What does it mean to be a mother? At once intimate and immense, motherhood is one of the most universal - and most misunderstood - human experiences. Too often reduced to something purely domestic, it is a force that shapes economies, politics, culture and the future itself - whether or not we have children. From the biology of pregnancy and the science of breastfeeding to the politics of care, abortion rights and reproductive justice, this clear, accessible introduction explores the history, myths, pressures and contradictions of motherhood today.