The book investigates why motherhood remains disproportionately difficult despite decades of social progress. Eliane Glaser examines the societal and systemic challenges mothers face, from the patronizing attitudes during pregnancy to the loss of autonomy in childbirth and the unequal burdens of domestic labor and childcare post-birth. The book critiques the idealization of mothers versus their actual treatment, questioning the decline in advocacy for mothers' needs and proposing solutions to improve the child-rearing experience for all.

The book is lauded for its searing and vital examination of the challenges inherent in modern motherhood. Reviewers highlight its liberation and intoxicating perspective on why, after decades of social progress, motherhood remains so much harder than it needs to be. The author's critical inquiry into the societal treatment of mothers, from pregnancy through to post-birth, is noted as particularly impactful. It prompts a necessary re-evaluation of how society supports and values mothers, suggesting a need for significant shifts to improve the child-rearing experience.