Birth Order and You: How Your Sex and Position in the Family Affects Your Personality and Relationships

Virginia Gillham is Associate Librarian in the Public Service Library at
the University of Guelph.

Easily read in an evening, this fascinating book pulls together,
clarifies, and categorizes all the popular part-theories about birth
order and its effect on character and personality. Not only does it
characterize individuals of each gender and of various birth orders with
astounding accuracy (when compared to known individuals) but it also
advises readers how to use this knowledge to effect changes during adult
life.

The introductory chapters provide a general discussion of why birth
order matters and how it effects relationships. There follow 11 chapters
devoted to the 11 different possible combinations of gender and birth
order, including only children and twins. Each chapter addresses its
subject under several subheadings: general characteristics; as a spouse;
as a parent; as a friend; and at work. Each chapter concludes with
advice to the individual and his/her parents. Final chapters deal with
exceptional circumstances—such as divorce, adoption, and death of a
family member—and offer advice on parenting and on sibling
relationships. The book concludes with a brief discussion of relevant
research, and a bibliography of nearly 100 titles.

While this book’s popular style may cause readers some concern about
the quality of its scholarship, discussion of the conflicting views of
researchers and the common-sense advice in the final chapters will do
much to allay any doubts.