Who's the Favourite?

‘A moving, searching, deeply researched exploration of relationships so fundamental we sometimes stop noticing them altogether. Whether you’re a sibling or an only child, Catherine Carr’s book will leave you wiser and feeling more at home in the world.’ —Oliver Burkeman

‘My relationship with my brother is so joyful, so productive and so important for understanding who I am. It’s also the most likely to lead to murder by strangulation. This book is essential reading: we all have siblings in our lives, even if they’re other people’s. It is our least discussed and most formative relationship and Catherine’s work is a hilarious, moving and fascinating guide through it.’ —Chris and Xand van Tulleken

‘A lively and revealing book on the ins and outs of siblinghood. Ever attentive to the psychological sensitivities of her subject matter… Carr has clearly hit on a highly evocative and curiously under-discussed subject. Just the word ‘sister’ or ‘brother’ touches something deep.’ —Spectator

‘Truly enlightening, charming and moving. I’ve learned so much…but I’m still angry with my sister for reading my diary!’ —Jane Garvey

‘Sibling relationships are one of the great unexplored human subjects. Catherine Carr writes about them with warmth, insight and intelligence, exploring everything from the funny private languages siblings share to the deep sadness of estrangement between brothers or sisters. Whether you are older, younger or middle, step or only, you will find pieces of yourself in this loving and informative book.’ —Bee Wilson

‘Eye-opening and true. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for my brother.’ —Gok Wan MBE

‘A brilliant dissection of the most fascinating subject. Illuminating and riveting from beginning to end.’ —Gill Hornby

‘Catherine Carr has written a perceptive book exploring a rich and complex subject. By blending real life stories with the insights of specialists, she illuminates a diverse range of sibling relationships with the intelligence, warmth and sensitivity that her radio programmes invariably display.’ —Jonathan Dimbleby

‘A seminal work on siblings. Authoritative, informative, calming, sense-making, inclusive and above all else immensely readable.’ —Annalisa Barbieri

‘In Who’s the Favourite, Catherine Carr offers a vivid and insightful exploration of the complex relationships between siblings. With warmth and clarity, she examines how sibling relationships form and inform an individual’s identity and life. Carr’s engaging narrative style brings a fresh perspective to a topic often overlooked. She highlights favoritism, bereavement, estrangement and the vital role brothers and sisters play as our shared historians. A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the enduring bonds of siblings.’ —Fern Schumer Chapman, author of Brothers, Sisters, Strangers

‘Relatively podcaster Carr mixes research, cultural criticism, and personal anecdotes for this informative debut study of the complexities of sibling relationships… Carr keeps the pace brisk by leavening research-heavy passages with chatty, vivid anecdotes – both her own and those gleaned from her podcast. The result is a thought-provoking, expansive look at an important but understudied familial bond.’ —Publisher’s Weekly

‘Interwoven with insights from her podcast guests, it offers a thought-provoking look at the ties that shape us.’ —Psychologies

Catherine Carr is an award-winning documentary maker, presenter, podcast producer and reporter with over twenty years’ experience in audio. Her work for BBC Radio 4, The World service and her own company, Pocket Productions, has taken her all over the world. Carr is the producer for Talking Politics podcast and is presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The Exchange. She is the middle child of three, and created a podcast about siblings called Relatively to finally get some attention. Who’s The Favourite? is her first book.

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