Into This Universe: The Story of Human Birth

The figurative title to this work is supplemented by the more definite statement "The Story of Human Birth." The book is based largely on questions that have been raised by patients, students and laymen who wanted to know not only the bare facts of childbirth but also the relationship of childbirth to many other activities of life and living. Dr. Guttmacher's previous work, entitled "Life in the Making," was an attractive volume which similarly answered many questions. His literary style is pleasant; his ability to turn exposition into narrative, extraordinarily competent. He has collected a vast amount of interesting material and his chapters on maternal impressions, spontaneous birth, cesarean section and similar subjects will be informative not only to the public but also to many physicians. An unusual feature is the musical scoring of the sounds of pain in labor as contrasted with the expression of pain under ordinary circumstances.