"This book is both a well-researched, respectable work and a warm, inclusive source of comfort. If that sounds like something you could use some of in your life. . . go read it. One of the unexpected joys of reading the words of Ladge and Greenberg is that you are both seen in your circumstances and you are challenged to think about those of women whose lives are very different from your own. This is healthy and helpful intellectually, emotionally, and maybe even spiritually." -- Eleni Lobene, District Growth

"An essential text for any working woman who is or may consider becoming a mother. It approaches the working world pragmatically to help women understand their rights and figure out how they want to balance the responsibilities of work with the responsibilities of family. This well-written, clearly organized book deserves to be on every womanâs shelf." -- Choice

"Maternal Optimism is a wonderfully optimistic book. Ladge and Greenberg turn many seemingly oppositional dichotomies into encouraging integrative ideas. And though they develop principles for women as well as organizations, they also emphasize the unique situation of any woman and any job. With great examples from real people, the book speaks directly to women. But it should also be read by these women's partners and employers. Without denying any of the difficulties, Maternal Optimism provides a blueprint and hope for the future."

-- Lotte Bailyn, author of Redesigning Work for Productive and Satisfying Lives

"Maternal Optimism should be in greater demand than ever before as more young women are graduating from college, having babies, and continuing with their careers. An engaging, thoughtful, and useful volume told through the experiences of many mothers, and the research findings of the authors and others, it is both an academic study of today's working mothers and a 'how to' book on being a successful working mother by two women who are."

-- Claudia Goldin, Henry Lee Professor of Economics, Harvard University

"In Maternal Optimism, Ladge and Greenberg provide an invaluable resource, practical and evidence-based, for everyone who cares about creating a nourishing context for raising the next generation by empowering mothers to lead the lives they want. It's a must-read for all parents (fathers too!) and for those who strive to help them grow their families and cultivate their careers."

-- Stewart D. Friedman, Professor of Management Practice Emeritus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and author of Total Leadership: Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life