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 s. . . 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 arent viable choices for many women, and that other countries (such as Denmark and Sweden) serve working mothers more effectively.Publishers WeeklyAlcorn 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.orgThis 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 ShiftKatrina 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 DrinkThis 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. Thats 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 couldnt 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 what is the best online bookstore Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink
122 of 124 people found the following review helpful. "Lean In" for the rest of usBy Nancy Davis KhoWhile I was waiting for MAXED OUT to arrive, I read LEAN IN by Sheryl Sandberg so I could compare the two - I'd seen Sandberg at the BlogHer '13 conference in Chicago and my curiosity was piqued about her story.Having now read both, I found Alcorn's book far more relatable and realistic to me. Alcorn sounds like 95% of the women I know: smart, hard working, determined not to let anyone down, neither family NOR employer NOR spouse, at the cost of their collective sanity. Unlike Sandberg, most of us can't afford unlimited daycare and housecleaning help. We're leaning in so hard, we're almost face down. Alcorn weaves in hard data about the lack of support for working families in America with her own work-related descent into despair and the slow climb out, so it reads like great memoir and important nonfiction in the same book."Maxed Out" seeks to further the discussion that "Lean In" started but takes it beyond what women themselves need to do better and points at the institutions and practices that could provide systemic solutions to benefit national productivity. Alcorn's story, so calm, measured, yet urgent, is an important perspective in the debate.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Good perspective, appreciated by a fellow maxed out working motherBy Denise DoyleThere were certainly many things I could relate to in Katrina's story, particularly the struggle to meet growing demands at home with building a career. It's not as though once your career grows, the work at home proportionately dwindles. Though I didn't have the anxiety issues she did, I can certainly understand the guilt of leaving your child crying at a daycare while you rush to work, running late again and being tired and frustrated. I can understand feeling like you are just failing at everything some days. I truly enjoy being a mother, but it was also nice to know I was not alone in experiencing the "other side" of motherhood, particularly as a working mom and I think Katrina did a nice job of telling her story, throwing in some interesting research, and letting us working moms know we aren't the only ones feeling or thinking some of these things.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Great book on being a momBy NeomaKatrina Alcorn is a great writer and not only conveys her own experiences with wit, compassion and honesty but does so in a way that is easy to relate to. As a mom who was able to work part time for a year after returning from maternity leave and has just now returned to full time status, I feel for Alcorn and her own experiences. There is an enormous strain on working parents. This book makes you realize that you are not alone and while your own experience might not completely mirror Alcorn's own experience, so many of the emotions, thoughts and experiences strike cords that are undeniable.I also appreciate the end of chapter excepts that explore larger topics in US public policy and perceptions towards working mothers, maternity leave and more. In addition to being a great writer, Alcorn is also a researcher and this trait is clearly shown through out her book. This books makes me wish to join a book club, solely to be able to discuss ideas and topics that piqued my interest while reading. I will have to read it again to highlight favorite passages and statements. The ones that really made me think, laugh, cry and say to myself, "That is so true!" And that is the heart of matter, working mothers and fathers are often slogging through work and life and wondering if they are the only ones to feel that way...Alcorn shows you that you are not alone and that they system is broken. Now the next step is to somehow keep the discussion going and hopefully we'll see real change when it comes to developing parent friendly work environments and careers.