Everything Enneagram Book

by Susan Reynolds

Each of us wears our personality like a disguise-but with the Enneagram, you can strip away that mask, and reveal your true self. A timeless tool used by corporate trainers, counselors, and mental health professionals, the Enneagram defines nine basic personality types. Which are you?Evangelical IdealistPeople PleaserKing of the HillCreative SeekerMasterful HermitLoyal GuardianOptimistic DreamerThe DominatorPeaceful LambIn "The Everything Enneagram Book," you'll learn what your type is, how it affects your perception of yourself and others, and how you can use that knowledge to best effect. Author Susan Reynolds' Jungian approach helps you apply the secrets of the Enneagram to your relationships, your work, even your love life. With this engaging, enlightening guide, you'll gain the self-awareness you need to transform every aspect of your life-and become the person you were born to be

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Relationships, Self Help, Reference

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 17, 2007

About the author

Susan Reynolds's most recent book is "Fire Up Your Writing Brain: How to Use Proven Neuroscience to Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Writer." She previously co-authored "Train Your Brain to Get Happy" and "Train Your Brain to Get Rich." Other recent books are "Healthiest You Ever" and "Meditation for Moms." She has also authored "Everything Enneagram, Change Your Shoes, Change Your Life, and co-authored Everything Personal Finance for Single Mothers," and "One-Income Household." Ms. Reynolds is the creator and editor of Adams Media¹s My Hero series, which includes "My Teacher Is My Hero" (2008), "My Mom Is My Hero" (2009), "My Dad Is My Hero" (2009), and "My Dog Is My Hero" (2010). She also edited "Woodstock Revisited, 50 far out, groovy, peace-inducing, flashback-inducing stories from those who were there" (2009). Ms. Reynolds has a B.A. in Psychology and has often written about psychological concepts, as well as edited a plethora of nonfiction books about multiple and varied subjects. In 2002, Ms. Reynolds uprooted her life and spent a year in Paris, reinventing herself, and her career trajectory. Upon return, she founded Literary Cottage, a literary consulting firm based in Boston, through which she coaches writers. Ms. Reynolds currently writes two blogs for mega-trafficked Psychologytoday.com.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prepare to be wowed! Get to know who you really are! Find out why you love/hate what life has to offer you!

Wait, wait, wait...let's not get carried away. I was pretty sure I knew my likes and dislikes before the book told me so. Thanks for that! Oh, but your enneagram never changes, except when it does or you're stressed or you're at your security point or if you feel like you have qualities of a different number or maybe it's a heavy wing or in the bedroom or...really? That narrowed it down for me. Maybe you're reading this and you can tell what number I am. Well, whoop-de-doo, still me.

(Side note: I took four other online enneagram tests from various corners of the internet. My top number from the book only reoccurred once elsewhere. But maybe it's a sign because it did occur twice and that means I'm most likely that number and life is so much better knowing that fact and...gag me.)

In fairness, I didn't read every page, but I read enough to know when to stop.

[Sharon Searles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good, basic review of the enneagram that includes the perspectives of other authors.

[Haelen Haagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to start learning about the Enneagram of Personality, this is the best comprehensive book for beginners.
Totally recommend

[Tayler K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book sitting around since I took the quiz forever ago (not sure exactly when--need to do some digging on that) but had to breeze through the whole thing in one evening because someone else put a hold on it and I finally have to take it back to the library.

I of course read part 1 which includes the quiz and scoring.
Skimmed chapters 2, 3, 4 (Intro, Meet the Enneatypes, Jungian theory)
Read chapters 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 (Dynamics of the Enneagram, Three Primary Instincts, Types 4, 5, and 6)
Skimmed chapters 16, 17, 18, 20 (Wings, 4s in Love, 5s and 6s in Love, Enneatypes at Home)

I'm type 5, but also read about my adjacent types 6 and 4.

I took a lot of notes I can read through more closely later, but I did read the 5 chapter closely last night and it knew me a little too well!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an introduction to Enneagram, this is one is the best I've read so far. Definitely pick it up and discover yourself!

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read, helps make the enneagram types more understandable (since just a bunch of numbers means nothing). It's kind of an addictive pastime to start trying to see these descriptions of people line up to your own behaviors and those of the people around you. A fun pop-psychology diversion, a bit more interesting (and Jungian) than MBTI.

It makes you feel like a Brillist from Ada Palmer's sci-fi universe, wanting to put a number to everyone's personality.

Frustratingly vague on where this elaborate system actually comes from, or why anyone should take it seriously. It was invented by some new-age psychology gurus in the 1970s and sold as a workplace tool maybe? But also, of course there are claims that it is ancient mystical knowledge originating in Greece, complete with mentions of Sufism and kabbalah along the way. I mean, the diagram does remind me a little of the sefirot, but the embarrassing mystical origins assertion was a big turn-off.

[Beverly Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overly simplified overview of the Enneagram. Features splitting of people into categories which mostly pathologise people-we are a mix of good, bad and ugly and hopefully are working towards integration and self actualisation, not just levels of badness and the idealised good level. She erroneously refers to the concept of the ego despite referring to the superego in a succinct way. Just a frustrating read. You’re much better off reading Suzanne Stabile’s Road Back to You as an introductory book and something meatier like Richard Rohr’s works to get a clearer idea of the Enneagram.

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not the most comprehensive guide to the Enneagram, this book is a great starting place for those who are yet to discover their enneatype. I usually only stick to reading in depth about my own type so reading this in its entirety was also a helpful exercise in better understanding my friends and family.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nondescript book about the enneagram. I didn't find anything in here that I haven't found elsewhere.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

#103 of 120 books pledged to read in 2017

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note, my copy was not written by John Waters, but by Susan Reynolds. I'm not sure if there are two versions or if the author is a misprint...

The bias from the author made it nearly impossible to gain any worthwhile information from the book. There were a few informative parts, but most of it was a very biased presentation of the types. Disappointed, and I don't recommend.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book I read about personalities...and I haven't read much in this field

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text is ok, not great, but the personality test at the beginning was the best Enneagram test I've come across so far.

[Tascha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, and there is certainly good information in it, but I'm not convinced...

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

EVERYONE should read this and discover why we act the ways we do!

[Bridgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to the enneagram! I love how detailed it was.

[Jess Dollar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good:
the structure of the book and the tying in with other personality systems
various enneagram experts were quoted frequently, offering different perspectives
Easy to read, somewhat beginner friendly
Not just one person's lens

The not as good:
I felt the type descriptions were too simplistic at times
Types were described in stereotypically negative ways more than I would have liked
Too much focus on behavior rather than ways of thinking
Quiz questions for my type didn't resonate with me at all