Book Reviews
Yvette O’Dowd has been a passionate reader since childhood. Her first pregnancy in the early 1980s saw her consuming the local library collection of books about pregnancy, childbirth, child development and child care. Having ignited a life-long interest in these subjects, Yvette went on to work at Merrily Merrily Enterprises [the retail arm of the Nursing Mothers’ Association of Australia (now known as The Australian Breastfeeding Association)] from 1995 - 2000. This included the recommendation and sale of books on breastfeeding and human lactation, parenting and related titles to both parents and health professionals.
From 2008 - 2013, Yvette ran The Breastfeeding Centre In Dandenong, Victoria - the Victorian Branch Office of the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Here she curated and maintained an extensive library of books available to both members and volunteers. When establishing the Southern Natural Parenting Network in 2014, Yvette had a vision of a collection of books available to members and the wider community, establishing a community library on wheels available at meets and events. Yvette’ family are resigned to her extensive personal collection! (Thank goodness for the digital revolution!)
Yvette also has a passion for children’s books - particularly picture books - and her collection expanded as her family has. Books for children about babies are of particular interest. Stay tuned for review soon!
Browse Yvette’s recommendations:
Hunt, Gather, Parent
Science journalist Michaeleen Doucleff travels the world with her young daughter, learning from Indigenous communities in Mexico, the Arctic, and Tanzania. These parents raise calm, confident, cooperative children — without yelling, bribes, or punishments. Doucleff distills their ancient, intuitive parenting methods and contrasts them with modern Western approaches, offering accessible tools for everyday family life.
The Anthropology of Childhood
In this sweeping cross-cultural exploration, anthropologist David Lancy examines how children are raised across the globe — and how Western norms are far from universal. He challenges ideas of intensive parenting, early independence, and over-scheduling, showing instead how many societies allow children greater autonomy, responsibility, and community integration from an early age.
The World Until Yesterday – Jared Diamond
In this sweeping cross-cultural analysis, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jared Diamond draws on decades of fieldwork to examine how traditional societies manage childcare, elder care, conflict, diet, and more. He explores what modern, industrialised cultures can learn from Indigenous and ancestral ways of life — without romanticising or oversimplifying them.
A Passion for Birth
This engaging and visually rich book offers a sweeping look at the journey of birth around the world. Through photographs, personal stories, cultural commentary, and evidence-based insight, renowned social anthropologist and birth advocate Sheila Kitzinger celebrates the diversity and power of childbirth. It is part celebration, part critique of modern obstetrics, and entirely dedicated to honouring women's voices.
Mothers and Others
In this landmark work, anthropologist and primatologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy explores how human cooperation — particularly in parenting — evolved. She argues that our species' survival depended not just on mothers, but on “alloparents”: grandparents, siblings, and community members who helped raise children. This shared caregiving fostered empathy, communication, and social intelligence — the roots of what makes us human.
Our Babies, Ourselves – Meredith Small
Anthropologist Meredith Small examines how human infants are raised in cultures around the world — and how deeply biology and culture intertwine in shaping parenting practices. From co-sleeping to feeding to soothing, she shows that what we consider “normal” in parenting is far from universal. Instead, parenting is a reflection of social values, economic systems, and evolutionary history.