The sibling relationship deserves a more prominent place in psychoanalytic treatment. Joyce Edward’s book is an invaluable contribution, illuminating the complexity of the sibling attachment and its significance as a force for individual development. Encyclopaedic in its scope, this book is broad as well as deep. The reader can read it as if it were a smorgasbord, selecting chapters on cultural considerations, changing family structure, foster care, adoption, new reproductive technologies, sibling rivalry, sibling sexuality, siblings with special needs. All have numerous clinical vignettes. I would urge all clinicians who care about their work to have this book in their professional library.

With strong scholarship, an astute, well-exercised clinical eye, and an even hand, Joyce Edward opens more richly and widely than I have seen to date the multiple functions, both negative and positive, siblings serve in our lives. She rightly observes that in our clinical and theoretical universe, the topic has too long been marginalized by constructs we have perhaps centered too exclusively, failing to take stock of how siblings enrich or burden us and our patients as they help mold who we and they become. Edward, with much clarity, makes a strong case and contribution to what, in our clinical work, we all need to better take into account. A decidedly worth to have book.

There is a special warmth about this book perhaps because of the author's style and clarity, perhaps because of the subject matter which is so welcome because of long neglect, perhaps it is because most of us will bring personal recollections to the reading of the volume. In any case this is a most welcome and important book for all who work with people. Relationships between siblings are studied from many perspectives both normal and pathological. The lingering influence of death of a sibling, illness or developmental problems is discussed and case studies are presented to demonstrate treatment implications. This is an important book that belongs in the library of all practitioners and in the reference materials in schools of social work. It is even interesting enough to be read by anyone who has a sibling, as well as those who wish they did.