Book ~ "The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are" (2009) Kevin Leman

From Goodreads ~ Dr. Kevin Leman's ever-popular book on birth order is getting a new look and updated writing. With insight and wit, Dr. Leman offers readers a fascinating and often funny look at how birth order affects personality, marriage and relationships, parenting style, career, and children. Birth order powerfully influences the way people interact with others, whether they're at home or on the job. 

This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about how they react to their world. Dr. Leman even shows readers how to overcome ingrained tendencies they never thought they'd be rid of, all by focusing on their birth order. 

This book originally came out about 20 years ago.  I read it then and thought it was interesting.  My sister recently read it so I thought I'd reread it.

Have you ever wondered why you and your sister or brother are so different, even though you grew up in the same family and had similar childhood experiences?  Why do you get along with some people and not with others?  Why do you act the way you do?  Why you pick the friends you do?  Who should you marry?  What job is best for you?  This book might answer some of those questions.

A lot of it has to do with your birth order.  Here are some of the traits:

• First born:  perfectionist, reliable, conscientious, a list maker, well-organized, hard driving, a natural leader, critical, serious, scholarly, logical, doesn't like surprises, a techie
• Middle:  mediator, compromising, diplomatic, avoids conflict, independent, loyal to peers, has many friends, a maverick, secretive, used to not having attention
• Last born:  manipulative, charming, blames others, attention seeker, tenacious, people person, natural salesperson, precocious, engaging, affectionate, loves surprises
• Only child:  little adult by age seven, very thorough, deliberate, high achiever, self-motivated, fearful, cautious, voracious reader, black-and-white thinker, talks in extremes, can't bear to fail, has very high expectations for self, more comfortable with people who are older or younger

Gord and I are both first borns, which isn't supposed to be a good combination.  I can see why the author would say this but as a first born I can understand why Gord does some of the things he does sometimes.  Supposedly first borns and last borns make the best match.  The first born teaches the last born things they may be lacking like being organized and having goals while the last born helps the first born lighten up and not take an overly serious approach to live.  I don't know if I would have the patience to be married to a last born.  Ha!

I like the writing style.  The author gives lots of example from his own life and those of his clients.