Abigail Pogrebin

What is it about twins that fascinate? I used to wish I was a twin myself, imagining a perfect playing partner who would have more in common with me than a mere sibling. In this book, Abigail Pogrebin interviews many twins, from football stars Tiki and Ronde Barber to acquaintances of her own, as well as psychologists and doctors specializing in twin studies, presenting a broad spectrum of the relationships between adult twins and theories regarding raising twins and helping them become show more fully realized individual adults. Pogrebin investigates a wide range of topics related to twins, from the idealized relationship to the struggle for individuality to medical studies of identical twins with different medical issues (which I found a fascinating and informative regarding the nature/nurture discussion). What fascinated me the most - the world of being a twin - was also the most frustrating in reading. As a twin herself, the author refers to "the Twin Thing" and makes much of the special relationship that twins have. I've known many twins, either together or separately, but having not been a twin myself or having a set of twins in my immediately family, I felt rather thrown into the world of twins in the early part of the book, and it was only in the latter chapters that I felt I had gained my footing somewhat.

Throughout it all, Abigail's relationship with her identical twin sister, Robin, informs her understanding of these interviews, but at the same time seems to come to a better understanding of her relationship because of her investigation. She discusses their relationship often, including snippets of her interview with Robin, with their brother David, and with family friends. I was impressed with her ability to describe the loss she feels of the close relationship she once had with Robin without falling into the blame game or becoming a whiny victim. She paints a very honest family portrait without making out anyone as "the bad guy." A fascinating blend of reporting and interviews, psychology and personal experience. show less

Renowned author, Abigail Pogrebin, a reform Jew whose annual childhood observance covered the High Holidays, Hanukkah, and a couple of Passover Seders – decided to embark upon a yearlong journey into understanding Judaism through 18 holidays. Her book chronicles her adventures in Judaism from Elul, the period of reflection that precedes Rosh Hashanah, to the final Shabbat of the year. Her thoughts, experiences, and feelings derive from interviewing dozens of rabbis and Jewish academics on show more the Torah and observing the holidays at synagogues of all dominations across New York and Los Angeles. Although Judaism’s Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform branches seem to deepen the divide within the religion, Pogrebin also learned that Judaism has the power to unite. While dancing with the Torah during a Simchat Torah celebration, she wonders with awe “Where in the world is there a people that loves a book so much that they dance around with it?” Throughout this engaging read are funny anecdotes intertwined with deep spiritual reflection.
Pogrebin credits the year of study with making her more mindful, compelling her to “look harder at every priority, every relationship, every choice,” and quelling her concern that it’s too late to start living a Jewish life.
Abigail is the daughter of Letty Cottin Pogrebin, author and well-known activist who started Ms. Magazine with Gloria Steinem. show less

I'm almost done listening to this book, and I've found it difficult to take my headphones off when I need to. My only wish is that the author herself had narrated the audio book.

This book is beautifully, candidly written, and it examines all kinds of perspectives (even her own). I'm interested in the form - part memoir, part journalistic exploration - and would love to see how it's presented in page format. Between the case studies are conversations between Abigail and her twin Robin that show more are frankly fascinating.

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"My life as an identical twin and what I've learned about everyone's struggle to be singular": Doesn't that sound like a memoir? Abigail Pogrebin tricked me! But I am okay with it, even though One And The Same is more sociology than memoir. I like sociology, too.

Oh, twins are so, so interesting. I love twins! Turns out, everyone else does too! (Except, sometimes, their twins) Pogrebin has written a fascinating book about the inner lives of twins; she interviewed loving pairs, hating pairs, show more pairs with genetic diseases (dude, SO SAD), and her own family - especially her more private twin, Robin. The relationship of Abigail to Robin - not quite the same as the relationship of Robin to Abigail - is the heart and foundation of the book, though it only occupies perhaps a fourth of the content. I was particularly interested by the examination of marriage among identical twins; the concept that the intimacy of being deeply known is something that twins have had all along, and may not really be seeking in marriage, was a new idea for me. Oddly disturbing too, but it made a lot of sense.

I had a strong impression (perhaps she even said so) that Pogrebin was hoping to resolve the somewhat strained relationship with her own twin through the writing of this book - and I was left, at the end, with the same rather sad feeling that came through at the beginning. But still, a lovely book which left me thinking hard about what seems a universal desire for someone who, if not a twin, is somehow like a twin. show less