Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self

by Robin Marantz Henig, David M. Brodzinsky, Marshall D. Schecter

Book Overview

Like Passages , this groundbreaking book uses the poignant, powerful voices of adoptees and adoptive parents to explore the experience of adoption and its lifelong effects. A major work, filled with astute analysis and moving truths.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385414269
• ISBN13: 9780385414265
• Release Date: March 1993
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A Great Developmental View of the Adoptee's Life

If you want a general idea of what you might expect to experience from the womb to the tomb (as an adoptee), this is the book for you. I always quote Drs. Brodzinsky and Schechter when I speak. One of the most profound things they say is that adoption loss for the child is more profound than death or divorce. Yea for the doctors--if more people would only listen to their wisdom and begin seeing adoption through the eyes of adoptees. A must-have for your adoption library.

Excellent resource for all members of the adoption triad

Thank goodness people are finally admitting that adoption, even if you had a great experience, still brings with it certain issues. Adoptive parents should read books like this to understand that their adopted child has special needs - so many adoptives take it as a personal affront if their child decides to search for birthparents, or even asks about them. For birthparents, it's affirmation of their loss (even if it was the best decision they felt they could make) and understanding of their surrendered child's feelings. Should be required reading for prospective adoptive parents

Very Balanced

I liked this book because it was a balanced view of adoption. I found it validating. It showed that within my peer group - adoptees - I was very normal. This helped. It also showed that although some people react with great desperation to adoption others seem to take it more in stride and that is normal too. Regardless of how you feel, this book is a must read. Enlightening, validating and no whining. Thank you to the authors.

Understanding The Whys of Why I Feel This Way

This book is right on target. It showed me the reasons for why I've felt the way I have for so many years. I'm 55 and was adopted in infancy. My adopted Mother never told me anything and I always felt left out and some how all alone in this world. Now I understand why I feel the way I have all these years. It's natural and normal. This is an excellent book for adoptees to understand why their feelings are mixed, confused, and not totally feeling a part of this world. I'd recommend this book to all adoptees.

A most balanced view of the effects of adoption on the child

This book gives a most balanced view of the gains and losses for the child and adult of being adopted rather than being raised by the parents who gave birth to the child. As such, it is an excellent book for prospective adoptive parents, who may be thinking that by simply not knowing the birthparents, their acquired child will not need to know his or her birth heritage. For the birthparents, the book will underline what the child can gain from being adopted, and why the child's genetic heritage will still be a part of them. For adoptees this book is the most valuable, because it will help them to realize that their feelings are shared in many ways by those people who, like them, were raised by parents who did not give them birth.