The Audacity of Inez Burns

By: Stephen G. Bloom

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Inez Burns was adored by the desperate women who sought her out - and loathed by the power-hungry men who plotted to destroy her.

During a time when women risked their lives with predatory practitioners lurking in back alleys, Inez and her team of women, clad in crisp, white nurse's uniforms, worked night and day in her elegantly appointed clinic, performing 50,000 of the safest, most hygienic abortions available during a time when even the richest wives, Hollywood stars, and mistresses had few options when they found themselves with an unwanted pregnancy.

In The Audacity of Inez Burns, Stephen G. Bloom reveals a jagged slice of lost American history. From Inez's riveting tale of glamour and tragedy, he has created a brilliant, compulsively listenable portrait of an unforgettable woman during a moment when America's pendulum swung from compassion to criminality by punishing those who permitted women to control their own destinies.

©2018 Stephen G. Bloom (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review Audacity of Inez Burns

The tone if the narrator was mostly effective; however after a few chapters the tone became irritatingly unchanging. I couldn’t keep up with all the names, nor did I care, of so many characters involved in the story. This being said, the story of the playing field of my San Francisco, in the first half of the 20th Century, was powerfully presented in this audible version.

Jews played a big part in abortion on demand

Never heard of this woman. Book hard to follow. But NYC Jews invented legal abortion and 30,000 million aborted black babies to show for it only 50 years later. What’s not to love.

Not an easy listen

I couldn't wait for this book to end.
It was horrible to listen to.
Yet, it was informative. I had no idea 1 person did 50,000 abortions in a year. I had no idea this would make her filthy rich.
Not 1 single story on any emotional reaction from women getting abortions. Odd. But... several stories as to how the development of a part of land would cause an increase in sexual acts and a need for abortions.

50,000 in one year by 1 person. I am still trying to take that in.

This story gave this woman glory no matter what she did. Thats a bit wrong. I don't mean the abortions, but the rest of her non lawful acts.

Good book, narration sometimes irritating

The book was a fascinating and complex history both of one woman who offered abortion care and of the history of San Francisco itself. The audible narration was a bit irritating to me, with a unnecessarily snide tone maintained throughout the book until the last few chapters. The book is a well-written overview of the struggles for women’s reproductive rights and of a beautiful but sometimes troubled city

So much potential but SO BORING!

There is a 15 word minimum requirement to submit this review and I don't even have that many words. I never stop a book in the middle but I just could not even..! Made it to Chapter 3, one, two, skip a few and about chapter 17 I just completely gave up. The narrator might as well have been speaking in monotone and it grated on my nerves. If you are looking for white noise to lull you to sleep then this is the book to use!

I guess I’m the first to write a review..& sent it back at Chapter 7

I got ‘The Audacity Of Inez Burns’ about 3 days ago, I knew what the summary was about and even though I have my views on abortion, I’m not hiding from facts..but this was horrible. There were no reviews except stars, I love real life history, so the listening started.

This book was all over the place! From what I read and tried to understand is, Inez decided to start giving women abortions due to women basically not wanting to feed anymore children. Yet, a Dr who only gave abortions and was charged with murdering a patient with the most gruesome details of how he disposed of the body was in itself difficult to even listen to. I’m jumping around so please go with me on this. It was never discussed why this 18 yr old left home to give manicures, met this Dr because she gave intense hand massages? Okay then this Dr fell for an 18 yr old while he was only 52! It didn’t explain how long she looked over his shoulder and became “perfect” in the abortion field. Then the great San Francisco earthquake happened, but Inez had managed to swipe the Dr instruments to perform abortions on her own. Come on! How long was she leaning over his shoulder to be the best in her field!? If it was said I fell asleep because the narrator pretty much put me to sleep, a guy no less who sounded like he about 50? I’m over that number but I honestly would have thought a WOMAN should have narrated this book, to say the least!

Okay here’s what I really was like “are you kidding?” After the earthquake & FIRES, she sets up a TENT in the place where everyone stayed & gave out abortions for days..like it was a deli and she could have shouted out “Number 51, you’re next”....it really bothered me..but I moved on. Then she falls for a guy who was told by her family (yes they were at the tent city, no questions asked) and everyone told her he was a con artist, which he was. She at this time had a baby by that Dr and was pregnant again..she gave abortions but wanted her own. I really think I missed something cuz then she following this guy to Pittsburgh?! To work in a pickle factory?! 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’m telling u not just the name, the people, the places..I was like “what the hell is going on?”

Okay I’m giving this book far too much attention..if you want to listen, fine. I believe 100% in women’s choices. It’s the *insert curse word* way it was written, the all over the place it was taking me, the put me to sleep narration, and last but absolutely not least..please DO NOT have me or anyone else tell me how she disposed of “the fetuses” IT WAS DISGUSTING😡 I hit Chapter 7..turned it off and asked for my money back, including the book cuz I refuse to have it in my library.

You want an abortion that’s absolutely your right..but don’t ever make it seem like it was..who gives an *insert curse word* because it was like a joke..I can’t deal with that..and never will..no matter my views.. NOT RECOMMENDED