This book is about babies and mothers, but also about fathers, adolescents, lovers and others. It's about a child's universe and families, especially mothers, who struggle to survive. Stephen J. Costello, Ph.D., writes with wit and wisdom; he offers his observations with insight and intrigue. He explores, among other themes, eighteen reasons why mothers hate their babies, even as they love them. It's a book of aphorisms intended for everyone because childhood experiences affect us all. Fortunately, they stop us from ever becoming adults. A lecturer in philosophy and psychology (and a former analyst trained in infant observation), Dr. Costello draws on a wealth of material; he shares the reflections of philosophers and psychoanalysts on a subject he clearly finds fascinating. He is of the strong belief that these unique and often controversial thoughts should be read by parents and non-parents alike. His other publications include The Irish Soul: In Dialogue and The Pale Criminal: Psychoanalytic Perspectives. He has several other books forthcoming, including one on the ethics of happiness and another on the philosophy and psychology of lying. He is a member of the Irish Philosophical Society and the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Stephen J. Costello lives in Dublin, Ireland.