#Bookreview

A major new book, “The Family Dynamic” by Susan Dominus, is challenging long-held beliefs about how families can raise high-achieving children, offering vital insights for Thai parents pressured by rising academic and social expectations. Drawing on extensive reporting and scientific research, Dominus turns the conventional wisdom about parenting for success on its head, revealing that high achievement in children often comes with underappreciated emotional costs—and that much of what parents agonize over may matter less than they think.

A landmark book, The Family Dynamic by Susan Dominus, challenges the belief that relentless parental planning guarantees high-achieving children. For Thai readers facing mounting academic and social pressures, the work offers timely insights into how family life can support well-being alongside achievement.

Dominus profiles six sets of remarkable siblings shaped by determined, future-focused parents. The families’ stories show children becoming doctors, artists, entrepreneurs, and athletes. Yet the book also reveals a price: emotional strain, anxiety, and burnout can accompany intense parental ambition. The message is clear—pushing too hard for success can overshadow a child’s broader sense of purpose.