Some very deep thoughts about twinsJanuary 2, 1999 21 out of 21 found this review helpful
Most of the short pieces in this book-a collection of BBC radio talks- are typical of Winnicotts comon-sense views on parents,children and education. The chapter about twins however really stands out and has more to say in five short pages than most other literature on the subject. The difference is that where others see twins more or less as freaks of nature on whom one can test ones ideas about the nature-nurture-issue, Winnicott sees them as individual persons. Where others stress the obvious fact of their similarity, Winnicott stresses that twins are two different persons right from the outset and that being a twin has its advantages, but also its drawbacks for the necessary task of developing ones own personality. he observes that while most twins get along well enough, they often did not manage to distance themselves enough to really love each other. This is a thought-provoking piece. Readers should not be deterred by the books slightly paternalistic tone wich probably went down well during the fifties but does not do so anymore.
