Discovering Your Personality Type: The Essential Introduction to the Enneagram, Revised and Expanded

by Don Richard Riso, Russ Hudson

Discover the nine personality types of the human psyche -- and how to determine your own set of characteristics -- with this revised edition of the classic, indispensable introduction to the Enneagram.

The leading experts in the field, Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson have set the standard for determining personality type using the Enneagram. Their studies of this ancient symbol and their progress in determining type with increasing accuracy are known, taught, and emulated worldwide. Discovering Your Personality Type is the essential introduction to this system, a psychological framework that can be used practically, in many aspects of daily life.

This revised and updated edition features the scientifically validated Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI), and has also been refined and simplified to appeal especially to beginners and anyone interested in unlocking the secrets of personality. The most reliable, most accurate, and most accessible way to identify type, the improved Enneagram questionnaire helps identify fundamental character traits, revealing invaluable directions for change and growth. The profile that emerges is useful for a wide variety of purposes: professional development, education, relationships, vocational counseling, and more.

Discovering Your Personality Type is the book readers need in order to begin to see the possibilties made available by understanding personality types.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Reference, Philosophy, Counselling

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1992

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great starting place for learning more about the Enneagram. It’s not super complex or detailed but it gives you a good solid overview of the system and the various types. The Enneagram can seem overwhelming but I think this book was a great introduction that gave me solid information but didn’t overwhelm me with details. I’m definitely a 9 … without a doubt. I really enjoyed learning about my own type as well as the system as a whole. I have a huge stack of Enneagram books that I’ll be reading soon as I dig in deeper with the system.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understanding oneself is the gateway to understanding others.

This book explains the Enneagram really well...in interpretation and from a psychological point of view.

Self-awareness is so crucial for growth as an individual and in how you relate to others, in understanding your impact on the world as well as your own internal world and finding balance within yourself.

[Ezgi ☕️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! Impeccable insight to the personality types. I will send this book as a gift to my friends.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to learn about the Enneagram? This is a good book to start - straightforward and simple. That said, the test they include to determine your number is not very good. It is a series of two choices and you have to pick one ("I am often the leader of the group" vs. "I am often a loner") but for many of them I did not want to pick either. You can probably find better assessments online. Overall though, a nice summary of the types.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

This is not technically a DNF, as I never started reading it, but I did want to record my reasons for deciding not to read it. I had wanted to look into myself, as I'd heard various reports on the ethics of using this system as a Christian.

After listening to the Sheologians podcast, and then finding an interview with one of the main creators of Enneagram, I am now satisfied that this system is not appropriate for Christians to use or associate with.

(I'm not going to interact with any comments on this review attacking my position, but if you want to look into yourself, here's the Youtube interview where the originator of Enneagram types mentions getting this information 'mostly through automatic writing': https://youtu.be/wlO3KJWnNd8)

[Ailyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! It is what it is titled, the basic introduction to the enneagram, with the test provided inside. I like how straightforward it was, without a lot of spiritual talk but more objective. I will definitely go back to it and reread some parts.

[Gold Dust · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smaller enneagram book than most. It sticks to the basics and doesn’t dive too deep into the spiritual parts of enneagram theory. It has a 144 question quiz inside to help you find your type, called the RHETI (20). The test disguises and mixes up the types to avoid people choosing the answers for the type they want to be. Each question has two opposing statements, and you have to select one that is true of you.

We have four selves: our past, our present, our ideal, and our self as others see us (19). The RHETI questions are to be answered about the past self, or the self you have been most of your life (16, 19). “This is especially true if you have been in psychological or spiritual work and feel that you have changed over time. If you have changed significantly, it is important to identify what you were like *before* the changes in your personality took place” (16).

“The median score is 16 for each type. If the functions of your personality were in perfect balance, you would score 16 on each of the nine types. This result is extremely rare, and it is normal to have wide variations from the median” (55).

“All of the major Enneagram authors agree—we are born with a dominant type” (64). “We develop into one of the nine personality types because our consciousness has developed in certain ways as a result of our heredity and childhood experiences. Nevertheless, our personality type is largely inborn and is the result of what psychologists call temperament. Any woman who has been a mother is aware that children are quite distinct from one another even when they are still in the womb. The child then uses the strengths of his or her temperament as a primary way to cope with stresses in his or her environment. But in the process of adapting, a variety of unconscious mechanisms and structures come into play that help the child feel safe but that also limit his or her sense of identity. In a sense, the development of the personality is as much a defense against our early environment as it is an adaptive reaction to it. The remaining eight personality types (which we develop to greater or lesser degrees throughout our lives) represent the other potentials of our psyche and are important parts of who we are” (7-8). Parental influence doesn’t produce a personality type in the child, but influences how healthy a child of that type will be (200).

Alexander Thomas, M.D., and Stella Chess, M.D., at New York University School of Medicine, with no knowledge of the Enneagram, found nine basic patterns of temperament in infants through experimental means. This study is called the New York Longitudinal Study (7). This makes it sound like they also found nine personality types, but I looked up the study and it was actually nine different traits that they were looking for in the babies:
the level and extent of motor activity;
the rhythmicity, or degree of regularity, of functions such as eating, elimination and the cycle of sleeping and wakefulness;
the response to a new object or person, in terms of whether the child accepts the new experience or withdraws from it;
the adaptability of behavior to changes in the environment;
the threshold, or sensitivity, to stimuli;
the intensity, or energy level, of responses;
the child's general mood or "disposition", whether cheerful or given to crying, pleasant or cranky, friendly or unfriendly;
the degree of the child's distractibility from what he is doing;
the span of the child's attention and his persistence in an activity.
They then classified each baby into one of THREE type categories: easy (40%), difficult (10%), and slow to warm up (15%). The remaining 35% were not easily classified. For more information: https://www.age-of-the-sage.org/psych...

“People do not change from one basic personality type to another. Of course, we may change and develop over time and learn new coping skills, but the foundation of our personality—what we initially developed from—remains the same” (65). “Not everything in the description of your basic type will apply to you all the time because you fluctuate constantly among the healthy, average, and unhealthy traits that make up your personality type” (65). “The descriptions of the personality types are universal and apply equally to males and females, since no type inherently masculine or feminine” (65). (I disagree with this. I think 5s and 8s are mostly male and 2s and 4s are mostly female.)

We have the whole enneagram within us. “We will manifest characteristics from all of the nine types from time to time. In short, we are all nine types” (9-10). This is good to know, because it seems the prevailing opinion online is that you can only be one enneagram type with a wing right next to it, and “enneagram experts” act like you’re a freak of nature or answered the questions wrong or have poor self-awareness if you score high in types that are far apart from each other.

There are three instinctual sub-types to each enneagram type: SP (self-preservation), SX (sexual), and SO (social).
SPs “tend to be more grounded, practical, serious, and introverted than the other two” (84) “They seek domestic tranquility and security with a stable, reliable partner” (84).
SXs “need to have deep intimacy in their primary relationships, or else they remain unsatisfied. They enjoy being intensely involved—even merged—with others and can become disenchanted with partners who are unable to meet their need for intense energetic union” (84).
SOs “want to stay in long-term contact with people and to be involved in their world” (85). They want to have an impact on their community. They “tend to be warmer, more open, engaging, and socially responsible than the other two types” (85). They “tend to avoid long periods of exclusive intimacy and quiet solitude” (85).

The enneagram types in summary:
The Reformer (sounds like ISTJ/INTJ). Opinionated, productive, honest, reasonable, moral, self-disciplined, neat freaks, able to delay gratification. Has a sense of mission, deep convictions (88-89). “While Ones tend to see themselves as people of logic and reason, they are often driven by strong feelings and impulses—usually experienced as personal convictions” (90). “Ones do not want to be proven wrong, to make mistakes, to allow sloppiness, to be with people they perceive as lazy or not serious, to be in chaos or in situations that seem out of control, or to be embarrassed by emotional display” (90). Ones stick to business. They treat their relationships like a duty. They have high standards for themselves and others (91). They get frustrated/resentful when people don’t live up to their standards (92).
The Helper (sounds like ESFJ). Caring, warm, thoughtful, generous, affectionate, people-pleasing, clingy, possessive, loving, humble, forgiving, compassionate, encouraging (97), interpersonal (194). Their “passion” (meaning vice) is supposed to be pride (100), but I disagree. I think 1s, 3s, 4s, and 8s are all more likely to have the pride sin than 2s. 2s are more likely to be jealous IMO.
The Achiever (sounds like ESTJ). Successful, image-conscious, showy, boastful, goal-oriented, charming, into performance (106). They “learned in childhood that they are valuable only for their accomplishments and self-presentation. They believe that they will be loved only if they become extraordinary” (107-108). I disagree with this last thing, because the type 3 I know has parents who don’t care at all about her achievements. She just naturally has a personality that enjoys showing off, getting attention, and learning new things. Meanwhile I can imagine kids who DO have parents who make their kids believe that they’ll be loved only if they become extraordinary (these parents being like type 1s), and these kids tend to not be show-offs. They’re more like type 5s. Because parents who demand academic excellence of their kids tend to squelch any misbehavior as well, so type 3 showiness would not be tolerated. (P. 201-202 basically says that parents want their kids to have the same personality traits as them.)
The Individualist (sounds like INFJ/INFP). Unique, sensitive, withdrawn, emotional, emotionally aware (116), artistic (117), creative (118), intuitive (121), introspective (194). “When Fours are more in balance, their exquisite attunement to their inner states enables them to discover deep truths about human nature, to bear compassionate witness to the suffering of others, or to be profoundly honest with themselves about their own motives. When they are less balanced, they can become lost in their feelings, preoccupied with emotional reactions, memories, and fantasies, both negative and positive” (117). Fours express themselves in their clothing and home decor (117). They want “to attract a ‘rescuer’ who will understand them” (118). A lot of type 4 descriptions online make them out to be ashamed of how they’re different from others, but this book says they’re proud to be different (118). Although later the book says that 4s are envious of others because they feel deficient (120). Common careers: clothing designer, counselor/therapist, artist, writer, teacher (118).
Investigator (sounds like INTP). Studious, unsentimental, independent, detached, isolated, objective (126), curious (130), nervous, can be restless/hyperactive (131), can be minimalist or hoarding (132), eccentric, analytical, arrogant (195). “Can get involved in work, reading, or in their own thoughts in such depth that they are often late for meetings and don’t hear phone calls. They forget to eat or to take adequate care of themselves physically” (127). If 5s feel that people who they are close to are intruding on them or imposing their wills, they become “feisty, argumentative, and relentlessly provocative” (131).
Loyalist (sounds like ESFJ). Committed, responsible, anxious, suspicious, cautious, self-doubting, funny, detail-oriented (135), insecure (137), indecisive (195), traditional, respects authority & law, politically conservative (203) (although p. 135 says they are both conservative and liberal). At their best, they’re brave, but at they’re worst they’re cowards (135). “Looking for someone to trust because they do not really trust themselves. They do not have much faith in themselves and their own abilities” (137). SP 6s are obsessive-compulsive and worry a lot (142). SX 6s are often like the opposite gender. They “tend to test their significant others to see if they are strong enough and to make sure that they are really committed to the relationship. . . . They fall into suspiciousness about their partner and can be quite jealous, while at the same time feeling a strong need to continue to ‘prove’ their desirability” (143). SO 6s “want to be regarded as regular guys or gals and may have difficulty taking stands that would be unpopular in their peer groups” (143).
Enthusiast (sounds like ESFP). Busy, fun-loving, spontaneous, distractible, scattered, optimistic, adventurous, thrill-seeking, upbeat, enthusiastic (145), can be restless and hyperactive (147). SP 7s are materialistic and like collecting things. “Unconsciously, they may have unrealistic expectations that the world should provide them with whatever they need on demand” (152). SX 7s and SO 7s are extraverted.
Challenger (sounds like ENTJ). Dominating, confident, decisive, willful, confrontational, strong, assertive, independent, determined, competitive, straight-talking, blunt, defiant, angry, vengeful (155).
Peacemaker (sounds like ISFP). Easygoing, agreeable, complacent, patient, relaxed, content, comforting, sensual, unself-conscious, passive-aggressive (164), optimistic (165), avoids conflict (166), sensual (172). “They tend to look at things holistically, focussing on the ways in which seemingly unrelated ideas or events are connected and part of a greater whole” (165). 9s “focus on keeping their lives pleasant and uncomplicated” (165). They may eat, drink,or watch TV in excess “to escape into a more pleasant and comforting world” (166). 9s keep “waiting for their ship to come in,” but make no effort to improve their own situation (166). They “want to get along with others, but they also want to hold on to their independence and autonomy—they do not want to be ‘messed with’” (167). 9s “may also try to impress intimates with their accomplishments, status, or attractiveness—although, ironically, they are usually completely unaware of how they are coming across to others” (170). SP 9s are lazy, introverted, and stubborn about keeping their routine, pace, philosophy, etc (171). SX 9s have heroic fantasies (172). SO 9s are affectionate, outgoing, idealistic, and often get sidetracked from their goals (172). 9s tend to have trouble typing themselves because they aren’t self-conscious; “they tend to see themselves in all of the types and in none very strongly. . . . They typically have relatively ‘flat’ or evenly distributed scores in the RHETI for all nine types, with Nine among the top two or three scores” (185).

“The three primary types—3s, 6s,and 9s—probably have the most trouble [with mistyping themselves] because their identity depends on their identifications with others. They live through others or else live through the real or imagined reactions of others to them” (13).

The book separates the types into the thinking, gut, and feeling triads, but also three other groups called the hornevian groups: assertive (3,7,8), dutiful (1,2,6), and withdrawn (4,5,9).

I liked how this book described how each type fit into the triads (68-74):
*Gut types have anger issues:
8s - obvious visible anger; anger is embraced and expressed openly.
9s - deny & suppress their anger. Can have angry blowups or express their anger with sarcasm or criticism.
1s - control or repress their anger. Can express their anger by ranting and complaining.
*Feeling types have shame issues:
2s - compensate for their shame by getting other people to like them and need them
3s - deny their shame and counter it by becoming successful
4s - avoid their shame by focussing on fantasies & their uniqueness
*Thinking types have anxiety/fear issues:
5s - cope with their anxiety about the outer world by withdrawing. They counter their phobia by studying frightening subjects.
6s - have trouble trusting their own minds, so they look outside themselves for someone to ease their anxieties
7s - have anxiety about their inner world, so they cope by keeping their external lives busy with fun. They fear their unconscious, so they counter it with hyperactivity.

While it is valuable to discover our dominant type, keep in mind the real purpose of the Enneagram: growth and liberation from the personality (9-10). Instead of denying our fear, anger, or shame, we need to be present with the emotion with patience, honesty, and compassion (74). As a person improves themselves via therapy or spiritual development, “personality loses its grip” and scores in each type should equalize (184).

As a person becomes more unhealthy, the negative emotions or the defenses against them increase (73-74). The levels of development/health (77):
1 - liberation
2 - psychological capacity
3 - social value
4 - imbalance/social role
5 - interpersonal control
6 - overcompensation
7 - violation
8 - obsession, compulsion
9 - Pathological destructiveness

(Whoever came up with it must’ve made nine levels on purpose since there are nine types. But I think they should’ve made 1 the most unhealthy and 9 the healthiest, so that 10 could be the level of enlightenment instead of 0.)

The wing is the second side of your personality. Is is the type to the left or right of your type, whichever you score higher in. It’s possible to have both wings, and also to have no wing at all (74).

The book claims that the sequence of the types and arrangement of the inner lines of the symbol aren’t arbitrary (79), but it didn’t explain was how each personality type got assigned which number. Because if that’s arbitrary, then the lines connecting the numbers may hold no meaning, and the wing being required to be the type right next to your type would also be incorrect.

Direction of disintegration/stress (80): 1-4-2-8-5-7-1. 9-6-3-9.
Direction of integration/growth (81): 1-7-5-8-2-4-1. 9-3-6-9.

Countries seem to have three dominant personality types/styles. They can change from era to era. The country types are not proven, but here are the authors’ opinions as of 2003 (204):
US: 3, 6, 7
England: 1, 5, 6
France: 3, 4, 7
China: 3, 8, 9
Japan: 6, 4, 5
Germany: 6, 5, 8
Russia: 6, 8, 4
Italy: 8, 2, 7

When I took the RHETI, I tied in two types. Neither were the type I felt I was most like based on the descriptions.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a basic introduction to the enneagram, my favorite paradigm for personality types that I've seen. MBTI is so binary, while the Enneagram has 9 types in 3 main groups. It also deals with movement between types in stress and security, and is concerned with finding a way to be maximally healthy in your natural type.
It offers much potential insight for relational dynamics, inner struggles, and a pathway for personal growth and development.

[Ann Pratley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it took a while to work through this practical workbook, it definitely was a worthwhile read and interesting in carrying out the assessments. For anyone interested in taking time to read about different personality types, and then do a self-assessment (or assessment of others you know), this is well worth at least borrowing it from your local library and giving it a good, slow read.

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic introduction to enneagrams with a thorough long-form test for determining your personality number and "wing" number. Good starting place for anyone interested in the subject.

[George Vasilca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating book was published in 2003, yet for many years I did not know about it. Luckily, I came across it a few months ago when researching for my blog. I was so fortunate! The book captivated me from the very beginning, and I devoured it in one day. Why? Because a new world of understanding about personality types was opening before my very eyes.

That was the first “get-to-know-you” reading. But only at the second reading, I started to realize how powerful and profound the Enneagram concept was. The motto on the book is, “For a new world based on the realization that we are one.” So appropriate! But what is an Enneagram? According to the authors, it is a geometrical figure that delineates the nine personality types of human nature. Its name comes from the Greek words ‘ennea’ (nine) and gramma (writing). In fact, the geometrical figure is a plain circle with nine personality points on its circumference. The mystery and power of the Enneagram, however, come from how these points are designated and linked, and the significance of those links.

What’s the information the Enneagram provides?
• Which is the prevailing personality type in our own selves
• Which are our dominant strengths and weaknesses
• How we behave in times of calm and in times of stress
• How we relate to other personality types.

To sum it up, the Enneagram is like a treasure map leading us to our innermost secrets – our soul. The whole of Enneagram is within each of us, and each of us is within it.
The two authors, Rios ad Hudson did a magnificent job in explaining difficult psychological concepts in an easy-to-understand language. They took the idea of Enneagram from the realm of psychological research to the world of ordinary readers, thus enriching the lives of all of us.
I strongly recommend this fascinating book to anyone interested in themselves. It is something you will not easily forget!

[Sarah Cupitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dare you to borrow this from a psychology or psychotherapy student for fun. Super insightful, especially how the Enneagram suggests that there are nine basic personality types of human nature; however, there are many subtypes and variations. This text does not put you in a box but instead shows you the one you are already in. No personality questionnaire cannot test the self of essence itself; welcome to self-surrender and self-actualisation.

Favourite quotes:
"Walter Geldart, a brilliant Enegram theoretician and student of ours, has been extremely encouraging and helpful with the comparisons of RHETI with the MBTI. Walter has also led the way in introducing the Enneagram to the Myer-Briggs community."
"The insights the Enneagram gives us can change our lives, and those who have gotten to know it cannot imagine how they once got along without it. It is as if they had been born colour blind and were suddenly able to comprehend the world and all its subtle hues for the first time."
"The Enneagram is a geometric figure that delineates the nine basic personality types of human nature and their complex interrelationships. Each of these nine types has its own way of relating to others, its own set of perceptions and occupations, its own values and approaches to life."
"The RHETI has proven to range from about 56-82% accurate for determining the basic personality type."
"In a sense, we have '4 selves': our past self, our present self, our ideal self and our self as others see us. The RHETI is attempting to discern only your past self."

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never taken the Enneagram but have had various people tell me which profile they think I am so wanted to finally do the analysis work for myself. Interestingly, I had two identical high scores as well as two identical scores right below those. These turned out to pair up (a basic & a wing each). My epiphany as I re-read the profiles, trying to determine which set was "right", is that one set is who I was innately wired to be and the other is more reflective of who I became when I experienced a childhood trauma (the serious illness and then death of my little sister). I'm not saying that the pair of types people have seen (and insisted were my dominant ones) were not facets of my personality, but I really believe those were only brought to the forefront as a reaction to those terrible events.
I've had regular yoga and meditation practices for several years now but I followed the directive to answer the questions as I was for all of my earlier adulthood. If I were to retake the survey as I am today, I am sure my more "innate" basic type + wing would show up on top. All in all, I found this a very helpful exercise at a pivotal point of major changes in my life. I feel much better equipped to make the next set of important decisions and there are very helpful reminders of the healthy/unhealthy expression continuum.

[Charty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I technically didn’t read this cover to cover, so I’m not counting it as “finished” but I skimmed the whole thing and read specific sections in more detail.

So, my thoughts. Here it goes. Personally I’d say that the Myers-Briggs personality test, and frankly a horoscope book I had, did a better job of “getting” my personality. Or I saw myself and my tendencies in those more clearly. The Enneagram is rather convoluted. Nine personality types and then within those nine or subtler breakdowns but then depending on whether you are ascending or descending in your personal integration you might resemble a different type at a different point in the scale. It all was rather too complex to hold my interest.

Not sure this was for me. If using the Enneagram system is beneficial for the reader to improve their self-understanding, great! I’d just take it all with a grain of salt.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m at best “enneagram curious” because I keep hearing so much about it from podcasts, etc. this is my first book on the enneagram and I’m still not sure what I think. This book contains a detailed 144 question test that is supposedly scientifically valid and reliable. I like that it reads more academically than new age-y or overtly spiritual. Good info about each number but kept saying “for more information read our other book entitled____.” A good starting place and I may read a bit more, but not sure how much I’ll buy into it. (I scored as a 9 with a dominant wing of 1 and also a strong showing of 5...for what it’s worth!)

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter is very interested in the enneagram and wanted me to look into it. I have several books out from the library and this is the first one I finished. It can only be helpful to learn more about our personalities and while I find this theory complex, it seems useful and accurate. I took the test and I seem to be most aligned with 3-Achiever with 9-Peacemaker and 1-Reformer close behind. As a woman (well) over 30, I also check many boxes as a 2-Helper but am not sure this truly reflects me.
Looking forward to learning more...

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first big dive into understanding the enneagram, and I feel like I have a good grasp on it now after reading this. The full quiz is included, with in-depth explanations to help readers understand their results. I felt comfortable with the terminology by the end and feel ready to dive even deeper now.

It's hard to have conversations with people who already know so much about this personality profiling, so this was the perfect way for me to learn all of it at once and become familiar with it. I recommend this one for sure!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up mainly for the quiz to sort out your enneagram type. However, by the time I got the book, I had already sorted out my type from a different book. However it was still nice to get a sort of confirmation that I was right. The test & scoring takes about an hour and is pretty straight forward. There's a short summary of each type following the test, which is perfect for making sure the results are correct. It's solid for a starting spot, but if you're into it, you'll probably want something more to help you understand your type better and get a sense for how to use that knowledge to help you grow.

[Jaafar Vaezi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book from Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson, is a mirror that we can see ourself and people clearly, and then gradually leave our personality behind and proceed to Essence. Now I know I am 1w2, and trying to travel in levels of development toward The level of liberation but there is a long way, and as Bayazid Bastami says: This thing we tell of never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me a basic understanding of the Enneagram as well as details about each type. I’ve heard a lot of talk lately about this personality test and I was curious to take the 144 question test. Unlike some of the longer tests online, this one was totally free since I checked the book out from the library.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at my library because I wanted to learn more about the Enneagram. This book was touted as a good primer on the subject. It does have a lot on info & a test included, but it's a bit dry & academic. I read it, but I'm glad I borrowed it rather than bought it. I'm still hoping to find a more user-friendly book on the Enneagram for my book shelf, but I did learn from this one.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic for Fiction Character Development!

Written in a way that makes the personality types very clear and easy to apply to developing fiction characters. Also links to supplemental info on their website -- specifically about types in relationships with each other -- were greatly beneficial.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The copy I borrowed from my library was so marked up and drawn in that there was no value to me, as it could not be used as intended.

The information about the Enneagram that it did contain outside of the questionnaire was not anything I hadn't read in an easier to understand way elsewhere.

[Christine Hiester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic and concise slim volume on the Ennegram. Includes the RHETI test ( which has probably since been redone or tweaked) and the nutshell understanding of each type. Also includes a list of the test statements by type, which was interesting.

[Shannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most complex enneagram book out there but it was the “gateway” drug to more complicated and thorough riso/Hudson books (The Wisdom of the Enneagram is becoming a fast favorite). I found I wanted much much more after reading through my specific number section.

[Kimberly Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and informative. Our family spent a dreary afternoon analyzing one another. "You're a four!" "Dad has to be a nine!" "No, he's a six."
FWIW, I'm a 1 w 9.
Perfect for fans of Myers-Briggs (INTJ) and Sorting Hats (Ravenclaw.)

[Aaron Carlile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blew my mind how accurate this was. Officially de-stigmatizing the Enneagram as yet another "personality test", and categorizing it as a more formidable addition to the canon of psychological self-discovery literature.

[Kylie Parsonson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it 3 stars because it was tedious to read. While the information is interesting and helpful, it was like reading a glossary/instruction novel. It was a bit full on. I had to push myself through it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

According to my bookshelf, I’ve now read at least 15 books on the subject. This is a good place to start. It covers all the basics. Where there isn’t consensus among all authors, I defer to Riso/Hudson.

[Joyous Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome rundown on Enneagram!