Expecting Adam
Expecting Adam
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1999
Book Brief
368
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Harvard University • 1980s
1999
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Expecting Adam by Martha Beck is an autobiographical memoir detailing her unexpected pregnancy during her time at Harvard, when her unborn son is diagnosed with Down's Syndrome, leading to major life decisions amidst a demanding academic environment.
Heartwarming
Inspirational
Emotional
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
11,264 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Reviews of Expecting Adam by Martha Beck highlight its poignant and humorous storytelling. Readers appreciate Beck's candid and reflective narrative on unexpected motherhood and life with a child with Down syndrome. However, some critics find it overly sentimental and self-indulgent at times. Overall, it is praised for its warmth and insight, despite occasional lapses in tone.
Who Should Read Expecting Adam?
Readers who enjoyed The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls or The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot will appreciate Expecting Adam by Martha Beck. Ideal for those drawn to memoirs blending personal struggle, unexpected joy, and intellectual reflection, it resonates with introspective readers who value life's serendipitous moments.
11,264 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
368
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Harvard University • 1980s
1999
Adult
18+ years
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