This classic book, first published in 1992 and again in 2003, has inspired three generations of childbearing people, birth activists and researchers, and birth practitioners―midwives, doulas, nurses, and obstetricians―to take a fresh look at the "standard procedures" that are routinely used to "manage" American childbirth. It was the first book to identify these non-evidence-based obstetric interventions as rituals that enact and transmit the core values of the American technocracy, thereby answering the pressing question of why these interventions continue to be performed despite all evidence to the contrary. This third edition brings together Davis-Floyd's insights into the intense ritualization of labor and birth and the technocratic, humanistic, and holistic models of birth with new data collected in recent years.

Birth as an American Rite of Passage (Social Science Perspectives on Childbirth and Reproduction)

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Davis-Floyd, Robbie

Women's Health

Routledge

Birthing Techno-Sapiens: Human-Technology Co-Evolution and the Future of Reproduction (Social Science Perspectives on Childbirth and Reproduction)

This ground-breaking book challenges us to re-think ourselves as techno-sapiens―a new species we are creating as we continually co-evolve ourselves with our technologies. While some of its chapters are imaginary, they are all empirically grounded in ethnography and richly theorized from diverse disciplines. 
The authors go far beyond a techno-optimism vs. techno-pessimism stance, stretching our thinking about birthing techno-sapiens to consider not only how our cyborgian reproductive lives are constrained and/or enabled by technology but are also about emotions and spirit. The world of reproductive health care and particularly that of genetic engineering is developing exponentially, and current challenges are vastly different from those of a decade ago. The book is provocative, intended to generate debate, ideas, and future research and to influence ethical policy and practice in human techno-reproduction. It will be of interest across the social sciences and humanities, for reproductive scholars, bioethicists, techno-scientists, and those involved in the development and delivery of maternity services.

Birthing Techno-Sapiens (Social Science Perspectives on Childbirth and Reproduction)

Reconceiving Midwifery

Midwifery in the developed world is in a state of ferment and change - a phenomenon referred to as the 'new midwifery'. This title offers analysis of the new midwifery as it is practised and reflects on regional differences in the emerging profession, providing a systematic account of its historical, local and international roots and more.

Politics & Social Sciences

Bourgeault, Ivy Lynn

Benoit, Cecilia

Sociology

McGill-Queen's University Press

Midwifery in the developed world is in a state of ferment and change - a phenomenon referred to as the 'new midwifery'. This title offers analysis of the new midwifery as it is practised and reflects on regional differences in the emerging profession, providing a systematic account of its historical, local and international roots and more.

Parenting & Relationships

Why would a successful physician who has undergone seven years of rigorous medical training take the trouble to seek out and learn to practice alternative methods of healing such as homeopathy and Chinese medicine? From Doctor to Healer answers this question as it traces the transformational journeys of physicians who move across the philosophical spectrum of American medicine from doctor to healer. Robbie Davis-Floyd and Gloria St. John conducted extensive interviews to discover how and why physicians make the move to alternative medicine, what sparks this shift, and what beliefs they abandon or embrace in the process. After outlining the basic models of American health care-the technocratic, humanistic, and holistic-the authors follow the thoughts and experiences of forty physicians as they expand their horizons in order to offer effective patient care. The book focuses on the radical shift from one end of the spectrum to the other-from the technocratic approach to holism-made by most of the interviewees. Because many American physicians find such a drastic change too threatening, the authors also address the less radical transition to humanism-a movement toward compassionate care arising from within the medical system.

From Doctor to Healer: The Transformative Journey

Alternative Medicine

Rutgers University Press

Why would a successful physician who has undergone seven years of rigorous medical training take the trouble to seek out and learn to practice alternative methods of healing such as homeopathy and Chinese medicine? From Doctor to Healer answers this question as it traces the transformational journeys of physicians who move across the philosophical spectrum of American medicine from doctor to healer. Robbie Davis-Floyd and Gloria St. John conducted extensive interviews to discover how and why physicians make the move to alternative medicine, what sparks this shift, and what beliefs they abandon or embrace in the process. After outlining the basic models of American health care-the technocratic, humanistic, and holistic-the authors follow the thoughts and experiences of forty physicians as they expand their horizons in order to offer effective patient care. The book focuses on the radical shift from one end of the spectrum to the other-from the technocratic approach to holism-made by most of the interviewees. Because many American physicians find such a drastic change too threatening, the authors also address the less radical transition to humanism-a movement toward compassionate care arising from within the medical system.

St. John, Gloria

Ritual: What It Is, How It Works, and Why

Designed for both academic and lay audiences, this book identifies the characteristics of ritual and, via multiple examples, details how ritual works on the human body and brain to produce its often profound effects. These include enhancing courage, effecting healing, and generating group cohesion by enacting cultural--or individual--beliefs and values. It also shows what happens when ritual fails.

Laughlin, Charles D.

Social Sciences

Berghahn Books

Designed for both academic and lay audiences, this book identifies the characteristics of ritual and, via multiple examples, details how ritual works on the human body and brain to produce its often profound effects. These include enhancing courage, effecting healing, and generating group cohesion by enacting cultural―or individual―beliefs and values. It also shows what happens when ritual fails.

The death of an ex-husband or partner can lead to a plethora of mixed emotions: grief, sorrow, anger, confusion, and guilt. These feelings can be overwhelming, and you may have no one who understands what you’re going through. In Surviving the Death of Your Ex, co-editors, Robyn Hass and Robbie Davis-Floyd, share their stories of losing their ex-husbands and the range of emotions that they experienced. They also reached out and brought together stories of other women. Each story is unique, but all share similarities. Surviving the Death of Your Ex will help you see that you are not alone, and also provides advice for getting through, with a list of helpful resources. May it serve you well!

Surviving the Death of Your Ex: Managing the Grief No One Talks About

Hass, Robyn

Praeclarus Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Davis-Floyd, Robbie. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Davis-Floyd, Robbie

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Davis-Floyd, Robbie. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Birth as an American Rite of Passage (Social Science Perspectives on Childbirth and Reproduction)

Birthing Techno-Sapiens (Social Science Perspectives on Childbirth and Reproduction)

Birthing Techno-Sapiens: Human-Technology Co-Evolution and the Future of Reproduction (Social Science Perspectives on Childbirth and Reproduction)

Reconceiving Midwifery

Reconceiving Midwifery

From Doctor to Healer: The Transformative Journey

From Doctor to Healer: The Transformative Journey

Ritual: What It Is, How It Works, and Why

Ritual: What It Is, How It Works, and Why

Surviving the Death of Your Ex: Managing the Grief No One Talks About