Product Description

Explains family dynamics and the effects of birth order on personality and offers advice on parenting and other important relationships.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71916 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 362 pages

Review
"...sheds light on how our place in the family pecking order endows us with traits that shape us for life." -- Dallas Child, April 1999

"If you’d like to be more successful in all of your relationships, then this book’s for you!" -- Shine, September/October 1999

"Leman frames his discussion within a Christian worldview... Well-written, intriguing." -- Minister’s Packet, December 1998/January 1999

About the Author
Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, humorist, best-selling author, radio and TV personality, and speaker. He is also a consulting psychologist for Good Morning America and founder and president of Couples of Promise.

Customer Reviews

Wanted to understand my kids, learned about myself too!
I bought this book because I was pregnant with my third, and I wanted to avoid my children falling into the "stereotypical" birth order roles. I no longer feel that my youngest daughter's new middle role is the kiss of death. I learned how to handle my oldest's perfectionist tendancies without causing her to lose heart when things don't go right.

Probably the best thing though, is I learned something about myself (a firstborn) and my husband (a middle child) which has helped us work together in our marriage and in parenting. I also learned how to drop the firstborn critical perfectionism expectations with my children and myself.

My only complaint is that he uses much of the book as an autobiography on his life as the "baby" of the family and also a biography on his children and their roles in his unique family. He does spend alot of time on firstborns and only children- which can be gratifying to those of us in that category- talking about how they can overcome the negatives of their family birth order and the positives of their birth order, including all the wonderful job opportunities that first borns have due to their ingrown leadership skills and sense of responsibility. But he does not do the same for middle's and babies. Leaving them somewhat more of a mystery to me. If he ever redoes the book, I would urge him to give the other birth orders the same in depth review and less about his personal experiences which are definately not general enough for the general audience.

More Than Just Birth Order
This is the type of book that makes a lightbulb pop over your head. You will understand yourself more, as well as your family. Leman is funny and extremely down to earth in his writing style (and I love his Christian references). He also includes very sound advice on relating to and parenting certain birth orders. I just finished this book, and I now want to read his "Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours".

An excellent study
My friends get sick of me recommending Dr. Leman's books. Quite frankly, they are all excellent, this one being no exception.

This is an excellent study in birth order psychology, and I would recommend it to anyone. Not only did Dr. Leman's book make me realise I was a perfectionistic FREAK, but it helped me become OK with myself.

Dr. Leman's research is excellent, and his writing style is funny, personal and very easy to read. I have found his conclusions ring true again and again, and I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn more about themselves or the people around them.

I have read several of Dr. Leman's books, all of which I would recommend. He is an excellent psychologist and an excellent author.