The Enneagram Type 4: The Romantic Individualist

The Enneagram Collection #4

by Beth McCord, Emily P. Freeman (Foreword)

The Enneagram Collection is for anyone who wants to have a deeper understanding of their Enneagram type. The Enneagram Type 4: The Romantic Individualist is an interactive book that focuses on those who have a core desire to be unique, special, and their authentic self. The book explores the unique motivations, longings, strengths, and weaknesses of a Type 4. Type 4: The Romantic Individualist is a great self-assessment resource for all spheres of life, including: Author Beth McCord teaches readers how to transform self-limiting behaviors into life-enhancing personal empowerment. Books from The Enneagram Collection are great for anyone newly interested in the Enneagram or longtime Enneagram enthusiasts. Inside readers will find: This ancient personality typing system identifies nine types of people and how they relate to one another. The system helps people discover what motivates them, their fears, and how best to interact with others. Not a Type 4 or want to learn about the other Enneagram types? Check out the rest of The Enneagram Collection by Enneagram coach, author, and speaker Beth McCord.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Spirituality, Personal Development

160 pages, Hardcover

First published December 10, 2019

About the author

Beth McCord, founder of Your Enneagram Coach, has been an Enneagram speaker, coach, and teacher for more than fifteen years. Having been trained by the best Enneagram experts and pouring hundreds of hours into advanced certifications, Beth is passionate about coming alongside individuals and helping them rewrite their story, allowing them to see that lasting change, meaningful relationships, and a life of deep purpose are possible. Beth lives outside of Nashville and has been married to her best friend, Jeff, for 23 years, and they have two teenage children.

Reviews

[sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on this book. I picked it up and put it down a lot, gave it numerous tries and just had to give up. Several reasons why.

1. Kind of a shallow look at a Type 4. A whole book dedicated to a 4 and I feel like I got more from one chapter in other books.
2. You could’ve gotten any of this information from listening to Beth McCord on a podcast. It literally feels like she was on Annie F Downs’ podcast or the Roloffs’ podcast saying the exact same things she wrote in this book.
3. I’m a Christian and I understand the enneagram is useless without connection to God but I felt like this book was more about God and faith than the enneagram? Not sure if that makes sense but that’s how I felt.
4. No application. Just little journal entries for “going deeper” into the chapter. I could’ve gotten more from the Enneagram Institute if I wanted application or journal prompts.
5. It truly was just a bland and boring book, hence why I gave up on it!

Probably too much of a 4w3 for this book :) Haha! Ian Crohn or Suzanne Stabile or even Sarajane Case would be more recommended than this book.

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great glimpse into my enneagram type. The questions at the end of each section were incredibly thought-provoking and really helped me dig deep into both what I was learning from the book and some of the "junk of life." I definitely feel some transformation happening after reading this book.

[Judith]

(2022) Dit boekje geeft op zich heldere informatie over type 4 van het enneagram, maar het is wel basiskennis die je ook online kunt vinden. Wat ik echter niet wist is dat de schrijfster christelijk is en het enneagram volledig vanuit het geloof benadert. Er ontbraken aardse, constructieve adviezen en ideeën over hoe je je binnen je type kunt ontwikkelen.

(2023) Ik denk er hetzelfde over maar met het herlezen ben ik toch ook iets positiever geworden over dit boekje. Het is kernachtig en helder geschreven, wat helpend is in het herkennen van eigen patronen.

[Fëalórin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have appreciated specific, anecdotal, real-life visualizations to illustrate the concepts discussed. This booklet contains a lot of abstract personality theory, which, while fascinating, seems difficult to apply without specificity. For me, this was merely a somewhat-interesting read vaguely describing what it means to be an Enneagram 4. It might be worth referencing in the future.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a type 4 I appreciate how the book helps understand the WHY (heart) behind the what (my actions). The book works more like a devotional for helping me gain a greater understanding of myself and better able to love others.

[Stephanie Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good if you're just looking for a primer on how the enneagram + type 4 works. Not good for deeper dives, especially held against the other books I've read.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a quick overview, it’s fine, but if you are looking to really dive into your number, this isn’t it.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

it may be short, but this book sure does pack a punch. it provided the pure, essential elements that make up the type 4 personality and offered up some truly insightful advice and motivation, especially through the lens of Christianity

[Ruby Neumann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been diving into a lot of Enneagram reads. I wanted to read Beth McCord's book, because it was all about 4. I didn't have to wade through or avoid the other numbers like I do in the other books. Beth soaks the Enneagram teaching in Jesus teaching... so if one is okay with that, then it will be a great read. I still find it uncomfortable to learn the psychology and intricacies of the Enneagram with the primary focus of "This is all about Jesus". So because of that, it wasn't my favourite Enneagram read, but still worth it and I got a lot of good stuff from it. The Enneagram doesn't need to be used as an evangelism tool. It stands very well on its own. That being said, the spiritual benefits can't be ignored either. But what 4 isn't going to like a book that is all about them!!! Thank you Beth McCord for taking time to give each number their own story.

[Kalli Spurgin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great devotional style book with journal sections each day to prompt you through difference facets of your type in the enneagram, all taken through a lens of biblical truths about us in connection to our Creator!
The only thing I would love to see is specific Scripture references in the pages to go along with it!
Either way it was a great asset to my devotional time during quarantine.
I also highly identify with type 7 so I plan on doing that one as well!

[Hope (bookedwithhope) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book scratches the surface of the different aspects of your Enneagram type. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a 4, but it definitely could’ve gone deeper.

The thing I did like was the prompting question section at the end of each chapter. It definitely left room for reflection, which has been helpful.

Definitely recommend whether you think you’re sure you’re a 4 or are trying to figure it out.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! I loved the chance to journal and reflect. Unfortunately I was too lazy to journal regularly so it took me forever to finish this book, but other than that, I found it rather cathartic. Would love to incorporate more journaling literature into my reading habits. This kind of reflection is good for the soul. It'll also be great to look back on this later to get an idea of where my head was at in this period of my life.

[Kambrie Ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wish I had known this book was so Christian-forward. Instead of opening myself up and being able to pour out my heart/feelings in the Journaling exercises, I felt blocked, triggered, and misunderstood. I'm currently going through a faith transition/deconstruction, so this book was very unhelpful and made my defenses go way up instead of bringing them down.

[Stephen Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful things here and I appreciate the effort to think through the Enneagram with a gospel lens, but I’m not a fan at all of the format which is very short and lots of bullet points. I didn’t anticipate that going in and the chapters are very segmented rather than synchronized which would have been far more helpful.

[Sam Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would say this book is good for a crash course of what the enneagram is and what it LOOKS like for a Type 4. However, it didn’t give me resources or strategies to help me when I’m stressed or unhealthy. If you’re looking for a book to learn more about your personality, buy it. If you’re looking for a book that helps you navigate being a Type 4, I wouldn’t recommend this book.

[April Thrush · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great devotional companion , although it is a glaring fault of this book that even though it is faith based, they do not attempt to incorporate scripture. A nice addition to this would have been here are some scriptures that may be especially meaningful to you with your specific hand ups you deal with. Some were coming to mind as I was reading it.

[Abby Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

My personal opinion is, if you're picking up this book it's because you know about the Enneagram. McCord spends a lot of time explaining the the Type. The lessons are short and not entirely impactful. I do think her questions are helpful and am looking forward to seeing how it changes deeper into the book. But I did not feel deeply impacted.

[Ksenia Naydenova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy and short read if you want to dive in a little deeper in your number’s motivations and reasons behind who you’re. I enjoyed learning how we actually can take either healthy or unhealthy side of the numbers that we go to in stress or health.

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had no idea that the enneagram is related to a belief in God, so I was surprised by that. Surely I can work in my Core Fear and my Core Desire as an atheist, no?

The book is part informational, part workbook; but it lacks substance.

[Seth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Something to listen to while I drove to take care of an errand. Just all little over an hour it’s definitely intended as part of a series and would be better for someone who identifies as Christian which I do not. The Enneagram is interesting but this is fairly thin.

[Mitchell Stevenson II · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book's guided journaling helps in providing a name to buried emotions and encourages perspective that places God at the center of your story, not you. I loved reading this, and along with prayer + guided journaling, provided tremendous edification.

[Beth DeLong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a really good starting point for your enneagram, and I do appreciate the Christian link to the principles. If you're wanting something quick, this book is great. But once you've read this, you'll need another book for a deeper dive.

[Terri Dennehy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good intro but simplistic. As a newcomer to the Enneagram it met my needs in understanding the basics, but I skimmed over the basic theological assertions which seem to negate the whole Enneagram tool’s nuanced complexity. I look forward to diving a bit deeper with another author on this topic.

[Amber]

A good book to revisit.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not an in-depth look. Take it for what it is.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very helpful! I am a 1 and I am reading through the books that also pertain to my immediate family. 4s get a bum wrap a lot of the time. They can be moody and difficult. They can also be fun and easy to be with. This books breaks down into short sections to be able to see how you can deal with yourself and others in a more positive way. Most enneagram books focus too much on your negative qualities but, I feel this series does a great job of telling you how to work better with yourself and others and not changing who you essentially are. Each enneagram number has unique qualities that can be and should be enjoyed. 4s are challenging to themselves and others but, they are not broken. Understanding the emotional cycles helps tremendously. If you are a 4 or love a 4, read this book.