The Family Dynamic

Praise

“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

“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

“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 Breheny Wallace, bestselling author of Never Enough

“At once clear-eyed and compassionate, The Family Dynamic uncovers how parents—and siblings—shape and fuel individual success. 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, 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

“A captivating book on how our early roots shape our later success. Susan Dominus serves up a delicious smorgasbord of rich stories and rigorous social science to illuminate how multiple kids in the same family go on to achieve great things. It’s a must-read for anyone who’s ever marveled at a set of siblings.”—Adam Grant, bestselling author of Hidden Potential

“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!

“In this engaging exploration, Dominus . . . offers an intimate look into the lives of six families from various locations and walks of life whose children had all achieved high levels of success, in an attempt to find the commonalities that exist among them. [The Family Dynamic is full of] compelling advice for those seeking guidance in setting up their children for success.”—Kirkus Reviews

“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