The Family Dynamic
A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling Success
What explains those rare families that boast multiple children who achieve extraordinary success? An award-winning New York Times journalist weaves story with science to explore the circumstances that set those families apart.
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Praise for The Family Dynamic :
“[W]onderfully engaging. . . . [Dominus] expertly interweaves stories of the Brontë sisters with those of contemporary families and academic studies on factors that contribute to children’s excellence. She makes clear that the current research provides no definitive set of answers to the cereal question. Instead, it hints at certain heuristics, which are illuminated by Dominus’s careful, detailed portraits.”
—The New York Times
“This richly drawn portrait of family life is as captivating as it is insightful—I can’t wait for the world to read this book.”
—Lisa Damour, New York Times bestselling author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers
“Susan Dominus has given us an absolute stunner of a debut book. It would hardly surprise me if this book became a touchstone of family psychology—an exemplar of literary nonfiction, taught for many years to come.”
—Jennifer Senior, Pulitzer Prize-winner and bestselling author of All Joy and No Fun
“The Family Dynamic will no doubt disappoint readers looking for bullet-pointed parenting-for-success tips. It’s just not that kind of book. It’s better. Dominus is smart, honest and wise, and at her best, very funny. Her findings offer a science-based reality check, while her fluid, artful writing can give parents a much-needed break.”
—The Washington Post
“Fascinating… I read this book with a highlighter in hand, eager to discuss it with my sisters, my husband, the parents at school pickup…so pick this for your book club. ”
—Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
“This powerful book will ignite essential conversations about the often-hidden costs of pursuing success — A must-read for parents, educators, coaches, grandparents, and anyone shaping the next generation.”
—Jennifer Wallace, New York Times bestselling author of Never Enough
“The Family Dynamic makes the idea of a ‘family culture’ feel tangible and real, as it elegantly explores the degree to which parents can (and just as often cannot) shape the people their children become. The role of siblings, so often given short-shift, is finally treated as a serious object of study.”
—Rachel Aviv, bestselling author of Strangers to Ourselves
“A brilliantly empathetic portraitist, Susan Dominus is the ideal writer to explore the mystery of family ambition. The perfect gift for the brother or sister who made you the person you are.”
—Emily Nussbaum, Pulitzer Prize–winning culture critic and author of Cue the Sun!
“Dominus is an expert storyteller whose nuanced family portraits acknowledge the emotional toll that often accompanies her subjects’ achievements. . . . Empathetic and written with a novelist’s knack for characterization, this entrances.”
—Publishers Weekly
“I can think of no other book more helpful in understanding not just the inner workings of families, but how best to help children from all walks of life to thrive despite a world filled with challenges. Susan Dominus has given us all a brilliant gift.”
—Robert Kolker, bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road