In this sweeping cultural history, Mark Kurlansky traces the story of milk across civilizations — from sacred food to industrial commodity. The book explores everything from wet nursing and human milk to dairy politics, formula marketing, and modern debates about health, culture, and ethics. With his signature blend of wit and scholarship, Kurlansky reveals just how political and personal milk really is.

This accessible, evidence-based book by IBCLC Lucy Ruddle takes aim at some of the most persistent myths and misinformation surrounding breastfeeding. From ideas about supply and sleep to cultural beliefs that undermine confidence, Ruddle debunks common misconceptions with clarity and compassion. Her clinical experience is evident throughout, making it both informative and reassuring.

This book reclaims birth as a sacred rite of passage rather than a clinical event. Drawing on anthropology, history, and real birth stories, Rachel Reed explores how modern maternity systems disrupt women’s autonomy and intuition, and how reconnecting with traditional wisdom can restore meaning, agency, and connection in childbirth.

This evidence-based guide challenges common myths about infant sleep and explains how and why babies sleep the way they do. Professor Helen Ball combines research from anthropology, biology, and parenting to offer realistic expectations and respectful support for families.

White Blood traces the rich and complex history of human milk from ancient times to the modern age. Professor Lawrence Weaver — a paediatrician and historian — explores the evolving roles of wet nursing, milk banking, medicalisation, and breastfeeding politics. The book combines historical anecdotes, cultural commentary, and medical insight to tell the story of milk as both nourishment and symbol.

Neuroscientist and doula Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum offers a compelling case for the power of nurtured parenting in shaping the developing brain. Drawing on the latest research in epigenetics and neuroplasticity, she explains how love, touch, responsiveness, and emotional attunement in the first 1,000 days of life can profoundly impact a child’s lifelong wellbeing.

In this investigative and deeply personal book, doctor and science communicator Chris van Tulleken uncovers how ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have infiltrated our diets, bodies, and culture — with profound effects on health, metabolism, and child development. He explores how these factory-made products alter appetite, gut health, and even brain chemistry, while challenging powerful food industry narratives.

In Milk: An Intimate History of Breastfeeding, cultural historian Joanna Wolfarth delves into the multifaceted history of breastfeeding, intertwining personal narrative with extensive research.  Prompted by her own challenges with breastfeeding her first child, Wolfarth explores how infant feeding has been represented, celebrated, and censured across different cultures and eras.  She examines artifacts like ancient baby bottles, 18th-century breast pumps, and artistic depictions from various civilizations, providing a comprehensive look at the socio-cultural significance of breastfeeding. 

In Matrescence, Lucy Jones delves into the profound transformation that women undergo during the transition to motherhood.  Drawing parallels to adolescence, Jones explores how this period—marked by significant hormonal, neurological, and identity shifts—has been largely overlooked in scientific research and societal discourse.  Combining personal narrative with interdisciplinary research, she sheds light on the complexities of becoming a mother and the societal structures that often fail to support this transition. 

In Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck, health psychologist and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett offers a compassionate, evidence-based guide that addresses both the physical and emotional challenges of breastfeeding.  The book delves into topics often overlooked in traditional breastfeeding literature, such as the impact of breastfeeding on sleep, safe (and unsafe) bedsharing, and how infant sleep locations affect maternal mental health. 

This deeply compassionate book explores the emotional impact of breastfeeding experiences that don’t go to plan. Dr. Amy Brown gives voice to the grief, guilt, anger, and confusion many parents feel when faced with unexpected challenges, early weaning, or lack of support. Through evidence and empathy, she validates those emotions and outlines a path toward healing.

This gentle guide supports families through the emotional and practical journey of weaning — whenever and however it happens. Winema Wilson Lanoue offers a compassionate, respectful approach that honours the parent-child bond, encourages responsive timing, and provides affirming stories from a wide range of weaning experiences.

In this compassionate and evidence-based book, paediatric nurse and IBCLC Lyndsey Hookway gently unpacks the realities of infant sleep. She challenges myths, reassures parents that frequent waking is normal, and offers practical strategies grounded in responsive care. The book also addresses parental wellbeing, safe sleep environments, and how to tune into your baby’s needs.

In this thoughtful and accessible book, Sarah Ockwell-Smith dismantles traditional authoritarian parenting methods, arguing for a shift toward connection-based, emotionally intelligent approaches. She explores the origins of obedience-focused parenting, its long-term effects, and offers practical tools for raising confident, cooperative children without coercion.

In this compelling and wide-ranging exploration, Australian food writer and former chef Matthew Evans delves into the cultural, nutritional, ethical, and environmental history of milk. From breastmilk to dairy farms to plant-based alternatives, Milk invites readers to consider where milk comes from, who it serves, and at what cost.

Science journalist Michaeleen Doucleff travels the world with her young daughter, learning from Indigenous communities in Mexico, the Arctic, and Tanzania. These parents raise calm, confident, cooperative children — without yelling, bribes, or punishments. Doucleff distills their ancient, intuitive parenting methods and contrasts them with modern Western approaches, offering accessible tools for everyday family life.

This compact and informative book offers an evidence-based, gentle perspective on infant sleep. Ockwell-Smith explains why babies sleep the way they do and helps parents understand what’s normal, what’s not, and how to respond compassionately.