The Dark Side of Adoption [Paperback]

Marsha Riben (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1988 | ISBN-10: 0818701056 | ISBN-13: 978-0818701054 | Edition: 1st

An expose of the sealed adoption system and those harmed by it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Riben's presentation of the facts of the experience of parents by birth of children given to adoption is important reading. For such a book to be written requires first obtaining the confidence of such parents, and then to present their ex-perience in valid form. This Riben has been able to accomplish. It is an impressive achievement. Though painful to some to read, it is truth, rather than the pretense we are accustomed to relative to this complex subject." Jean Paton, Founder and Coordinator, Orphan Voyage, and author of Orphan Voyage and Breaking Silence --Direct ot Author

"...challenges the commonly held idea that adoption is a winning solution for everyone...this book is to be recommended as one of the few available which balances the more usual happy-ending adoption stories with a birthparent's reality...it is recommended for those who prefer the truth, even if unpleasant, to unquestioned adoption mythology." RESOLVE newsletter --RESOLVE newsletter

"A terrific book...it is dynamic! I will be asking my members to...purchase your book...I am constantly rereading sections." Parent Finders, Ontario "Although not an easy book for an adoptive parent to read, this is certainly an important book for anyone striving to understand all sides of the adoption triangle. The good news (for adoptive parents) is that Riben is not slamming adoptive parents...her really big guns are leveled at The System. I recommend that adoptive parents read this book." Gigi Wirtz, Families Adopting Children Everywhere (FACE) --Families Adopting Children Everywhere (FACE)

About the Author

MIRAH (aka Marsha) RIBEN has been researching, writing and speaking about the need to reform, humanize, and de-commercialize American adoption practices for nearly three decades. Excerpts of The Dark Side of Adoption, have appeared in Utne Reader; Social Issue Resources Series, Inc.; and Macrocosm USA. Additionally, her articles have appeared in The Women's Newspaper of Princeton, Suburban Parent, Jersey Woman, the New York Times Op Ed, The Jewish Press, The Adoption Therapist, Mothering, Nurturing, and Family Journal. MIRAH RIBEN, a former Director-at-Large of the American Adoption Congress, is co-founder of Origins, a New Jersey-based national organization for women who have lost children to adoption. Speaking publicly since 1979, Riben has appeared on several national television programs, including Joan Rivers to discuss the Steinberg/Nussbaum murder of their illegally adopted child. She has been keynote speaker for the American Adoption Congress; and has spoken at countless other conferences including Parents of Tomorrow, Adoption Forum, Council on Equal Rights in Adoption, Origins, and Concerned United Birthparents. Riben was an invited speaker at the 7th Annual NJ Research Conference on Women, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ. She has substitute taught at Staten Island College and guest lectured at Rutgers University. Riben is the mother of four, one of whom was lost to adoption shortly after birth and is now deceased.

Product Details

• Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: Harlo Printing Co; 1st edition (June 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0818701056
• ISBN-13: 978-0818701054
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,407,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A much-needed shedding of light in dark corners--a classic!, April 21, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Mary Anne Cohen) (Whippany, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Side of Adoption (Paperback)

This book should be required reading for anyone who wishes to know the whole truth about adoption. The research is well-done, and the facts are presented in a clear yet passionate journalistic style that illuminates the complex and controversial issues of adoption abuses it explores. Adoption does have a dark side--that for too long has been hidden behind sentimentality, lies, mindless stereotypes, and the travesty of sealed adoption records. I love this book--for the courage of its birthmother author in writing it, and for the honest picture it gives of the less lovely side of one of our last "sacred cows", sealed record adoption.This is an excellent piece of scholarship and investigative journalism that deserves a much wider readership than it has had, both within and outside of the adoption reform movement. I am glad to see it here, and reccomend it to all.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly researched, November 24, 2011

By 

Jeanne - See all my reviews

This review is from: shedding light on...The Dark Side of Adoption (Mass Market Paperback)

There are certainly adoptions that don't work out well. There are biologically families that are dysfunctional and miserable. What's her point? I think this book is a product of a culture that looks for excuses, whether it's divorced parents, stepparents, working mothers, single mothers, single fathers, gay parents, biracial families, only children, too many children, parents working too much, parents not working, we all have something. And that's not even mentioning those people that grew up with alcoholics, drug addicts, in extreme poverty or with abusive parents, who have the right to complain. There seems to be an endless number of books written that caters to people looking to be told their problems aren't their fault, and practically encouraging discontent as natural and normal, all because their families weren't Leave it to Beaver perfect. This is just one more. There doesn't appear to be any real validity to her arguments. Most people feel fortunate to have had loving, caring families and do fine in life. But they aren't the ones looking to buy books.