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The Instinctual Drives and the Enneagram
"John Luckovich does not beat around the bush and lets us know right away that the material in this book is explicitly for inner work and soul development. And with great eloquence and patience, he unpacks this potentially complex material in a way that makes it understandable and relevant. While there are a number of teachers working in this area who have my love and respect, I dare say there is no one in the world who has spent more time contemplating the meaning and context of this material than John."
- from the foreword, written by Russ Hudson, author, The Wisdom of the Enneagram
The Enneagram is a profound tool for self-observation and inner work. While there are plenty of resources on the topic, most Enneagram literature is largely limited to entry-level descriptions of the Nine Types. The Instinctual Drives and the Enneagram focuses on a crucial but misunderstood facet of the Enneagram Typology--our "animal" Instinctual Drives and how they are related to our spiritual nature.
While nearly every school of thought on the Enneagram acknowledges the importance and role of the Instinctual Drives, there's a deep lack of understanding what they actually are, the role they play in personality, and most importantly, their implications for inner work. This book achieves, for the first time, a coherent theory of the instinctual drives based in biology, evolution, and developmental psychology, and it paves the way toward a more accurate view of inner work that directly addresses our animal nature. In so doing, it turns our current understanding of the Enneagram on its head by showing that the personality does not exist in parallel with our instinctual drives, but in reaction to them. In other words, instinct comes first - and one's Enneagram type is nothing more or less than a strategy to fulfill instinctual needs.
This clarified orientation has important implications for our spiritual development, self-remembrance, and the transformation of our personhood into a conduit of Essence.
- from the foreword, written by Russ Hudson, author, The Wisdom of the Enneagram
The Enneagram is a profound tool for self-observation and inner work. While there are plenty of resources on the topic, most Enneagram literature is largely limited to entry-level descriptions of the Nine Types. The Instinctual Drives and the Enneagram focuses on a crucial but misunderstood facet of the Enneagram Typology--our "animal" Instinctual Drives and how they are related to our spiritual nature.
While nearly every school of thought on the Enneagram acknowledges the importance and role of the Instinctual Drives, there's a deep lack of understanding what they actually are, the role they play in personality, and most importantly, their implications for inner work. This book achieves, for the first time, a coherent theory of the instinctual drives based in biology, evolution, and developmental psychology, and it paves the way toward a more accurate view of inner work that directly addresses our animal nature. In so doing, it turns our current understanding of the Enneagram on its head by showing that the personality does not exist in parallel with our instinctual drives, but in reaction to them. In other words, instinct comes first - and one's Enneagram type is nothing more or less than a strategy to fulfill instinctual needs.
This clarified orientation has important implications for our spiritual development, self-remembrance, and the transformation of our personhood into a conduit of Essence.
304 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2021
71 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
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August 15, 2022So John is kind of an asshole who can’t accept that people other than himself might be type 4s and takes pleasure in provoking people such as myself just for the hell of it… admittedly it was initially hard to get past my personal dislike for the man reading this after some unpleasant interactions with him but in all fairness to him I can’t deny that this is an extremely well researched piece of work on the Enneagram and ultimately solidified my understanding of the instinctual drives and confirmed my type. Much more insightful than the current ‘authorities’ on the Enneagram. Which is ironic, considering just how obtuse he can be when interacting with others online about their types. Maybe apply your own theories of ‘being present’ and forgetting ego to your life and your book would be even more credible?
October 4, 2021
I read this twice before deciding to write anything about it. It's good, but also very in-depth, which means a casual Enneagram enthusiast might get buried in it. But that's not who John wrote it for -- he wrote it for not-casual enthusiasts, interested in knowing more about their own social stacking (before now, an area of mass confusion and wrongful interpretations) who also want to DO SOMETHING about it. First, by understanding what's driving them, then by actively attempting to integrate their blind spot, which he reasons will bring the other two into proper functioning.
John has put a ton of thought, research, analysis, and discussion into this result, which is one of the finest subtype evaluations I've ever read. However... the more I read it, the more aware I became that my secondary stacking is hardly up to snuff. The first one is drowning it out so much, I'm not connecting properly through it, and I don't think developing my blind spot will fix that. It's a minor, subjective point. This is a dense book in terms of content (lots of it, and in-depth stuff), but it also has terrific extended subtype descriptions. Bottom line? If you care about the Enneagram, and if you teach it, get this and read it. It will open your eyes not only to those around you, but yourself.
John has put a ton of thought, research, analysis, and discussion into this result, which is one of the finest subtype evaluations I've ever read. However... the more I read it, the more aware I became that my secondary stacking is hardly up to snuff. The first one is drowning it out so much, I'm not connecting properly through it, and I don't think developing my blind spot will fix that. It's a minor, subjective point. This is a dense book in terms of content (lots of it, and in-depth stuff), but it also has terrific extended subtype descriptions. Bottom line? If you care about the Enneagram, and if you teach it, get this and read it. It will open your eyes not only to those around you, but yourself.
December 23, 2024
I own several enneagram books, although this is the only one I’ve read to completion rather than skipping around to the parts that interested me. This one captured my attention because compared to other enneagram books, it is the most insightful, most scientifically backed, and most detailed book on the topic. I wouldn’t recommend if you don’t already know much about the enneagram or are just starting to dip your toes into the topic, but if you have the basic ideas down, this book will give you lots of deep insights and enrich your perspective on your own functioning and the functioning of others.
February 26, 2022
Skip the shallow cults of personality and jump deep
John has wrote a lucid, meaningful and unclouded book on the Enneagram and instinctual drives. The prevalence of the Enneagram since it's entered into popular culture has been both exciting, as new enthusiasts become interested in the ancient system and unfortunately, there's been a haze of misconception and shallow teachings. It is indeed a system OF personality but it offers much more than this, it's a means to achieve inner freedom FROM personality. Through John's work, the impact of type structure is in it's ability to pinpoint ways we are inattentive, unintentional and hemmed by habits of mind and body.
To great effect, the body is brought to focus as central to understanding how individuals develop ego fixations and why instincts are intertwined in the presentation of personality. This is, of course, helpful for finding your Enneagram type but much more, it's meant to open a door to inner work while relaxing into an intentional relationship with instinctual drives.
The dichotomy between essence and personality is dissolved into a greater understanding of how self remembering can find balance between expression of Being and Being itself.
This is a profoundly earnest work in this category. I would not call it psychology although there is fundamental object relations theory to ground it, this is book meant for sincere inner work. The quest for freedom, to be present to ourselves enlivens the conceptual clarifications in every point the author makes.
I found myself quite impacted by the material in a more than intellectual way and I believe that this work, as well as the Enneagram in general, has benefits to achieving and supplementing a fulfilling life. A life that purposes to wake from stagnation, sleep and empty disconnection.
John has wrote a lucid, meaningful and unclouded book on the Enneagram and instinctual drives. The prevalence of the Enneagram since it's entered into popular culture has been both exciting, as new enthusiasts become interested in the ancient system and unfortunately, there's been a haze of misconception and shallow teachings. It is indeed a system OF personality but it offers much more than this, it's a means to achieve inner freedom FROM personality. Through John's work, the impact of type structure is in it's ability to pinpoint ways we are inattentive, unintentional and hemmed by habits of mind and body.
To great effect, the body is brought to focus as central to understanding how individuals develop ego fixations and why instincts are intertwined in the presentation of personality. This is, of course, helpful for finding your Enneagram type but much more, it's meant to open a door to inner work while relaxing into an intentional relationship with instinctual drives.
The dichotomy between essence and personality is dissolved into a greater understanding of how self remembering can find balance between expression of Being and Being itself.
This is a profoundly earnest work in this category. I would not call it psychology although there is fundamental object relations theory to ground it, this is book meant for sincere inner work. The quest for freedom, to be present to ourselves enlivens the conceptual clarifications in every point the author makes.
I found myself quite impacted by the material in a more than intellectual way and I believe that this work, as well as the Enneagram in general, has benefits to achieving and supplementing a fulfilling life. A life that purposes to wake from stagnation, sleep and empty disconnection.
November 22, 2021
I've been a fan of the Enneagram for about 10 years now and have been wanting a book that thoroughly addressed the Instinctual drives and subtypes. Now, we have this one, which I fully enjoyed, learned a lot from and continue to reread as reference. Before this, I only had tweets from Russ Hudson to help me navigate the highly polarized views on the Instinctual Drives and subtypes. If you're a fan of the Enneagram and am looking for material that works for both newbies and the knowledgable, get this!
March 17, 2023
This book will need your full attention and is not a book for people who want just a fun regurgitation of the Enneagram types.
In this book, if you are willing to put the time and focus into understanding the material, you will find a different approach to actually using the Enneagram as a tool (rather than you fitting yourself into a "type" and working on being less critical as a "one," for instance--which is nothing more than a superficial bandaid).
I will hopefully get back to this for a more thoughtful, in-depth review, but for now, add this to your "to read" list if you are an in depth student of the Enneagram, or are looking for another perspective on freedom.
In this book, if you are willing to put the time and focus into understanding the material, you will find a different approach to actually using the Enneagram as a tool (rather than you fitting yourself into a "type" and working on being less critical as a "one," for instance--which is nothing more than a superficial bandaid).
I will hopefully get back to this for a more thoughtful, in-depth review, but for now, add this to your "to read" list if you are an in depth student of the Enneagram, or are looking for another perspective on freedom.
Want to read
February 15, 2022I might try this again with a physical copy. The kindle edition has some problems:
- Chapters aren't demarcated(?) in the Kindle edition. Hard to go back to a previous chapter or skip ahead to something referenced.
- All the images/charts/graphics appear at the end of a chapter, even though they're referenced mid-chapter. There is no way to quickly go back to the part of the chapter where an image is referenced.
What I did manage to get through was really interesting, challenging and provoking, so it's a shame the Kindle edition pooped the bed.
- Chapters aren't demarcated(?) in the Kindle edition. Hard to go back to a previous chapter or skip ahead to something referenced.
- All the images/charts/graphics appear at the end of a chapter, even though they're referenced mid-chapter. There is no way to quickly go back to the part of the chapter where an image is referenced.
What I did manage to get through was really interesting, challenging and provoking, so it's a shame the Kindle edition pooped the bed.
September 12, 2022
essential enneagram reading
John has re-educated me on so many aspects of the enneagram. His teaching has helped clarify what has been fuzzy or inaccurate in many popular Enneagram resources. If you’re new or old to the Enneagram, I recommend the same thing: start or re-start here with John’s book.
John has re-educated me on so many aspects of the enneagram. His teaching has helped clarify what has been fuzzy or inaccurate in many popular Enneagram resources. If you’re new or old to the Enneagram, I recommend the same thing: start or re-start here with John’s book.
June 25, 2024
Recommend this book
While this is a dense book on the instinctual drives and The Enneagram, it is packed with useful information for any serious student. The chapters and the subheadings make it very accessible. Plus, the final chapter on awakening is fabulous. I will read it many times.
While this is a dense book on the instinctual drives and The Enneagram, it is packed with useful information for any serious student. The chapters and the subheadings make it very accessible. Plus, the final chapter on awakening is fabulous. I will read it many times.
August 8, 2024
It took me ages to finish this book because there was so much to process, but that's not a bad thing at all, it's just that each paragraph is so rich in information and depth I had to stop and reflect on what I was reading many times. Very insightful and thought provoking. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a deep explanation of the enneagram that actually makes sense.
May 11, 2023
John SLAYED. This is definitely the best enneagram book I’ve read. I’ve been jumping all over the enneagram (partly because of denial, partly because I read so much contradicting information) but the social 2 description called me the f out. Thank you for writing this <3
December 28, 2021
One of the clearest, most helpful books on the enneagram I’ve ever read. It opened my eyes in many ways and deepened the way I view the map that is the enneagram.
August 7, 2023
A lot here to learn.
July 28, 2024
A must-read if you want to delve further into the enneagram.
February 14, 2025
If this book had a really good dose of editing it would definitely be 5 stars.
April 8, 2025
I never understood why people would say that you have to read xyz book at least once in your lifetime, until I read this book.
July 8, 2025
An original book using ancient and modern knowledge. An interesting read on how instinctual drives and ego structure types dictate our identity and our lives.
August 1, 2025
I am definitely going to need to reread this to get the full depth of it. But learning about the instincts was a huge layer to my enneagram knowledge and I'm glad this book was assigned for my class!
October 4, 2022
John Luckovich deserves to be regarded as the leading author on the enneagram.
With insights unseen and untold in any other work available, Luckovich begins by slowly breaking one’s heart and devastating the psychological worldviews of what one believes to be real. He moves on to explain why one’s personal drives are not deserving of faith and devotion, and why instead they produce habits and behaviors that are solely responsible for our self-imprisonment and dissatisfaction. With thorough research and excruciating accuracy, Luckovich reveals how our biological instinctual drives developed through malnourishment and now lead us blindly and desperately to decisions that cheapen the integrity of our soul’s desire. One is left feeling embarrassed, alone, and empty as they come to terms with the ways in which they have been unknowingly lying to themselves, settling for shadows on the wall, and never truly making their own choices – a necessary reckoning with the reality of the apocalyptic psychological and spiritual landscape. However, in a hopeful postlude that has never been provided by another author, Luckovich acts a guide through practices grounded in Gurdjieffian tradition as a pathway back to self-remembering. Practical, encouraging, and constructive, he illuminates the light at the end of the tunnel and instills in the reader a paramount sense of purpose.
Luckovich’s writing is passionately painful, urgent, and sober, while also remaining merciful, loving, and hopeful… with just as much passion. In a time where the enneagram is largely being exploited for an easy profit, Instagram graphics, and Buzzfeed quizzes, John Luckovich reawakens the soul of the symbol with a pressing mission to self-remembering. Approach slowly, take breaks, reflect, keep going – this work is a powerful guide back to oneself.
With insights unseen and untold in any other work available, Luckovich begins by slowly breaking one’s heart and devastating the psychological worldviews of what one believes to be real. He moves on to explain why one’s personal drives are not deserving of faith and devotion, and why instead they produce habits and behaviors that are solely responsible for our self-imprisonment and dissatisfaction. With thorough research and excruciating accuracy, Luckovich reveals how our biological instinctual drives developed through malnourishment and now lead us blindly and desperately to decisions that cheapen the integrity of our soul’s desire. One is left feeling embarrassed, alone, and empty as they come to terms with the ways in which they have been unknowingly lying to themselves, settling for shadows on the wall, and never truly making their own choices – a necessary reckoning with the reality of the apocalyptic psychological and spiritual landscape. However, in a hopeful postlude that has never been provided by another author, Luckovich acts a guide through practices grounded in Gurdjieffian tradition as a pathway back to self-remembering. Practical, encouraging, and constructive, he illuminates the light at the end of the tunnel and instills in the reader a paramount sense of purpose.
Luckovich’s writing is passionately painful, urgent, and sober, while also remaining merciful, loving, and hopeful… with just as much passion. In a time where the enneagram is largely being exploited for an easy profit, Instagram graphics, and Buzzfeed quizzes, John Luckovich reawakens the soul of the symbol with a pressing mission to self-remembering. Approach slowly, take breaks, reflect, keep going – this work is a powerful guide back to oneself.
December 1, 2021
It's not a very large book yet it's still a lot to process. It's packed with so much valuable information that it's worth the time and effort of absorbing as much as possible. I've been re-reading different parts and each re-read helps to further deepen my understanding of the instincts, the Enneagram, and the interplay of both. It's a great illustration of how these matters affect us on both a microcosmic and macrocosmic scale. Most importantly, it goes beyond guidance towards self-awareness and promotes actual healing by way of inner work.
July 15, 2025
This is quite an esoteric read, but is also probably the best book I have EVER read on psychology and spirituality. It’s a shame more people likely wont ever come across this work, but I’m so glad it was recommended to me. Highly recommend to enneagram enthusiasts and anyone who is serious about spiritual development.
November 15, 2021
Excellent, in-depth exploration of a subject that's often misrepresented or not well understood. I will have to re-read it to understand some parts, but it already helped me understand some patterns in my life that I'd been concerned about.
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