Rothman traces the food and the birth movements through three major phases over the course of the 20th century in the United States: from the early 20th century era of scientific management; through to the consumerism of Post World War II with its {u2018}turn to the French{u2019} in making things gracious; to the late 20th century counter-culture midwives and counter-cuisine cooks. The book explores the tension throughout all of these eras between the industrial demands of mass-management and profit-making, and the social movements - composed largely of women coming together from very different feminist sensibilities - which are working to expose the harmful consequences of industrialization, and make birth and food both meaningful and healthy.