A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother

A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother is Rachel Cusk's memoir that documents her early experiences of motherhood. Published in 2001, the book presents a funny, moving, and brutally honest account of becoming a parent. The memoir covers topics including babies, books, breast-feeding, toddler groups, broken nights, bad advice, and the loss of solitude that accompanies motherhood. Upon publication, the book divided critics and readers. It generated significant controversy, with one columnist publishing a piece questioning Cusk's fitness as a parent, and Oprah Winfrey invited her on her show to respond to the criticism. The New York Times selected it as one of the 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years. The book has provoked both acclaim and outrage in equal measure and is considered a landmark work in memoir writing.