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Arguably no greater contemporary issues face Maternity Care providers currently than the two issues addressed by this book. As a midwife, and consumer, I am aware that my behaviors and actions, in both my professional and personal life, are bound by inflexible standards, rules, guidelines, policies and rigid statutory laws that seek to control and protect me and those I care for from perceived risk. Yet choice, conversely, is consumer driven where enhanced options and greater flexibility in the provision of maternity care services are demanded. This, therefore, is a very relevant and timely publication, ‘Risk and Choice in Maternity Care’, comprehensively explores and expands on this paradox.

There are numerous experienced, and vocationally appropriate expert contributors to this book (14), including academics, clinicians, health care activists and governance authorities. This allows for a very wide range of view points yet the discourse of each contributor and each chapter is complimentary to that of another and the central themes, ‘Risk and Choice’ run seamlessly throughout. The only recommendation, to compliment these prominent authors, would be the additional contribution by a consumer for a more inclusive perspective.

As a clinician and educator the publication impressed me with its sequential and logical organization. For the reader who may like to consume the contents from the front to the back cover, the book begins logically by explaining and awakening our awareness to the concepts of the choice risk paradox. The book then moves sequentially onto health care systems and management processes around the challenges of controlling risk, the legal consideration of consent and choice implications, and the experiences of various maternity care service providers and clinicians internationally. Equally Risk and Choice in Maternity Care could be accessed at any given chapter and still provide useful, relevant and informative dialogue central to the themes of the book.

The book size is very manageable, light and very easy to read. The chapters are short, yet succinct and informative, and each author's concepts, ideas and discussion topics are arranged by headings so that the points in discussion are easily followed and digested. Each chapter begins with a contents list clearly outlining the discussion topics and most of the chapters are very well and appropriately referenced.

In conclusion this publication is very informative and relevant to the challenges facing consumers and maternity care providers today and in my view essential reading for all students, consumers, policy makers and providers of maternity care services. The relevance of the issues, topics, numerous viewpoints and the physical lay out of this book combine to produce an excellent text that would give me great pleasure to recommend.