Instead

This enthralling memoir tracks the stages of award-winning author Maria Coffey's decision to create an adventurous, nomadic life instead of having children and where that life has led her. It's an exciting travelogue, a love story, and a commentary on the risks and rewards of choosing unconventional paths.

Maria reveals how a factor in her decision was the fear of loss she developed after her partner Joe Tasker died on Everest. She describes the conflicts with her mother, an Irish Catholic matriarch who longed for grandchildren, and the negotiations with her husband, Dag, who initially wanted kids and to have them along on their wild kayaking expeditions. The narrative takes the reader around the world on crazy escapades, to cultures where the child-free choice was unfathomable, and where children eventually - and surprisingly - came into Maria's life.

An adventure story with a unique twist, this memoir tackles the universal themes of choice and consequence, agency versus fate. It is a must read for anyone curious about stepping off the beaten track, and a testament to the power of being open to the unexpected.