Expecting Adam: A true story of birth, transformation and unconditional love

I absolutely loved this book. Having read all of Martha Beck's other self-help books, I was intrigued to find out more about her life pre-coaching and especially her experience around expecting, and giving birth to, Adam, her second child. Written with Martha's customary wit,humour and insight, this is a book about how she was transformed by her second pregnancy and how Adam brought in magic, serendipity, love and angels into her previously academic, scientific and intellectual life. It's a life-affirming read, which nevertheless never gets 'new agey', or schmaltzy - it's firmly based in lived experience - the pleasure and the pain, the good and the bad. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who believes there's so much more to this world than the eye can see, and a life worth seeking in intuition and heart beats, beyond material success.

This is an account of the experiences of a highly-educated and academically-successful couple expecting a child, prenatally diagnosed, with Down's syndrome in the eighties. The story is moving and engaging and the book is well-written. It is firmly placed in the eighties and both the reaction of the parents and the narrative are influenced by the beliefs of the Mormon church to which both the author and her husband belonged until mid nineties.It is emphasized in the epilogue of the book that the story is true and as factual as possible. I found this difficult to believe, not because of the miracles (which really are more being in touch with one's self rather than unexplainable events), but rather because of what happened next in Martha Beck's life and how it all unravelled.Overall, this is a good book, and I recommend it. Approach with caution as it feels a bit self-centred and high-brow, and quite unflattering to the academic life, academic standards and academics in top universities in general.

I love Martha Beck and have read her other books with an increasing sense of being opened up to the divine. I wasn't sure what to expect here, but this is a hugely warm and uplifting book that beautifully weaves the story of her experiences during pregnancy, the joy Adam brings into her life, an increasing spiritual awakening for her and her husband, and her disappointment at the reactions of many to her decision to keep the baby. Truly there are angels amongst us - Adam brings a new understanding of what life is about, and huge lessons from a bigger and more wonderful reality.

it has been years since I read a book for the sake of it ... and it has been more years since I laughed out loud. the sense of humour that Martha beck constantly demonstrates is just the best, along with her touching observations and the extraordinary and wonderful experiences that come along into her life and take her away from the mindless college existence she and her family were experiencing.I feel good all over again just reconnecting whilst writing this ... buy it and enjoy.

This is my all-time favourite book! I have read and reread it and never become tired of it. I love everything about it; especially the fact that it forces one to look at what appears to be a disasterous situation - the birth of a baby with Down's Syndrome into a family of almost fanatical intellectuals - with a completely new perspective. It validates the cliche that "everything happens for the best"...even though it might take some of us a very long time to realise how we have benefited from some of the more traumatic experiences in our own lives. The miracle of this book is that the author has taken a subject which one imagines is going to spawn a very grim read and, instead, has managed to create an incredibly moving, warm and - yes! - very funny book. A great triumph!

This is my all-time favourite book! I have read and reread it and never become tired of it. I love everything about it; especially the fact that it forces one to look at what appears to be a disasterous situation with a completely new perspective. It validates the cliche that "everything happens for the best"...even though it might take some of us a long time to realise how we have benefited from some of the more traumatic experiences in our own lives. The miracle of this book is that the author has taken a subject which one imagines is going to spawn a very grim read and, instead, has managed to create an incredibly moving, warm and - yes! - very funny book. A great triumph!

I love Martha Beck's style and her story is truly from the heart. Although I tend toward atheism I do accept that there is some sort of spiritual realm, and the love of one's child is surely proof of this. I have lent this book to several friends who have all loved it.

Quite simply this is a stunning book.I cannot imagine anybody making more of an impact in my heart than Martha did with this account of her son's arrival in her life.