The Only Child: Being One, Loving One, Understanding One, Raising One [Paperback]

Darrell Sifford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 13, 1990

Darrell Sifford, an only child himself, has drawn from countless case studies and interviewed a wide range of psychologists to come up with a unique picture of the only child. He asks:

• What drives the only child to achieve at levels above and beyond other children?
• Why is it so hard for the only child to forgive and forget?
• Why are only children so respectful of authority?
• Why does it seem the only child has a bottomless need for praise?
• How can parents keep from spoiling and overvaluing their only child?
• How can only children break the chains of parental dependency?

This is the first warm, personal, and enormously helpful exploration of what it really means to grow up without siblings. It will leave only children feeling very good about themselves.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although quite different from Ellen Peck's The Joy of the Only Child , "the text doesn't add substantially to information on the subject," said PW of Sifford's report on what he learned from interviews with only children and their intimates.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A wonderful blend of personal sharing and the wisdom of experts." -- --Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

"Finally here's an author who understands the only child and gives the only child a fair shake." -- --Dr. Kevin Leman, author of The Birth Order Book

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (February 13, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060972882
• ISBN-13: 978-0060972882
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #722,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, I realize who I really am. And better yet, WHY., October 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Only Child: Being One, Loving One, Understanding One, Raising One (Paperback)

Darrell Sifford's book "The Only Child: Being one, Loving one, Understanding one, Raising one" is magnificiant! I first read this book for personal interest and now am again reading it for a psychology project. Sifford gives an indepth, yet light-hearted, look at the lives of only children. Being an only child myself, I was able to relate to much of this book and when finished I felt more complete. This book truley gives justice to only children and both their triumphs and struggles. Not only does this book provide many self-enlightening stories, but also dedicates chapters to raising and marrying an only child. I reccomend this book to anyone who is an only child, parents an only child OR marries an only child. Sometimes the best way to understand why people are who they are is to look at them from a different light. Sifford shows that it is OK for me to be me, perfectionistic as I may be. Some say one is a lonely number but when living as an only child it may be seen as the best number of all, and Sifford proves that.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Jailbirds, Child Molesters, Bulemics and Workaholics, October 12, 2004

By 

Kristina Surface "rykrite" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Only Child (Hardcover)

I was hugely disappointed by this book. The premises are excellent, and I read it in the hope of gaining some insights into parenting my daughter (who will be an only child). I did not receive anything of the kind! There were chapters about a jailbird who was an only child, an only child who was molested by her mother, only children with eating orders, and MUCH attention paid to only children who grew to become perfectionist workaholics. I wasn't sure whether to cry or to laugh out loud! The approach to parenting was outdated (particularly with gender stereotyping) and I can't think of one piece of advice that was helpful to me. I read the first half, and only skimmed the second half, paying close attention to the parenting section...but came away with nothing. I feel sorry for the author that he needed such a public outlet for his feelings about being an only child...and I'm a bit embarrassed for him.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From an only child's perspective..., January 10, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Only Child: Being One, Loving One, Understanding One, Raising One (Paperback)

I grew up as an only child as this book accurately reflects the thoughts and feelings I had growing up and now today as an adult. I found myself laughing and sometime crying because I had many of the same experiences and the author. The book was given to me by my spouse and helped me look at myself and the things that I do which may adversely affect others.