The economics of motherhood and the history of circumcision on this edition of Fresh Air. Economics journalist Ann Crittenden is a former reporter for The New York Times. She's the author of the new book The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued. In the book, Crittenden writes about the cost to mothers when their work is unrecognized and undervalued. For instance, because child care is not counted as labor, caregivers receive no Social Security credits, and as a result they lose out on retirement income. Crittenden spent five years research on her book talking to economists, sociologists, and to mothers. Author David Gollaher is president and CEO of the public policy group, California Healthcare Institute and is the author of Circumcision: A History of the World's Most Controversial Surgery. Cantor Philip Sherman is a mohel who performs the Jewish rite of circumcision on the eighth day of a baby boy's life. In his twenty-two year career he's performed about nine thousand circumcisions. His grandfather was also a mohel. (Broadcast Date: February 14, 2001)
(Tags : Fresh Air, Ann Crittenden, David Gollaher, and Philip Sherman (Nonfiction) Terry Gross Audiobook, Terry Gross Audio CD )
