Many countries have experimented with aggressively pro-natalist public policies, and all of them have failed. Pakaluk finds that the quantitative methods to which the social sciences limit themselves overlook important questions of meaning and identity in their inquiries into fertility rates. Her book is a pathbreaking foray into questions of purpose, religion, transcendence, healing, and growth—questions that ought to inform economic inquiry in the future.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Catherine Pakaluk (P)2024 Oasis Audio

an economist's analytical approach layered atop a mother's nuanced perspective.

Excellent content-rich interviews with each of the mothers, chapter by chapter. Thought-Provoking and challenging, for sure. fascinating to hear from the 5% bucking the downward spiral of the birth dearth, and giving birth to Hannah's children.

Love it!!

I love this book so much - it speaks to my soul!! I’ve been saddened hearing many of my peers decide not to have children (I’m in my late 20’s), and I am so encouraged by these women quietly defying the birth dearth. Sharing this with all my friends!!

The narrator also did an excellent job!! She truly brought the women’s stories to life by her voice acting!! Bravo!!

Inspiring and well read

This book changed my perspective on raising children and helped me overcome fears of taking the plunge on that first child. The narrator was engaging and pleasant to listen to. The many stories warmed my heart. Often the stories of family love and relationships brought tears to my eyes. Some parts of the book were more complex and fact filled and required undivided attention to follow. Mostly though it was a narrative of enjoyable interviews and conclusions and similarities gathered from them. I highly recommend this book.

A fascinating look into big families & the women that birth them.

It’s enlightening to hear from a wide range of mothers of large families, on their varied reasons for making countercultural choices.

I was surprised that rising infertility rates were not noted as a possible cause for dwindling birth rates, since this is a huge issue facing many, many women today who would love to have children.

Absolutely worth your time!

Loved this book! It helps open your eyes to why big families are great and that we as a society should be more open to it. Enjoyed each mother’s story.

Life and Mind Changing

I admittedly couldn’t make it past the first chapter when I reserved the physical book from my library but I was so intrigued and found myself already taking notes. SO I jumped on here and started listening. The statistics and informative language was hard to swallow but easy and intriguing to listen to. The stories were the absolute most heartwarming. I have already been on a journey back to my own catholic faith and at 37 I have been deep in thought on how false narratives shaped my life and family choices. I grew up thinking the only way I could feel fulfilled was to be a “boss girl” but in the decade I chased that I was anything but a glass full. Since I’ve had two beautiful boys but in the last two years an overwhelming urge to have at least two more has been strong. My husband and I have both brought up many of the “excuses” discussed and dissected in this book and it has given me the confidence to start praying daily to God if that is his will and to lean into a belief that what is needed will be provided if it so be. Thank you for this wonderful book of stories, thoughts, opinions and the hard facts on why we as mothers can never we replaced, replicated or taken for granted.

A book to make you think, wrestle, cry, laugh, and then act.

A masterful weaving of storytelling and hard data. This is one of the most important books of our time - convicting, validating, illuminating, inspiring. The future thanks you for your work, for bringing us these stories and this vision.

Fascinating Insights

I loved hearing the personal stories of each mom. They all had such fascinating insights. This would be good for all moms and dads to listen to even if they have smaller families because of insightful reflections on family in general. Narrator did an exceptional job.

Compelling Listen.

I enjoyed listening to the authors interviews. All these women have been called by God to have large families and they shared wisdom that families with less than 4 children could learn from and creatively work to instill in their children. I myself am a college educated female who waited too long to have more than my three children. I share the same views as these women and hope to encourage my daughters to consider children and family more important than a career.

This book should change minds

I’m amazed with this research. I am committed to encouraging everyone I know to have one more child. Children are blessings that God intends for us.