The Birth Order Effect: How to Better Understand Yourself and Others

by Clifford E. Isaacson, Kris Radish

A fascinating new approach to sibling psychology focuses on birth order, offering readers a simple quiz to determine where they fit in the family pecking order and discussing the meaning of this placement. Original.

Genres: Parenting, Education, Psychology, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Marie Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister gave me this book to read because she insisted it accurately described our family. When I read through the book, I could not stop laughing. So much of it is spot on! Not only did it help me to understand myself a little better, but also those around me. I can see how the info can help relationships with friends, family, spouses, and children, to understand the "plight" of their birth order, and how best to interact with and relate to them. Recommended!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read two birth order books for a book club and this one was my favorite. There is a quiz that you take that determines your birth order personality, which could be different from your actual birth order. The reason for that is that the siblings ahead of you determine your personality. I was still a "first born" according to the quiz but interestingly enough Joe was a "second born" even though he's actually a third born. The book then goes on into the specifics of your personality and I was amazed at how "me" it was! I kept reading parts aloud to Joe because I loved how he worded how I feel sometimes. It was awesome. Then we were reading more about Joe's personality (which he didn't want to do any of this because he thinks it's all made up and about as true as palm reading) and he was even surprised at how accurate it described him. Another interesting part of the book was how it talks about the birth order of the parent effecting the personalities of their children. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about birth orders!!

[Wendy Davis]

I found this book to be hauntingly accurate in it's description of me, my friends and my family and their personalities influenced by their birth order. This is completely facinating to me and I loved the way this book read. I have purchased this book over and over again because I keep giving my copies away to people I get in engrossing conversations with. Very cool!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first born has less need to connect than a second born who competes for attention while third born is eager to please and fourth born works hard for respect. Fifth born starts the cycle all over again. ...seems pretty accurate

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't read the whole thing, but got bored. Also we took the birth order tests and some of us got very strange results - not sure this is incredibly interesting material when it's so wildly interpretive and conditional.

[Amanda Dougall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the concept, but hated the conversational writing style. It lacked the feeling of being well researched. Will probably search for more info re this "effect" but it wont be by this author!

[Nicholewebbgmail.com Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing insight! I've learned a lot about why I am the way I am. This is a lot different than birth order books that analyze your chronological birth order. I'm going to order the book for couples next.

[Keri Murcray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating and interesting information. It definitely resonated with me and was surprisingly accurate in many ways. Makes me think about people in a different and positive way.

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skimmed. Found the advice in the chapter on getting along with your spouse quite sexist.

[Kelsey Hammett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and interesting just wish the book stopped taking about how great it is every other line was something to do with how great learning birth order personality was if they took that out though half the book would be gone