The Family Dynamic

Praise

“[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

“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

“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.”—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.”—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!

“[The Family Dynamic is full of] compelling advice for those seeking guidance in setting up their children for success.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Empathetic and written with a novelist’s knack for characterization, this entrances.”—Publishers Weekly