Easy Labor: Every Woman's Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth by William Camann and Kathryn Alexander (Ballantine Books, 2006)
Written by an anesthesiologist, this objective and comprehensive guide outlines the pros and cons of pain relief options in childbirth. From acupuncture to hydrotherapy to hypnosis to the Bradley method to the epidural, you'll find it here. This book is the best and only one of its kind - readers will learn about labor from professionals (midwives, nurses, obstetricians) and moms in a clear, easy-to-read text. If you want to be "prepared" for labor (if that's possible), look no further. This is a book designed for middle-of-the-road, level-headed mamas - it's neither extremely naturalistic and anti-medicine nor overly cold and sterile. Find it at your local library or buy it from a book retailer near you.