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The Sibling Effect

What the Bonds among Brothers and Sisters Reveal about Us

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The Sibling Effect

Written by: Jeffrey Kluger
Narrated by: Pete Larkin
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About this listen

Nobody affects us as deeply as our brothers and sisters - not parents, not children, not friends. From the time we - and they - are born, our siblings are our collaborators and co-conspirators, our role models and cautionary tales. They teach us how to resolve conflicts and how not to, how to conduct friendships and when to walk away. Our siblings are the only people we know who truly qualify as partners for life.

In this groundbreaking book, renowned science writer Jeffrey Kluger explores the complex world of siblings in a way that's equal parts science, psychology, sociology, and memoir. Based heavily on new and emerging research, The Sibling Effect examines birth order, ongoing twin studies, genetic encoding of behavioral traits, how emotional disorders can affect - and be affected by - sibling relationships, and much more.

With his signature insight and humor, Kluger takes big ideas about siblings and turns them into smart, accessible writing that will help anyone understand the importance of siblings in our lives.

©2011 Jeffrey Kluger (P)2011 Tantor Parenting & Families Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Sociology Witty

What the critics say

"This book had a profound impact on me that I never could have anticipated.... It's a compelling and beautifully written story, interwoven with fascinating, cutting-edge research." (David Sheff, author of Beautiful Boy)
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found via Sibling Revelery podcast. I have one brother left with the other dying just a year ago. I was very close to my younger brother and I am quite ambivalent about my older ( which is better than the former hostile).

very informative

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lots of interesting in6⁶formation but it misses a whole lot of details concerning the negative effects of sibling revelry.
Myself, being a twin, didn't experience anything bad until the school system decided it would be best to split us up into two different classes at the age of eight.
That's when my brother and his new friends from the other grade 3 class, decided to start calling our class "The stupid great 3 class".
I'm 67 now and can still remember every insult thrown at us and the anger and frustration that boiled in me.

wonderful subject, but not enough details

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A lot of good information with reference studies cited. I would have liked to have seen it delve more into how female gender affects birth order, but there was young a lot of balanced information despite being written from a male perspective.

more subjective than objective but informative.

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