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The Seven Primal Questions: Take Control of the Hidden Forces That Drive You
The Seven Primal Questions by Mike Foster is a groundbreaking guide to understanding everything about you and your relationships. Four years of research, 6000 hours of interviews, and 22 group labs has led to this profound roadmap for personal and professional growth.
The Seven Primal Question is a simple way of seeing your hidden programming, emotional needs, and supernatural gifts in a straightforward way. You’ll learn how to manage stress, anxiety, and life's challenges. You will discover how to use your primal question to accelerate performance, build emotional fitness, and clarify your unique purpose.
Don’t get stuck in weird self-help philosophies, yogababble, or complex solutions for personal development. It’s time for some ultra-clarity, supercharged tools, and plain talk about how to take ownership of your life. With straightforward concepts and real-life stories, you'll walk away with massive clarity on how to thrive today.
The Seven Primal Question is a simple way of seeing your hidden programming, emotional needs, and supernatural gifts in a straightforward way. You’ll learn how to manage stress, anxiety, and life's challenges. You will discover how to use your primal question to accelerate performance, build emotional fitness, and clarify your unique purpose.
Don’t get stuck in weird self-help philosophies, yogababble, or complex solutions for personal development. It’s time for some ultra-clarity, supercharged tools, and plain talk about how to take ownership of your life. With straightforward concepts and real-life stories, you'll walk away with massive clarity on how to thrive today.
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Published July 17, 2023
245 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read
About the author
Mike Foster
71 books10 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 31, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up! The basic premise of this book is that we all have a primal question that we orient our life around trying to answer.
Am I safe?
Am I secure?
Am I loved?
Am I wanted?
Am I successful?
Am I good enough?
Do I have purpose?
While we will resonate with some aspects from all of the questions, there will be one that stands out from the rest.
My husband purchased this book after listening to an interview between the author and Donald Miller. He read it in a day and told me that he felt like he understood me so much better and it got to the root of long term differences/disagreements the two of us have had. It took me two quick sittings to read the whole thing and I agree that this short and simple book is quite helpful.
There’s an online quiz you can take to help you identify your question, and I recommend you take it. I thought my question would be “Am I wanted?” and my husband guessed my question would be “Am I secure?” But ultimately both of us were wrong. My quiz results told me that my question is “Am I safe?” and while I initially rolled my eyes and thought the quiz missed the mark, once I read the chapter, it resonated on a deep level with me… far more than any of the rest.
I appreciate that this book is short and simple, yet is helpful and gives fresh insight. I also liked the practical application, as you learn to quickly identify your primal question, you can more easily stop a negative spiral and flip it around to use your primal question as a gift to both yourself and the world. There are brief application points for marriage, family, work, leadership, etc.
My only minor gripe is that the book is almost too short. Yet ultimately I think that’s the point. This is a simple concept that is not intended to be endlessly studied, but put into practice.
Am I safe?
Am I secure?
Am I loved?
Am I wanted?
Am I successful?
Am I good enough?
Do I have purpose?
While we will resonate with some aspects from all of the questions, there will be one that stands out from the rest.
My husband purchased this book after listening to an interview between the author and Donald Miller. He read it in a day and told me that he felt like he understood me so much better and it got to the root of long term differences/disagreements the two of us have had. It took me two quick sittings to read the whole thing and I agree that this short and simple book is quite helpful.
There’s an online quiz you can take to help you identify your question, and I recommend you take it. I thought my question would be “Am I wanted?” and my husband guessed my question would be “Am I secure?” But ultimately both of us were wrong. My quiz results told me that my question is “Am I safe?” and while I initially rolled my eyes and thought the quiz missed the mark, once I read the chapter, it resonated on a deep level with me… far more than any of the rest.
I appreciate that this book is short and simple, yet is helpful and gives fresh insight. I also liked the practical application, as you learn to quickly identify your primal question, you can more easily stop a negative spiral and flip it around to use your primal question as a gift to both yourself and the world. There are brief application points for marriage, family, work, leadership, etc.
My only minor gripe is that the book is almost too short. Yet ultimately I think that’s the point. This is a simple concept that is not intended to be endlessly studied, but put into practice.
October 25, 2023
great and simple framework
This is an easy read and an important one. I especially love books where the author doesn’t feel the need to expand more than necessary on the concepts for the sake of length and Mike consistently does this well. Perhaps the strongest element of this book is how concise it is. All of the content is meaningful and there is no filler, just actionable and engaging.
This is an easy read and an important one. I especially love books where the author doesn’t feel the need to expand more than necessary on the concepts for the sake of length and Mike consistently does this well. Perhaps the strongest element of this book is how concise it is. All of the content is meaningful and there is no filler, just actionable and engaging.
November 4, 2025
loved the perspective of your primal question being answered YES to, to have a clearer picture of how you and others around you navigate. How not to blame parents, but control one's reactions to things, how we can look at others and be aware of their primal questions and help them feel LOVED/CARED FOR/SECURE/PURPOSEFUL, etc.
March 26, 2025
very interesting, felt called out a bit (in a good way). helpful in understanding what drives people and how other people think
August 31, 2023
Easy to read yet so impactful
I took the Primal Question test no knowledge of any of the questions. The answer was so accurate for me that I immediately watched YouTube videos of Mike Foster discussing this new book. Then I knew I needed to purchase this for myself. It’s easy to read, with pertinent case examples. He has spent over 6,000 hours with clients gathering information for these questions. Finding the answer to my question - “Do I have purpose?” has already been impactful for my day to day life. This is easier to digest than personality typing systems but can compliment them nicely. I would recommend Mike’s book, to not only benefit you but also in understand the “questions” of those around you.
I took the Primal Question test no knowledge of any of the questions. The answer was so accurate for me that I immediately watched YouTube videos of Mike Foster discussing this new book. Then I knew I needed to purchase this for myself. It’s easy to read, with pertinent case examples. He has spent over 6,000 hours with clients gathering information for these questions. Finding the answer to my question - “Do I have purpose?” has already been impactful for my day to day life. This is easier to digest than personality typing systems but can compliment them nicely. I would recommend Mike’s book, to not only benefit you but also in understand the “questions” of those around you.
February 28, 2024
Absolutely loved this.
Already feel the impact on myself, my marriage and my parenting.
Already feel the impact on myself, my marriage and my parenting.
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January 16, 2024This book is simple and short but very profound. I’ve taken personality tests and read about the enneagram, but I can often feel a little overwhelmed by all the info related to them. This book taps into a deeper psychology in an easy to understand (and remember) way that allows you to not only understand your question but all of them so you can better love those around you!
March 13, 2024
Interesting, although to me it mostly seems like the Enneagram slightly rephrased. The book wasn’t really in depth enough to be particularly useful—but I do love any typing system as a general rule, so I enjoyed it!
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March 4, 2025I read this book for work. It was helpful and thought provoking but hard to rate a book like this one.
March 10, 2025
Short, simple, straight to the point, and yet incredibly insightful!
June 6, 2025
Very insightful and practical in learning the question that was imprinted on my life in childhood and how it still influences my behaviors and decision-making. Being self-aware and moving toward self-leadership to live out of wholeness.
July 24, 2025
3.5 stars! Another self-aware personality tool similar to Enneagram. Liked the simplicity of verbiage/model but felt there could be deeper analysis than what was there
January 7, 2024
Very helpful perspective at figuring out your core weakness, and therefore your strengths and gifts.
April 20, 2024
This has a really interesting premise: there are seven primal questions we all want answered with a strong “yes!” And if we don’t get that answered in our childhood (or it’s primarily answered with a “no” or “maybe”), we spend the rest of our lives asking every one and everything that same question looking for that yes.
Pretty Freudian, I know, but I went with it.
The questions are
Am I safe?
Am I secure?
Am I loved?
Am I wanted?
Am I successful?
Am I good enough?
Do I have purpose?
Some possible overlap, and whichever your question is (and there’s a quiz to help you identify it) the two adjacent questions can help identify what flavor of questioner you are.
Anyway, to complete the framework, people are both challenged and empowered by this question. In seeking to answer it, they can revert to a “scramble” wherein they engage in lots of self-destructive behavior and coping mechanisms to get it answered or fake an answer, OR they can, in seeking to answer this question, become great at answering it for others.
After going through the framework, the questions, there are some short chapters on how it might be applied in romantic relationships, parent/child relationships, and at work.
Interesting ideas and framework, but kinda half-assed execution. The chapters focus on longer stories (which isn’t bad in itself, but they don’t do a particularly good job of identifying the universal/applicable themes, they’re more just, here’s one instance of it…) and some vague, abstract mumbo jumbo about it that might go over better for people into horoscopes but seemed vague and not particularly helpful to me. Also, there’s a lot more focus on the “higher version” of these and almost none on the scramble nor, much more importantly and valuable in my mind, the process whereby someone identifies their “scramble” behaviors and creates a strategy to move to their higher self.
Was excited and wanted to like it, but the huge, life-changing insight that the book assumes it gives is… underwhelming.
Pretty Freudian, I know, but I went with it.
The questions are
Am I safe?
Am I secure?
Am I loved?
Am I wanted?
Am I successful?
Am I good enough?
Do I have purpose?
Some possible overlap, and whichever your question is (and there’s a quiz to help you identify it) the two adjacent questions can help identify what flavor of questioner you are.
Anyway, to complete the framework, people are both challenged and empowered by this question. In seeking to answer it, they can revert to a “scramble” wherein they engage in lots of self-destructive behavior and coping mechanisms to get it answered or fake an answer, OR they can, in seeking to answer this question, become great at answering it for others.
After going through the framework, the questions, there are some short chapters on how it might be applied in romantic relationships, parent/child relationships, and at work.
Interesting ideas and framework, but kinda half-assed execution. The chapters focus on longer stories (which isn’t bad in itself, but they don’t do a particularly good job of identifying the universal/applicable themes, they’re more just, here’s one instance of it…) and some vague, abstract mumbo jumbo about it that might go over better for people into horoscopes but seemed vague and not particularly helpful to me. Also, there’s a lot more focus on the “higher version” of these and almost none on the scramble nor, much more importantly and valuable in my mind, the process whereby someone identifies their “scramble” behaviors and creates a strategy to move to their higher self.
Was excited and wanted to like it, but the huge, life-changing insight that the book assumes it gives is… underwhelming.
September 24, 2024
I have enjoyed reading other books by this author, but this one is absolutely my favorite! The author has a magical way of taking something we all can relate to and adjusting the lens to make all of the pieces of our world shift into focus. I really am so appreciative of the way he shares the material without making the reader feel shameful for not seeing clearly before, in fact, each insight is presented as if to spark a hope in the reader as they apply what is being discovered.
Each section of the book incorporates real-life stories, as well as worksheets and experiential activities to help the reader connect with each part as it applies to themselves. While I wouldn’t term this as a “workbook”, the ability to personalize the material as I was reading made each part that much more meaningful, and by the conclusion of the book I felt as if I had such a deeper understanding of how I am wired. The author presents the book with such a tender and conversational approach, as if he is cheering the reader on in their quest to know themselves truly and authentically.
I love the fact that this material applies to everyone, regardless of their upbringing. Understanding the root of what drives us not only brings healing and wholeness to us personally, but helps us see others more clearly as well. As a therapist, I am always on the lookout for good resources for my clients that don’t sound like textbooks. This book is definitely going to be required reading for everyone!
Each section of the book incorporates real-life stories, as well as worksheets and experiential activities to help the reader connect with each part as it applies to themselves. While I wouldn’t term this as a “workbook”, the ability to personalize the material as I was reading made each part that much more meaningful, and by the conclusion of the book I felt as if I had such a deeper understanding of how I am wired. The author presents the book with such a tender and conversational approach, as if he is cheering the reader on in their quest to know themselves truly and authentically.
I love the fact that this material applies to everyone, regardless of their upbringing. Understanding the root of what drives us not only brings healing and wholeness to us personally, but helps us see others more clearly as well. As a therapist, I am always on the lookout for good resources for my clients that don’t sound like textbooks. This book is definitely going to be required reading for everyone!
August 25, 2023
Let me first say I admire the author, and any author who is willing to be deeply vulnerable to the world via a book, as Mike Foster was in sharing parts of his story he could have just as easily excluded. That being said...while I found the theory and its sub-theories of primal questions to be intriguing, I felt they were incomplete, and some of the profiles to be redundant in both motive and/or presentation. I was also irked by the generic and over-simplistic solutions to deep-seated wounds: "let your light shine," "don't let the worries get you down," etc., making me entirely forget he is a seasoned therapist (though he drops his credentials so frequently, I never actually could). Finally, I recommend reading the physical book, as the cadence of his voice on the Audible felt more appropriate for reading to small children on a sunny library morning.
In summary, I will be referencing these questions on occasion when working with clients, but probably not recommending the whole book and generally sticking with the Enneagram (which he doesn't attempt to replace, but is more thorough, tried-and-true, uncannily accurate, and involves its own version of primal questions besides).
In summary, I will be referencing these questions on occasion when working with clients, but probably not recommending the whole book and generally sticking with the Enneagram (which he doesn't attempt to replace, but is more thorough, tried-and-true, uncannily accurate, and involves its own version of primal questions besides).
April 7, 2025
I saw someone whose book rec’s I like post this, and out of intrigue purchased. Pretty much immediate regret. In the first few pages you are prompted to take a quiz in order to learn your primal question. In order to get your results you have to hand over your contact info. 🚩🚩🚩 The quiz was dumb and I didn’t even agree with the results after reading the other options. TBH, this felt like an overly simplified and dumbed down version of the enneagram. If you’ve never done any work on yourself, have no self awareness, or are clueless as to your personality, *maybe* you’d find this beneficial. If you have those things, I’m guessing this will feel redundant and reductionist as it did to me. After page 30 I flipped through the rest and put it down. It’s feels overly gimmicky and like a quick money grab. And another reminder why I stepped away from “Christian” reading and spaces
May 17, 2025
This is a short read (I finished it in a day). First you must do the 7 primal question test (it is easy to find online), then this book talks about what these primal questions are, what they mean, how they can shape us negatively and positively.
I think the 7 primal questions are insightful, and it really gave me food for thought after taking the test. The book is really a lot of filler though, with illustrations (pie charts, graphs, etc, ) that didn't add to to the value. About half of it was reading, the other were just illustrations.
I'm not big on 'self-improvement' books (I prefer the Bible for that), but this was a good one. Especially since it was a quick read. If you are looking to dig deep into why you do the things you do, your reactions, your internal dialogue, I would recommend this book.
I think the 7 primal questions are insightful, and it really gave me food for thought after taking the test. The book is really a lot of filler though, with illustrations (pie charts, graphs, etc, ) that didn't add to to the value. About half of it was reading, the other were just illustrations.
I'm not big on 'self-improvement' books (I prefer the Bible for that), but this was a good one. Especially since it was a quick read. If you are looking to dig deep into why you do the things you do, your reactions, your internal dialogue, I would recommend this book.
May 29, 2023
I was first introduced to Mike's work through this idea of 7 Primal Questions.
This book is a quick but powerful read. I loved the balance of research, information, and real stories. In reading it I felt self-compassion and could even identify the questions of close friends and family and made me feel compassion for them too. I believe this book is more of a relational tool than a self-help one; the journey of these questions cannot be walked in isolation, but the awareness and action from the truths bring people together.
I only wish Mike went deeper into the dynamics of the questions in different relationships. I hope this is the beginning of a larger conversation.
This book is a quick but powerful read. I loved the balance of research, information, and real stories. In reading it I felt self-compassion and could even identify the questions of close friends and family and made me feel compassion for them too. I believe this book is more of a relational tool than a self-help one; the journey of these questions cannot be walked in isolation, but the awareness and action from the truths bring people together.
I only wish Mike went deeper into the dynamics of the questions in different relationships. I hope this is the beginning of a larger conversation.
October 13, 2023
Am I safe? Am I secure? Am I loved? Am I wanted? Am I successful? Am I good enough? Do I have a purpose? These are the seven primal questions -- and knowing yours is the first step to a stronger, better, happier, more successful life. Once you know your question, you can re-state it as a statement -- I am loved, or I am wanted -- and then you can rock and roll from a place of strength. This is a good, if highly simplified, key to unlocking primal hurts in your life and turning them into strengths.
April 3, 2024
This book was recommended to my boyfriend and I by our pastor. The 7 primal questions really resonated with me and how the way I was raised affected my view of these questions. The reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because after I took the quiz, I felt that I resonated with another questions (not the one that was picked for me). Also, I wanted more details about how the different questions are compatible in a relationship, I think I need to dig deeper within the questions from the book. I think I will reread to see if I get something else out of it.
April 6, 2024
Wowwwww!!! I am SO happy I took the time to read this one!!!
I took the assessment and I was not surprised to find out it saw me as a Q3! Although at the same time I thought to myself, hold on let me read about what all a Q3 entails here.
Let’s put it this way….Nailed it!!!
This was super insightful!! Loved it! As I still have yet to figure out what exactly is “the root” of my Q3 assessment.
I am going to continue to reflect and try to understand. Why I feel the way I do.
Work on making some positive changes for me☺️
I took the assessment and I was not surprised to find out it saw me as a Q3! Although at the same time I thought to myself, hold on let me read about what all a Q3 entails here.
Let’s put it this way….Nailed it!!!
This was super insightful!! Loved it! As I still have yet to figure out what exactly is “the root” of my Q3 assessment.
I am going to continue to reflect and try to understand. Why I feel the way I do.
Work on making some positive changes for me☺️
January 15, 2025
I quickly read this book a couple of time and know that I will be going back to it again and again. Why are we the way the are? Act the way we act? Feel the way we feel? Everyone asks themselves one of the 7 Primal questions throughout their own lives that stems from a pivotal time in childhood. Knowing what it is helps you understand yourself and the people in your life so much better. I actually finished the book wanting more so 4 stars for me.
August 7, 2023
Like the premise of this book and I do believe we all probably do have a primal question that drives our actions and thoughts. However, the book was very surface level. It seemed rushed just for the sake of getting the basic content out there. I feel confident I know my primal question, but would have loved to dive deeper. Easy, quick read though!
August 23, 2023
Excellent, up to date, and to the point.
So many programs' books are written like the author is purposely trying to take the largest amount of words to get to the point, this is not one of those. I liked the way the painful childhood caused personality traits are turned around into super powers.
So many programs' books are written like the author is purposely trying to take the largest amount of words to get to the point, this is not one of those. I liked the way the painful childhood caused personality traits are turned around into super powers.
November 13, 2023
Simply powerful
This simply powerful book I read in 2 days and immediately began using it with my own clients. It distills the deep needs and drives that affect our lives. Knowing our underlying desires can shift everything- relationships, parenting and professionally . I just got off a zoom recommending this book to a gifted young lady who needed clarity. Thanks Mike.
This simply powerful book I read in 2 days and immediately began using it with my own clients. It distills the deep needs and drives that affect our lives. Knowing our underlying desires can shift everything- relationships, parenting and professionally . I just got off a zoom recommending this book to a gifted young lady who needed clarity. Thanks Mike.
December 4, 2023
A friend recommended this to me and boy am I so glad she did. Having recently gotten out of a relationship, this helped me understand why it was failing and what I need in relationships to be successful. This will help me move forward and look at things from a different lens. I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone!
January 21, 2024
EXCELLENT book. It’s easy to read and understand. It helped me realize so many good things about me but also understand why I feel a certain way about somethings. Very enlightening. This is a book I will reference over and over and be able to grow out of the bad habits I have created. Wow! So so good!
February 29, 2024
A simple approach to understanding yourself better and those around you. The author poses that each of us has a question that we live our lives trying to answer. This both drives us as we seek it from others but also as we try to answer it for others.
I would recommend taking the quiz but for a more accurate understanding / assessment reading the chapters is a must.
I would recommend taking the quiz but for a more accurate understanding / assessment reading the chapters is a must.
April 11, 2024
This book is insightful and presents a helpful framework, but it lacks any kind of academic rigor.
As a heads up to the folks who like their non-fiction to be devoid of fiction (religion): it's not religious or anchored in christian mythos, but toward the end there are several mentions of christian ideals mentioned as anecdotes as well as a mention that his wife is a missionary (colonialist).
As a heads up to the folks who like their non-fiction to be devoid of fiction (religion): it's not religious or anchored in christian mythos, but toward the end there are several mentions of christian ideals mentioned as anecdotes as well as a mention that his wife is a missionary (colonialist).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews