I did not know Jennifer Margulis before inviting her to participate in this giveaway, but did you ever see anyone across a crowded social network and think to yourself, Hmmm, look at that cool woman over there with that interesting new book. How do I not know her? I should definitely know her.
So I messaged Jennifer and introduced myself and invited her to join in the giveaway fun. And because she is such a good sport, she went along with it and brought along her very brave, timely book. So please help me welcome Jennifer.
Introducing Jennifer Margulis
Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University, is an award-winning travel, culture, and parenting writer. She is a former contributing editor at Mothering magazine and her writing has appeared in many of the nation’s most respected and credible publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and on the cover of Smithsonian Magazine.
A meticulous researcher who’s not afraid to be controversial, she is nationally known as a journalist who opens people’s eyes to the realities behind accepted practices in the care of children.
Learn about The Business of Baby, What Doctors Don’t Tell You, What Corporations Try to Sell You, and How to Put Your Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Before Their Bottom Line
(Scribner, April 2013)
Why, despite our state-of-the-art medical technology, does the United States have among the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the industrialized world?
Why do American obstetricians award pregnant women who are planning to breastfeed with “free” samples of infant formula?
Why are American newborns given a vaccine at birth against a sexually transmitted disease?
The Business of Baby, an eye-opening work of investigative journalism, exposes how our current cultural practices during pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year of a baby’s life are not based on the best evidence or the most modern science, revealing how American moms and their babies are being undermined by corporate interests.
An illuminating combination of meticulous research and in-depth interviews with parents, doctors, midwives, nurses, health care administrators, and scientists, Margulis’s impassioned and eloquent critique is shocking, groundbreaking, and revelatory. The Business of Baby arms parents with the information they need to make informed decisions about their own health and the health of their infants.
Check out Jennifer’s YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGK6HFHHdZY
I asked Jennifer three questions about The Business Of Baby:
CK: What kind of reactions are you getting to The Business Of Baby from readers?
JM: A lot of readers, especially those with young children, say that the book is gripping but also makes them uncomfortable. Some respond to that discomfort by wishing they had read it before they starting having children and wanting to give it to everyone they know, others by wishing I had never written it.
CK: Why do you think the book is making people so angry?
JM: It makes me angry too! It’s hard not to be angry when you realize how much corporate greed has infiltrated our medical system, our doctors’ offices, and the way we advise parents. People need to know that Johnson & Johnson puts formaldehyde in baby wash that is used on newborns, that the leading proponent of child-led potty training (a great-sounding concept that has actually created so much unnecessary anxiety for moms) was a paid spokesperson for Pampers, and that hospitals mark up headache medicine 6000 percent.
CK: What do you hope readers will take away from The Business Of Baby?
JM: I want to empower parents to make the best choices for themselves and their children, trust their own instincts, and not be afraid to say, “No, thank you,” to unnecessary intervention, unnecessary medication, and bad advice. We spend more money on health care than any other country in the world, yet we have the highest maternal mortality rate than any other industrialized country and 34,000 women almost die every year from childbirth related causes (these are called “near-misses”). As Amnesty International has said, our failed maternity system is an international human rights crisis.
I have another motivation behind writing this book: to expose how harmful it is when you put profits over people.
And Now, Your Turn…
You remember how this works right?
Please read the complete rules at least once!
I ask you a question.
You answer in the comments for your chance to win a book each day.
Please just respond once, even if you make a typo. 
Answer in the comments in 50-200 words (no less and no more to qualify to win one of today’s books).
When you walk into a room what do you bring with you? Do you consciously channel this energy in your personal or professional life? How might you channel it more consciously?
Ready, set, comment! I will hold the drawing tomorrow and post the results here in my blog.
Thanks for participating in the Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway!
And thanks for spreading the word. We will be giving away great books by wonderful women authors all month.
View the complete list of authors and books.
View the giveaway Pinterest board.
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I bring a critical eye and an insatiable curiosity along wherever I go. I don’t do this consciously, and I can turn off the critical eye if I set my mind to it, but this is really just the way I am wired. It’s like I have a big red pen in my head and I’m constantly correcting what I see around me as if it were a rough draft of the real thing. It can be personally and socially challenging to get past this and just let things BE. But it’s also a great creative strength. My brain cuts through a lot of chatter to see the underlying structure of things really fast.
Your question struck a chord with me as I now feel that I bring insecurity with me when I enter a room. I suspect that comes from so many years of being at home away from the corporate world where I walked confidently into many rooms. What I do bring with me is a sense of humor, the ability to connect with a wide variety of people and the skill of drilling through the superfluous to the heart of the matter. Now, to recognize that and channel and be that as I enter the room.
Because I’m a basically shy, I make a point of going into new situations with an optimistic frame of mind. Professionally, it was never an issue, it was part of my job to be outgoing and positive with clients and service providers. As a result quiet time in my personal life was time cherished.
Retired and writing-also done alone- socializing is a big part of my life now that I have time to enjoy it. I could always be more outgoing but I find that writing requires solitude. While channeling our energy is easily done face to face, and perhaps because I’m new at this (my first book) I find that social media changes so quickly that I need to continually search for new ways to enhance my online presence.
It depends on the situation, but for the most part I think I bring positive energy when I enter a room. I can always tell when my energy is low and I’m feeling negative because the world seems to respond in kind. Whereever I go, I try to bring a calm sense of confidence with me, even if my belly is anxiously churning. I’m not someone who lights up a room upon entry (although I think it’s a fascinating personality trait). In my professional and personal life, I find that taking a positive approach that’s natural and authentic for who I am works best, especially when dealing with people and situations I’m uncertain about.
I bring a sense of
openness, curiosity and commitment. I try to bring in positive energy,
and well, a smile, sleep and preparation never hurt. I do try to channel this energy
in both my personal and professional arenas; we are, after all, energy in a physical form and pick up the vibrations
if paying attention. I am very aware of how I usually impact others, and how I
can turn it off or on, whether my light is “open” or “closed.”
When I walk into a room I bring my love of life, my desire
to interact with other humans, a bit of fear and excitement. I bring my wisdom
and my curiosity. I bring my inner detective in my professional life and my
open heart. I try to keep my head
open as well. I could channel this energy more directly by losing all judgment
and by really listening and really seeing. And I could take a breath at each
entry.
When I walk into a room I bring an alertness for what is going on around me. I like to think that I am good in a room. I have not previously thought about channeling my energy – in fact, that is a concept that is new to me. If channeling my energy means working to put others at ease, that would be a worthwhile goal.
Well, Christina, in just the last couple weeks, I had someone I just met tell me I was a “kind soul” for doing the work I do. I took that under wing and have found myself trying to live up to that-
although I’m idealistic, I’ve never though of myself as a “kind soul” – yet, I find it SO SO easy to love people – HUMANS- fellow souls- once you get down to what makes them tick. So I think — lately at least- in trying to live up to this thing this person said, I bring an OPEN HEART and IDEALISTIC spirit into the room with me.
And I HAVE been trying to channel it (personally). I haven’t applied it professionally, although I can see it being a base from which to help new writers at my About site…if I can re-align that passion to help others (writers) solely for the sake of helping other humans, I can see it refreshing my work there. Thanks for the opportunity to think this through. That person, with that offhand compliment, sorta changed the way I think lately.
I usually walk into a room with a high level of confidence and a take-charge, let’s-get-it-done attitude. That comes from my professional life where I spend a large part of my day making decisions that affect my clients and staff. I often have to make decisions quickly, without all of the background data I would like to have.
Before I decide, I must consider everyone’s opinion, weigh the implications, anticipate reactions, etc. It can get pretty intense and it’s not unusual for this energy and leadership style to channel into my personal life. Sometimes I have to make a conscious effort to ratchet back and be more patient and diplomatic. Fortunately, most of our friends have similar personalities and are not afraid to push back and defend their own decisions.
Developing this kind of personality is an occupational hazard of working in high tech in Silicon Valley, where we all think we can overcome any challenge. But it’s also one of the best places on earth for a writer to continue with her career after she becomes a mama.
I think I bring my writer’s eye by looking for details, body language, and how the dynamics of the room are flowing. I’m always taking mental notes. I’d like to think I bring an open-heartedness, a warmth and a friendliness that I extend to others as well!