Orion Spring pre-empts book on the pill

Wellbeing imprint Orion Spring is publishing a book about the oral contraceptive pill. 

In the book, psychologist Dr Sarah E Hill will show through cutting-edge science - some of which she conducted in her own lab - how the birth control method (commonly known as "the pill") affects "everything from stress response to autoimmune disorders, mate selection to declining levels of male achievement", discussing not only the consequences the pill has on women, but on men and society at large.

As well as making the case for "better science", according to Orion, "her enlightening findings are a major step forward and will help women around the world make smarter, more informed choices about their health and hormones."

Editorial director Olivia Morris pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights to the as-yet-untitled book from Tom Dussell at Penguin US. Dutch rights have since been sold at auction to Nigh & Van Ditmar and Russian rights to Mann, Ivanov & Ferber. 

Due to publish as a £14.99 trade paperback and e-book alongside Avery (US) in Spring 2019, Morris said the book would shed light on both "the good and the bad" sides of taking the pill.

"I’m so proud to be publishing this important book that will sit at the intersection of three major genres: health, feminism and big ideas," she said. "It’s clear to me from anecdotal conversations and column inches that there are many questions about the pill and its effects and this fascinating book will provide definitive answers and insights into both the good and the bad."

Its author, Hill, has a PhD from the University of Texas and studied with evolutionary psychologist David M Buss. She said: “I’m so excited to have the opportunity to talk to women about the pill that almost of us will go on at some point in our lives, but most of us know almost nothing about. This book will arm women with the latest science on the birth control pill and how it’s changing women and the world, for better and for worse.”