Enneagram in Real Life: Find Your Type, Understand Who You Are, and Take Steps Toward Growth

by Stephanie Barron Hall

Certified Enneagram coach Stephanie Barron Hall shows you how to use the Enneagram as a tool for self-discovery and a practical way to achieve growth.

Stephanie Barron Hall is using social media to bring the power of the Enneagram to a new generation of followers, teaching them how to successfully move beyond understanding to practical application—how to actually make changes in their own lives.

In Enneagram in Real Life, Hall explains how to apply the Enneagram to your life. Finding your type is just the beginning of your story. Drawn from her years of study and practice coaching thousands of people, Enneagram In Real Life includes relatable stories from real clients, tangible growth practices and frameworks, and actionable advice you can use to incorporate the Enneagram’s transformative power into your life, career, communication, and relationships.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Hkunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read. Lots of information and felt very accurate to my type etc

[Mediaman · Rating 1 out of 5]

A confusing original view of Enneagram application, this book is very difficult to follow because of the author's failure to properly define her odd terminology while speeding through basics that are poorly described, using a few paragraphs where multiple pages are needed. It's way too short, made complicated by her bad choices in overly-clinical wording and attempts to be different from other Enneagram writers.

I could go into all sorts of detail but let's just say that this is not a book that a newcomer should use to approach the personality model. The wording alone fails to bring it down to a practical level. And if you're well versed in the Enneagram this doesn't add much to it beyond confusion. A quick online search provides better information is more clearly stated and explained.

For example, regarding type 5 Hall summarizes the personality using the single word "avarice." Look up the definition--it means greed for material gain or wealth and comes from the French word that means greed.

Huh? The 5's personality is represented by greed?

Not exactly, Hall writes to confuse us as to why she uses it. "In this context, avarice is not money-hungry greed but the hoarding of resources to ward against feeling emptied or without. By taking in information, they can possess more and more knowledge."

Ms. Hall, the accumulation of information is not part of the standard definition of avarice nor greed. If so, it appears you could have used a lot more "avarice" in putting together this book. To place the word avarice in the context of information-gathering is to redefine the word beyond any dictionary, which distorts its meaning and potentially harms the person that's a 5. Why didn't you simply use a much better (and neutral) term?

I did a quick online search to see the one word that is used by other writers to describe a 5: the Institute uses the word "investigator." My, that's quite different from "avarice." Others use "observer" and "thinker" and "gatherer"...but never "avarice."

And to make things even worse--this author continues to misuse that word to represent the 5 throughout the chapter. So this woman doesn't just want to redefine the Enneagram but to do the same to the dictionary! Is she egotistical or simply clueless?

Where does this technician come up with these insights, you may wonder? "One person I interviewed said...." One person? She doesn't have solid research data but just anecdotes from individuals she treated to support her biased conclusions? Her client stories are so narrow and uninspiring that it's difficult to believe she couldn't come up with better examples.

It's frustrating to see the author tear apart (or "build upon") long-held scientific work based on her subjective opinions. She writes, "I've renamed the following points to convey...ideas" that she came up with when treating clients, changing commonly held monikers on the Enneagram.

Maybe you'll like this book if you're bored with a more science-based approach and find someone disagreeing with other practitioners to be refreshing. But from a usefulness standpoint, it is confusing for anyone interested in the basics of the subject and has little real substance to support her extremely basic advice.

Hall so quickly summarizes her simplistic thoughts and goes overboard attempting to redefine the Enneagram map that, despite the book's title, there is very little that can be confidently applied to real life.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not that I fully buy into the premise of the enneagram but I do find it interesting as one method of self-analysis. I’m the worst personality type IMHO (1). I’m also the type of person who mostly skimmed the book after my type was examined (third in the sequence as it starts with type 8). Works fine as an introduction the concept but not a must-read if you’re already familiar.

[Lindsay Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this version of explaining the Enneagram. The language used clicked for me and helps me teach the content better.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it a 3.5. Pretty good overview of the types but I thought it could’ve offered more growth strategies based on the title. The OPEN framework seemed like a strategy anyone who is into self help would try instinctively. It’s not very groundbreaking to observe yourself, pause and try something different in the moment so I didn’t think this needed to be an entire chapter. Sharing my opinion as a type 9!

There were some good prompts for those who are new to the Enneagram system but if you’re somewhat familiar you’ve probably done these thought experiments before. Some of the journaling prompts would be good to put pen to paper and explore so it’s a good resource to come back to in that regard. I think I need a book dedicated to type 9 to get deeper into the subject of the type’s growth for each specific subtype.

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

This was great! So much of this felt fresh and different from the 20 other resources I have. I enjoyed the author's writing style. I liked the emphasis on activities and exercises - some listed by type and others that are for anyone. I would still recommend newbies start with The Road Back to You, but this is a great follow up for folks who are ready for what's next and using the Enneagram for personal growth. I'm looking forward to reading this again (I bought my own copy!) and digging into the various recommended activities.

[M. Kircher · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Enneagram in Real Life" is an approachable look into the Enneagram beyond surface-level stereotypes. From her many years of coaching experience, Hall offers relatable client stories that illuminate and enhance the understanding of each Enneatype's core motivations. I loved her take on the concept of "thresholds" and the inclusion of subtypes to explain the common question of how the same Enneatypes can look so different. Hall's approach to the high and low sides of the Dynamic Movement Arrows is an interesting take and something fresh to think about.

[Cate Blouke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been studying the Enneagram for over a decade (and read at least 10 books on it at this point), and I think this is my new favorite book about it. It takes a compassionate approach to explaining the numbers, and I appreciate how the descriptions are well-rounded, not just focusing on the negative aspects of each type. It also offers really practical application suggestions for each type, including focused suggestions for each subtype (something that many books lack). I’ll be recommending this to clients and friends who want an overview without getting too mired in the details.

[Stacie Saurer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take, but perhaps not the best book to start with for those new to enneagrams. I tried to approach this with an open mind, but I still question how this is different from Myers-Briggs or any of the other personality test fads.

Apparently doing so is very 5 of me. 😆

Unsurprisingly, when I googled other famous 5s (I skipped the wings & subtypes for now), I ran into the usual crew I'm lumped together with as with Myers-Briggs---I guess Jodie Foster and I are destined to be personality twins.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love learning more about the enneagram! I have been following Stephanie's Instagram page for quite a while, and I love how easy she makes it to understand myself and other people in my life. I will definitely be referring back to Enneagram in Real Life again and again.


(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this and skipping around, taking the quizzes, reading the different types. I’m kind of just more confused honestly. I don’t fit neatly into any of these types or subtypes!
It’s kind of interesting, I guess. I’d like to explore other books about the Enneagram. But still— so confusing !

[Kris Springer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and accurate in my enneagram type but not helpful with relationships unless you know others’ enneagram type, because how would you?

All of these assessments are a bit like the Zodiac; kernels of truth but also untruth.

[Amanda Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rudimentary and a little all over the place. There’s too much housekeeping in the front half and she flies by some pretty complex topics before she gets to the types. I do find her concepts of tolerance really helpful.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I got a better grasp on what enneagram is. The typing quiz was also quite accurate, just based on my own self-assessment and how relatable the description of the types are.

It's a roughly three to four hour read including quiz time; can be done in one sitting.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know the science on personality-based stuff is pretty hit and miss, but I do find the concept of the enneagram pretty interesting. Any time I read anything about what I think is my type (hardcore 2), I think, wow, yeah, that's right on, good and bad.

[Jillian Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. I found this to be too scientific at times. I’ve preferred other enneagram books I’ve read.

[Laura Gardoski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read better books about the enneagram. I was intrigued to take this particular quiz which revealed that I could actually be very close to being a 6. I’m a definite 2.

[Read_by_Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read!

[Rusty Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical book on a popular personality typology. Could serve as a quick reference guide for people using the Enneagram.

[Donna Pincince · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Good Basic introduction to Enneagram

[Brooke Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it helpful to dive deeper into my enneagram!

[sandylexi]

this isn't narrative fic so like fuck it jsais mm pas pk jlai mis en tant que en lecrture

[Sydney Aerin · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I was given a free advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review**

I thoroughly enjoyed this Enneagram guide! I am a licensed therapist, but although some of the concepts were familiar to me, the book brought them into new focus. The concept of "thresholds" is well-known, but the way the author described it in relation to the Enneagram was so helpful - I've discussed this with my partner and some of my clients already! The book was easier to understand and more fluid in its practical applications than other Enneagram info that I've read, so I think this is a very accessible and useful starting point for Enneagram education. I highlighted so many sections! Can't wait to buy the physical copy!