
Matrescence
On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood
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Narrated by:
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Lucy Jones
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By:
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Lucy Jones
About this listen
A New Statesman and Daily Mail BOOK OF THE YEAR
'The best book I've ever read about motherhood' Jude Rogers, Observer
'I kept scribbling in the margins: 'We need to know this stuff!'' Joanna Pocock, Spectator
A radical new examination of the transition into motherhood and how it affects the mind, brain and body
During pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood, women undergo a far-reaching physiological, psychological and social metamorphosis.
There is no other time in a human's life course that entails such dramatic change—other than adolescence. And yet this life-altering transition has been sorely neglected by science, medicine and philosophy. Its seismic effects go largely unrepresented across literature and the arts. Speaking about motherhood as anything other than a pastel-hued dream remains, for the most part, taboo.
In this ground-breaking, deeply personal investigation, acclaimed journalist and author Lucy Jones brings to light the emerging concept of 'matrescence'. Drawing on new research across various fields—neuroscience and evolutionary biology; psychoanalysis and existential therapy; sociology, economics and ecology—Jones shows how the changes in the maternal mind, brain and body are far more profound, wild and enduring than we have been led to believe. She reveals the dangerous consequences of our neglect of the maternal experience and interrogates the patriarchal and capitalist systems that have created the untenable situation mothers face today.
Here is an urgent examination of the modern institution of motherhood, which seeks to unshackle all parents from oppressive social norms. As it deepens our understanding of matrescence, it raises vital questions about motherhood and femininity; interdependence and individual identity; as well as about our relationships with each other and the living world.
Cover image: Pregnant Woman, 2008, by Louise Bourgeois © 2024 The Easton Foundation / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photo: Cristopher Burke
©2024 Lucy Jones (P)2024 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“Wide-ranging and hugely ambitious…Marshalling memoir, science, sociology, and history, Jones argues that, outside of adolescence, there is no transformation as dramatic in a human’s life [as motherhood], in both its emotional and biological impacts.”—The New Yorker
“In this maddening journey of motherhood, I encourage everyone to let Matrescence be your soothing guide. From my early days of motherhood to a few years deep in the trenches, Lucy’s words and wisdom continues to guide and comfort me. Matrescence is the sister I never had but always longed for as I try to figure out how to mother in this world. It’s a fierce book, equally tender as it is sharp. It is my kind of bible that I will carry with me (and gift to others!) for a long time.”—Szilvia Molnar, author of The Nursery
“A beautiful contemplation of the extraordinary yet ordinary metamorphosis that adult humans undergo as they become mothers. I was entranced . . . a passionate and powerful maternal roar for change. Wonderful.”—Gaia Vince, award-winning journalist; author of Adventures in the Anthropocene
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Microchimerism - interesting at first, then profoundly healing
- By Emily Virgil on 09-10-18
By: Angela Garbes
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I'm Judging You
- The Do-Better Manual
- By: Luvvie Ajayi
- Narrated by: Luvvie Ajayi
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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With over 500,000 readers a month at her enormously popular blog, AwesomelyLuvvie.com, Luvvie Ajayi is a go-to source for smart takes on pop culture. I'm Judging You is her debut book of humorous essays that dissects our cultural obsessions and calls out bad behavior in our increasingly digital, connected lives - from the importance of the newest Shonda Rhimes television drama to serious discussions of race and media representation to what to do about your fool cousin sharing casket pictures from Grandma's wake on Facebook.
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I have NEVER laughed so hard
- By Amazon Customer on 10-18-16
By: Luvvie Ajayi
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The Anti-Ableist Manifesto
- Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World
- By: Tiffany Yu
- Narrated by: Tiffany Yu
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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The Anti-Ableist Manifesto defines ableism as discrimination in favor of non-disabled people and helps listeners understand that ending discrimination begins with self-reflection. Tiffany Yu celebrates the power of stories and lived experiences to foster the proximity, intimacy, and humanity of disability identities that have far too often been “othered” and rendered invisible.
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Everyone Should Listen
- By Sue on 02-06-25
By: Tiffany Yu
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What Is Real?
- The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics
- By: Adam Becker
- Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Every physicist agrees quantum mechanics is among humanity's finest scientific achievements. But ask what it means, and the result will be a brawl. For a century, most physicists have followed Niels Bohr's Copenhagen interpretation and dismissed questions about the reality underlying quantum physics as meaningless. A mishmash of solipsism and poor reasoning, Copenhagen endured, as Bohr's students vigorously protected his legacy, and the physics community favored practical experiments over philosophical arguments.
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Good, "light" "read"... potential caveat below...
- By James S. on 03-31-18
By: Adam Becker
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The Great Menopause Myth
- The Truth on Mastering Midlife Hormonal Mayhem, Beating Uncomfortable Symptoms, and Aging to Thrive
- By: Kristin Johnson, Maria Claps
- Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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More than simply an end to fertility, menopause is a time when a woman’s health can spin out of control. The hormonal shifts of menopause impact everything from body composition and immune system function to increased risk of chronic health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, dementia, heart disease, and osteoporosis. The Great Menopause Myth shows you how to age wise and well at midlife and beyond. Learn actionable steps and guidelines to curate an optimized menopause regimen based on your unique health considerations.
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Essential Information!
- By Farra Barnett on 09-13-24
By: Kristin Johnson, and others
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And Baby Makes Three
- The Six-Step Plan for Preserving Marital Intimacy and Rekindling Romance After Baby Arrives
- By: John M. Gottman PhD, Julie Schwartz Gottman PhD
- Narrated by: Randye Kaye
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Having a baby is a joyous experience, but even the best relationships are strained during the transition from duo to trio. Lack of sleep, never-ending housework, and new fiscal concerns often lead to conflict, disappointment, and hurt feelings. In And Baby Makes Three, Love Lab™ experts John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman teach couples the skills from their successful workshops, so partners can avoid the pitfalls of parenthood.
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More couple's therapy than adapting with new baby.
- By Bridget on 08-19-17
By: John M. Gottman PhD, and others
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What No One Tells You
- A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood
- By: Dr. Alexandra Sacks, Dr. Catherine Birndorf
- Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Your guide to the emotions of pregnancy and early motherhood, from two of America’s top reproductive psychiatrists. With a combined 30 years of counseling new and expectant mothers, Dr. Sacks and Dr. Birndorf have seen firsthand how the pressure to be perfect, and perfectly happy, leaves women feeling confused and even ashamed of the emotions that can bubble up during pregnancy. Now, in What No One Tells You, the two psychiatrists show why it’s natural for “matrescence” - the birth of a mother - to be as stressful and transformative a period as adolescence.
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Not Soothing for high risk pregnancy
- By Brooke S. on 09-28-20
By: Dr. Alexandra Sacks, and others
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Joyful
- By: Ingrid Fetell Lee
- Narrated by: Ingrid Fetell Lee
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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In Joyful, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising and powerful effects on our mood. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology, she explains why one setting makes us feel anxious or competitive while another fosters acceptance and delight—and, most importantly, she reveals how we can harness the power of our surroundings to live fuller, healthier, and truly joyful lives.
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Boring read of an interesting book
- By Angela Sauer on 12-02-19
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Living an Examined Life
- By: James Hollis PhD
- Narrated by: Kevin M. Connolly
- Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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How do you define “growing up?” Does it mean you achieve certain cultural benchmarks - a steady income, paying taxes, marriage, and children? Or does it mean leaving behind the expectations of others and growing into the person you were meant to be? Here acclaimed author James Hollis guides you through 21 areas for self-inquiry and growth - such as how to exorcise the ghosts of your past, when to choose meaning over happiness, how to construct a mature spirituality, and how to seize permission to be who you really are.
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Extraordinary compilation of Dr. Hollis' works
- By Joseph on 02-17-18
By: James Hollis PhD
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The Fourth Trimester
- A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality
- By: Kimberly Ann Johnson
- Narrated by: Kimberly Ann Johnson
- Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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This holistic guide offers practical advice to support women through postpartum healing on the physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual levels - and provides women with a roadmap to this very important transition that can last from a few months to a few years. Kimberly Ann Johnson draws from her vast professional experience as a doula, postpartum consultant, yoga teacher, body worker, and women's health care advocate, and from the healing traditions of Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and herbalism - as well as her own personal experience - to cover everything you need to know....
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Really use full tips you can put into action
- By Kellie on 06-09-18
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A Failure of Nerve (Revised Edition)
- Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix
- By: Edwin H. Friedman, Peter Steinke - foreword
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Ed Friedman invites leaders “to cast a courageous and imaginative vision, to lead resiliently, and to be present and steady in times of deep anxiety.” Ed Friedman’s genius was to see the individual in the family in the larger group, bringing the wisdom of his experience as a therapist and rabbi to the field of organizational leadership. A timeless bestseller, A Failure of Nerve still astonishes in this new edition with its relevance and continues to transform the lives of leaders everywhere.
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It's All in Friedman
- By givmejesus on 03-04-25
By: Edwin H. Friedman, and others
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Motherkind
- By: Zoe Blaskey
- Narrated by: Zoe Blaskey
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Modern motherhood is insane. We’re expected to parent perfectly, bounce back, enjoy every moment, forge ahead at work and keep smiling through all the endless expectations – all whilst forgetting about ourselves.
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It felt like a hug
- By Susan on 02-18-25
By: Zoe Blaskey
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BoyMom
- Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity
- By: Ruth Whippman
- Narrated by: Ruth Whippman
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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As the culture wars rage, and masculinity has been politicized from all sides, feminist writer and mother of three boys Ruth Whippman finds herself conflicted and scared. While the right pushes a dangerous vision of fantasy manhood, her feminist peers often dismiss boys as little more than entitled predators-in-waiting. Meanwhile her home life feels like a daily confrontation with the triumph of nature over nurture.
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"consent is a murky concept"
- By somethingusual on 12-06-24
By: Ruth Whippman
What listeners say about Matrescence
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- Anonymous User
- 01-06-25
Every mother should read this book!
Great book! Eye opening! I am recommending it to all the mothers I know. It has it all, great stories, science, etc
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- Eric S. Boyer
- 06-19-24
Moving
The most seen I have ever felt in a book. Well done. Every mother, father, mother to be and person should read this.
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- Anonymous User
- 06-25-24
Required Reading for All
A cathartic read for new moms, an excellent read for anyone who has a mom in their life.
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- Kendra Williams
- 10-18-24
I loved it and I crave more!
The way Lucy wove her own stories into the educational component was brilliant. I walked away with so much more knowledge about matrescence and also wishing I could grab a coffee with her. Im going to be recommending to every mother I know.
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-01-24
thoroughness
openness !
intelligence!
great reading, well- researched, thoughtful presentation, balanced view.
Highly recommended to all parents.
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-01-25
Beyond happy I listened to this book!
I wish I had as elegant of words as Lucy to describe my feelings about this book. But I’m thankful that she has the words and her beautiful voice that she delivers in her narrative of this book. Having gone through Matrescense 10 years ago, I feel the community that I was seeking back then through her words. I feel seen and am in agreement with a need of change to support mother’s and all shapes and forms. Thank you thank you thank you. I will be sharing this book with my community, xo Erin
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- Aya Kakeda
- 06-26-24
Must read for new mothers and mothers to be
I have struggled after my son was born and I blamed myself for that. After reading this book I felt a relief knowing what I went through was a normal reaction as a newly mom. I recommend this book to any new mothers.
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- MacKenzie
- 09-19-24
Gobbled up every word! Finally felt seen.
I wish I read this earlier in my journey into motherhood. I felt seen while listening to this book. It gave me an understanding of so much of what people don’t talk about during the transformation into motherhood. I gobbled up every word. I loved that it was read by Lucy. I felt like we were sitting down having a chat.
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- Sophie McClellan
- 08-23-24
Loved it
I loved this book. Not all of her experiences were exactly like mine and yet they were so much the same. So so so good. A must read.
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- Caitlin
- 06-13-24
I felt seen & understood
This book made me feel seen and understood. I have struggled to articulate my inner experience of becoming a mother and Lucy nailed it. Hands down one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s illuminating and made me realize that it is not just me. Thank you, Lucy. Your words cradled my heart during a deeply tumultuous time.
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