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Insightful,
Inspiring,
Beautiful

4 reviews

Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic
by Martha Beck

Published: 2011-08-02
Paperback : 368 pages
8 members reading this now
12 clubs reading this now
4 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 4 of 4 members

“A wonderful book, funny unbelievably tender, and smart. It shimmers.”--Anne Lamott

Includes an all-new afterword about Adam.

  
John and Martha Beck had two Harvard degrees apiece when they conceived their second child. Further graduate studies, budding careers, and a growing family ...

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Introduction

“A wonderful book, funny unbelievably tender, and smart. It shimmers.”--Anne Lamott

Includes an all-new afterword about Adam.

  
John and Martha Beck had two Harvard degrees apiece when they conceived their second child. Further graduate studies, budding careers, and a growing family meant major stress--not that they'd have admitted it to anyone (or themselves). As the pregnancy progressed, Martha battled constant nausea and dehydration. And when she learned her unborn son had Down syndrome, she battled nearly everyone over her decision to continue the pregnancy. She still cannot explain many of the things that happened to her while she was expecting Adam, but by the time he was born, Martha, as she puts it, "had to unlearn virtually everything Harvard taught [her] about what is precious and what is garbage."

Editorial Review

Expecting Adam is an autobiographical tale of an academically oriented Harvard couple who conceive a baby with Down's syndrome and decide to carry him to term. Despite everything Martha Beck and her husband John know about themselves and their belief system, when Martha gets accidentally pregnant and the fetus is discovered to have Down's syndrome, the Becks find they cannot even consider abortion. The presence of the fetus that they each, privately, believe is a familiar being named Adam is too strong. As Martha's terribly difficult pregnancy progresses, odd coincidences and paranormal experiences begin to occur for both Martha and John, though for months they don't share them with each other. Martha's pregnancy and Adam (once born) become the catalyst for tremendous life changes for the Becks.

Focusing primarily on the pregnancy but floating back and forth between the present and recent and distant past, Martha Beck's well-written, down-to-earth, funny, heart-rending, and tender book transcends the cloying tone of much spiritual literature. Beck is trained as a methodical academician. Because of her step-by-step explanation of her own progress from doubt to belief, she feels like a reliable witness, and even the most skeptical readers may begin to doubt their senses. When she describes an out-of-body experience, we, too, feel ourselves transported to a pungent, noisy hawker center in Singapore. We, too, feel calming, invisible, supporting hands when she falls. Yet, whether or not readers believe in Beck's experiences is ultimately a moot point. There is no doubt that Adam--a boy who sees the world as a series of connections between people who love each other--is a tremendous gift to Beck, her family, and all who have the honor of knowing him. --Ericka Lutz

Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

Down Syndrome, Harvard mentality, striving for success
by actmccarthy (see profile) 04/03/14

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

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Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "Expecting Adam"by Annette M. (see profile) 04/03/14

We felt the book was informative, however, at times unrealistic and hard to believe, i.e. mental telepathy, etc. Great insight into the Harvard mentality

 
  "Expecting Adam by Martha Beck"by Katie K. (see profile) 07/11/13

Martha Beck writes well about her experience adapting to life as the mother of a Down Syndrome child. She has some unusual, unexpectedly spiritual moments during the pregnancy and throughou... (read more)

 
  "Loved it."by Kelsey W. (see profile) 02/28/12

Beautifully written, funny, smart, introspective. This book puts some wonder back in the world. There were only a few parts where it lagged a bit for me. I loved it, but I don't know if I would recommend... (read more)

 
  "Expecting Adam"by Stephanie B. (see profile) 01/17/12

This book is beautiful! It is a wonderful read full of magic. If I hadn't believed in the amazing aura that surrounds all persons with exceptional abilities, I would after reading this book. A true... (read more)

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