The Sibling Effect

What the Bonds among Brothers and Sisters Reveal about Us

By: Jeffrey Kluger

Narrated by: Pete Larkin

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

Critic reviews

"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)

It was alright

Every observation the author makes about siblings is followed by “but often this is not the case.”

No Malcolm Gladwell

It's not horrible, but if you think you're going to get a sort-of Malcolm Gladwell take on siblings, you're going to be disappointed (as I was). Kluger spends too much time on personal anecdotes, and he isn't a good enough writer to mine and deliver the most interesting stuff from the science and studies he discusses. Also, the narrator's voice sounds too much like a haughty game show announcer.

Ok

What I liked: Massive amount of effort in research. Attempt to remove personal opinions from subject.

What I disliked: constant jumps from correlation to causation. using some studies that I widely discredited by the scientific community. occasionally lets the anecdote become the science.

Overall, it seemed like a good writer made a good effort at a difficult topic. It was a very easy listen. Sometimes though, it seemed like a compilation of random studies and anecdotes designed around a personal family history. In the end, I didn't walk away with much.

Light and Easy Read.

I expected this book to be more insightful but it seems there is still alot of research that needs to be done and way too many factors that attribute to sibling relationships and behaviour. However, Kluger had a phenomenal backstory and reviewed his personal story well. 7

interesting and infomative

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book was recommended to me by a co-worker with 2 young children. My kids are grown but it did a good job of explaining the interactions I have observed over the years

What does Pete Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

As with many audio books the format brings the story to life . He speaks in a conversational tone that seems to mirror the author's thoughts.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes