Artfully merging the author's formidable storytelling gifts with research findings, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success by Susan Dominus examines the rare domestic alchemy that motivates siblings from the same household to reach great heights. An enduring fascination with the "rites and rhythms" of high-achieving families fuels Dominus's debut, offering readers an opportunity to hear directly from, among others, Ellis Marsalis Jr., father of acclaimed musicians Wynton, Branford, and Jason, and elite athlete Sarah True, sister of award-winning novelist Lauren Groff.
Dominus is a writer for the New York Times and mother to twin teenage boys. Her goal here is to introduce parenting themes gleaned from the notable families she interviewed. Parental inspiration matters but, as Dominus finds, siblings are often the ones who guide the direction of family achievement, as demonstrated through delightful forays into the lives of the phenomenally accomplished Brontë sisters.
Mary Murguía, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is one of several extraordinarily successful siblings. Her parents demonstrated a solid work ethic but it was the children who pushed one another to succeed, motivated by a desire to "[burnish] the Murguía name." Dominus also refers to Harvard economist Raj Chetty's research on the power of a neighborhood to shape a child's future.
Are family expectations "a blessing and a gift or a burden that came with a steady low-grade pressure?" According to a 2014 study, if the expectations are framed in "the right way," they can improve a child's performance. Unearthing what constitutes this elusive right way is at the heart of Dominus's excellent book. --Shahina Piyarali