Generation Maybe

Generation Maybe upends many of the assumptions that used to govern this debate [and] calls for a radical redesign of society around family life … As a lively, deeply empathetic survey of a global crisis, Generation Maybe excels… it will make you want to revolt or go forth and multiply. Or both – Johanna Thomas-Corr * Sunday Times *
Drawing on a wealth of reporting, her book seeks to present a more nuanced picture … focusing on the lived experience of men and women who find themselves with fewer children than they expected … There is no hectoring or finger-wagging in this book. What’s offered instead is an empathic and curious approach … In so doing, Generation Maybe illuminates the enormous gulf between popular talking points about fertility and the actual conversations potential parents are having – Mythili Rao * Guardian *
Analysis of the birth crunch tends to fall into two camps: data-heavy studies, or thin, thesis-driven polemic built on anecdote. Cavendish goes beyond both, delving into data while bringing the problem to life by speaking to people with different experiences, expertise and political persuasions. The result is a well-researched, humane and constructive book. – Tiffany Jenkins * Spectator *
Camilla’s thinking is fresh and fascinating – Amol Rajan
Fascinating – Emily Bootle * i *
With her characteristic elegance and insight, Camilla Cavendish has written the definitive account of one of the great challenges facing too many nations: the postponement of parenthood and the collapse in the average birth rate. Generation Maybe is vital reading for anyone worried about whether we can avoid a dire future of gerontocratic stagnation – Robert Peston
Essential reading for anyone curious enough to ask where we are heading as a human race — and that’s all of us. Packed full of mind-blowing facts that you will be quoting to friends, this is a wise, compassionate and non-judgmental story of our times, told with empathy and real understanding – Emily Maitlis
An entertaining and meaningful read – Claudia Goldin

Camilla Cavendish is a leading journalist, broadcaster, and commentator.

• Columnist: Weekly columnist for the Financial Times.
• Author: Author of Extra Time: 10 Lessons for an Ageing World, which examined the global challenges of longevity.
• Academic: Research fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School and visiting faculty member at King’s College London.
• Politician: Crossbench peer in the House of Lords.
• Policy Advisor: Former head of the 10 Downing Street Policy Unit, the second woman to hold this position.
• Awards: Recipient of the Paul Foot Award for investigative and campaigning journalism, and Wincott Senior Financial Journalist of the Year.
• Family: Mother of three.

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