In just two generations, the medical world has gone from having essentially no treatment for preterm babies to being able to save infants at five and a half months gestation who weigh less than a pound. And yet the story of this science has never been told in its entirety, until now. Part memoir, but mostly clear-eyed and deeply-researched reporting, Early delves deep into the history and future of neonatology: how it came to be, how it is evolving, and the political, cultural, and ethical issues that continue to arise in the face of such dramatic scientific developments. Early goes beyond the personal story of a memoir and the science of a medical history to examine how neonatology is a lens through which we view our own humanity, and the humanity of those around us. Never before has the topic been broached with such empathy and rigor.