Maxed Out

Reviews / Votes

"Alcorn's moving account is pertinent for American women and men who are trying to chase their own version of the American dream, and she offers helpful suggestions and techniques to combat the inevitable stress encountered along the way. An eye-opening, expressive narrative on an often hidden but common problem in American society." --Kirkus Reviews "... the book is a brave admission that we are not all successfully managing our overbooked lives, and should not feel alone. On the whole, the book provides a powerful reminder that even well-to-do mothers do not thrive in our current system, that having a positive attitude, leaning in, or opting out aren't viable choices for many women, and that other countries (such as Denmark and Sweden) serve working mothers more effectively." --Publishers Weekly "Alcorn tells a gripping story of how the demands of work and parenting sent her over the edge. She brilliantly connects her experience with key changes we must make to end the insanity and make work fit our lives." --Joan Blades, author of The Motherhood Manifesto and co-founder of MomsRising.org "This is a deeply important story told by a highly gifted writer. So many working mothers are living in 'emotional debt' these days that this book is bound to strike a chord." --Arlie Hochschild, author of The Second Shift "Katrina Alcorn wrote the book that desperately needed to be written. In Maxed Out, Alcorn goes where most memoirs don't, recounting the terror-inducing triple play of work, marriage and motherhood which give rise to extreme depression and anxiety. From her darkest days to her recovery, Alcorn tells an awfully compelling story, giving us insight into a world where most fear to tread, and inspiring us to rethink how we spend one of our most precious resources: our time." --Robert Wilder, author of Daddy Needs a Drink "This is important, even essential, food for thought. We have to stop and take stock of our lives. We have to make sure that if it all ended tomorrow, we would feel right about the way we spent our time. That's the conversation this book wants to start." --Kelly Corrigan, New York Times bestselling author of The Middle Place and Lift "Every once in a while you pick up a book that just grabs you by the scruff of your neck and commands your undivided attention. [Maxed Out] was just that kind of book for me." --Sarah Welch, BabyCenter.com "... once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. Maxed Out is elegantly written and beautifully structured, with a logical, almost inevitable narrative ..." --Katherine Lewis, About.com Working Moms "... I could not stop reading even though it had become the deep, dark of night ... [Alcorn's] story is riveting, and it is one that will resonate with any mother, or woman thinking of becoming a mother, whether she works outside the home or not." --Maureen Langloss, Project Eve