A group of writers are challenging the notion that becoming a parent is the key to a fulfilling and happy existence in a bold new anthology of essays , which explores each contributor ’ s conscious decision to forgo having children . Selfish , Shallow , and Self-Absorbed : Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have Kids was edited by Los Angeles-based author Meghan Daum , 45 , who curated the essays of 16 writers , including Lionel Shriver , Sigrid Nunez , Kate Christensen , Elliott Holt , Geoff Dyer and Tim Kreider , for her new book , which is slated for release on Tuesday . But the anthology does n't take jabs at those who 've decided to have children , rather it takes a look at how others have come to the decision that parenthood is not for them in a culture that worships parenthood . Being honest : Meghan Daum edited 16 writers ' essays about their decision to forgo having children in her new book Selfish , Shallow , and Self-Absorbed : Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have Kids . Just the two of us : Ms Daum , who does n't have children , posed for this selfie with her husband . 'These essays have so many people talking about the ways that they do have relationships with kids , nieces or nephews or kids that they mentor , ' Ms Daum told Flavorwire . She added : 'You ’ ve heard the cliché `` it takes a village '' , but there are so many ways of being a responsible villager . ' The writers who contributed to the book candidly explained about how they came to the decision to live a child-free existence without judgement - which is a refreshing take on a unnecessarily controversial choice that is often met with confusion and criticism . For her book , Ms Daum sought out the perspective of both men and women , although a majority of the essays in the collection are from female writers . ' I think we could be wary of the assumption that parenthood is the only way to be an adult , ' Ms Daum told the outlet , noting that 'it 's less taboo to say , `` I 'm a shallow person '' than to say that this is n't for me . ' Major debut : Ms Daum 's new collection of essays will be published on Tuesday . While most conversations about parenting revolve around how women 'can have it all , ' this book suggests that maybe they do n't want to - or even need to . Ms Daum first thought about sharing the stories of childless adults from a variety of professions and walks of life , but she chose to curate her book with essays from writers because of their ability to 'interpret the world ' in a responsible way . Most of the writers featured in the anthology are over the age of 30 , Ms Daum said she 'did not have an age cutoff ' , but noted that it would be difficult to have someone in her twenties make a public declaration that she would never have children . Ms Daum wrote about her own choice not to have children in an essay titled Difference Maker , which appeared The Unspeakable : And Other Subjects of Discussion , her collection of persona essays that was published last year . 'After more than a decade of being told that I ’ d wake up one morning at age 30 or 33 -or , God forbid , 40 - to the ear-splitting peals of my biological clock , I would still look at a woman pushing a stroller and feel no envy at all , only relief that I wasn ’ t her , ' she recalled in Difference Maker . Throughout the essay , Ms Daum recounted getting pregnant , miscarrying the baby and subsequently deciding that she did n't want to be a mother . In her new book , Ms Daum does n't touch upon her own life with children beyond the introduction . ' I did feel that I had said all I needed to say , ' she told Flavorwire about her previous work .
Selfish , Free , and Self - Absorbed : Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have evil was edited by # ##ish - born author Meghan Daum .