Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery 
asked by noreason on November 9, 2006 12:45 PM
" The Enneagram is an extraordinary framework for understanding more about ourselves. No matter from which point of view we approach it, we discover fresh conjunctions of new and old ideas." So writes Don Riso in this expanded edition of his classic interpretation of the Enneagram, the ancient psychological system used to understand the human personality. In addition to updating the descriptions of the nine personality types, Personality Types, Revised greatly expands the accompanying guidelines and, for the first time, uncovers the Core Dynamics, or Levels of Development, within each type. This skeletal system provides far more information about the inner tension and movements of the nine personalities than has previously been published. This increased specificity will allow therapists, social workers, personnel managers, students of the Enneagram, and general readers alike to use it with much greater precision as they unlock the secrets of self-understanding, and thus self-transformation.
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I approached the enneagram from MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) and this book has been a good companion many times.
The 9 levels of integration/disintegration will help you determine which way you are moving and let you correct your course at crucial moments of your life.
The 9 levels of integration/disintegration will help you determine which way you are moving and let you correct your course at crucial moments of your life.
reviewed by carrots on November 13, 2006 3:24 PM
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The author finds fault with the traditional types of personality categorization systems because he claims they only look for abnormal behaviors and are too narrow and abstract.
He claims that there are nine basic personality types which themselves stem from an even more basic type. These types are:
1. the feeling type: motivator helper, and individualist
2. The instinctive type: peacemaker, leader, and reformer
3. The thinking type: investigator, loyalist, and ... forgot that one.
He gives no explanation as to why his view is correct, and why it should be based on the enneagram. And his historical overview of that symbol shows it has occult and origins and was used by a conartist to rip people off (but he doesn't say that.) Regardless of why he uses it, he is wrong in his conclusions. As one reviewer noted, the personality traits he assigns to these so called personality types are applicable to other personality types. I can go into great detail about this but I don't want ot melt anyones brain. The point is, his view is no better than a palm reader telling you that you are a charming person at times, sometimes get angry, but you do your best when you are happy. The author's personality type theory is that bad.
Although he does uses some biblical justification for his theory, he, incredibly, says that various negative traits are what make someone a leader or peacemaker, etc.. For example, he claims that peacemakers complacent and want to keep things they way they are. That is absurd. Complancency does not lead to peace and trying to keep things the way they are certainly does not always lead to peace. He even said Abraham Lincoln, a murderous war monger, was a good example of, get this, A PEACEMAKER!
The best part of this book is the historical backround of the enneagram, near the beginning.
He claims that there are nine basic personality types which themselves stem from an even more basic type. These types are:
1. the feeling type: motivator helper, and individualist
2. The instinctive type: peacemaker, leader, and reformer
3. The thinking type: investigator, loyalist, and ... forgot that one.
He gives no explanation as to why his view is correct, and why it should be based on the enneagram. And his historical overview of that symbol shows it has occult and origins and was used by a conartist to rip people off (but he doesn't say that.) Regardless of why he uses it, he is wrong in his conclusions. As one reviewer noted, the personality traits he assigns to these so called personality types are applicable to other personality types. I can go into great detail about this but I don't want ot melt anyones brain. The point is, his view is no better than a palm reader telling you that you are a charming person at times, sometimes get angry, but you do your best when you are happy. The author's personality type theory is that bad.
Although he does uses some biblical justification for his theory, he, incredibly, says that various negative traits are what make someone a leader or peacemaker, etc.. For example, he claims that peacemakers complacent and want to keep things they way they are. That is absurd. Complancency does not lead to peace and trying to keep things the way they are certainly does not always lead to peace. He even said Abraham Lincoln, a murderous war monger, was a good example of, get this, A PEACEMAKER!
The best part of this book is the historical backround of the enneagram, near the beginning.
reviewed by freedrink on November 20, 2006 2:45 PM
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If you are a serious student of the Enneagram this is an important book to own because of the in-depth material on the different levels of each type and the dynamics of how ascent and descent work.
This book also contains good descriptions of each type, but they are often redundant with Riso and Hudson's other books. In other words, it appears there is a lot of recycling of information.
Riso and Hudson are pioneers because they have clinically validated the Enneagram model and mapped various DSM categories to levels and types. There work is credible and I have found it useful in coaching each type as well as for my own personal growth.
If you want a general book on the Enneagram, then I recommend Riso and Hudson's the "Wisdom of the Enneagram" as a better general reference. I also think Sandra Maitri's book, "The Spiritual Dimensions of the Enneagram" is incredible and a necessary compliment to the "Wisdom of the Enneagram" for those who want to go deeper into the spiritual aspects of the Enneagram.
I gave this book a four rating because of the redundancy with their other books and because it is not as well-organized in my opinion as the "Wisdom of the Enneagram." I also think their explanations can be clearer in places and that they do a better job in less space in describing the types in the "Wisdom of the Enneagram" as well.
This book also contains good descriptions of each type, but they are often redundant with Riso and Hudson's other books. In other words, it appears there is a lot of recycling of information.
Riso and Hudson are pioneers because they have clinically validated the Enneagram model and mapped various DSM categories to levels and types. There work is credible and I have found it useful in coaching each type as well as for my own personal growth.
If you want a general book on the Enneagram, then I recommend Riso and Hudson's the "Wisdom of the Enneagram" as a better general reference. I also think Sandra Maitri's book, "The Spiritual Dimensions of the Enneagram" is incredible and a necessary compliment to the "Wisdom of the Enneagram" for those who want to go deeper into the spiritual aspects of the Enneagram.
I gave this book a four rating because of the redundancy with their other books and because it is not as well-organized in my opinion as the "Wisdom of the Enneagram." I also think their explanations can be clearer in places and that they do a better job in less space in describing the types in the "Wisdom of the Enneagram" as well.
reviewed by sandi on November 23, 2006 10:07 AM
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During my divorce, I picked this book up, mostly out of curiosity. In reading the chapters, I ran into a lot of friends and family members. Intrigued, I looked up the chapter in which I suspected my soon-to-be ex-wife resided, and there she was- an unhealty three.
We have experienced several legal dogfights over the years, and the Enneagram information in this book has served as a peerless indicator of what she will do next (will she lie, cheat, connive?, etc). This book has served as a better predictor of her behavior than my attorney, who is neither clueless nor cheap.
The healty, average, and unhealthy demarcations are what chiefly distinguish this book from its rivals. Also nice is the wing information, which explains many reasons that you may not fit exactly into a particular archtype (I'm an 8W7, with so many 7 traits that one or two different responses would put me into the 7 archtype)
This stuff will never replace DSM IV, but it does give you an interesting thumbnail sketch of different personalities. It's also an interesting read, and you'll get a chance to learn a thing or two at the same time.
We have experienced several legal dogfights over the years, and the Enneagram information in this book has served as a peerless indicator of what she will do next (will she lie, cheat, connive?, etc). This book has served as a better predictor of her behavior than my attorney, who is neither clueless nor cheap.
The healty, average, and unhealthy demarcations are what chiefly distinguish this book from its rivals. Also nice is the wing information, which explains many reasons that you may not fit exactly into a particular archtype (I'm an 8W7, with so many 7 traits that one or two different responses would put me into the 7 archtype)
This stuff will never replace DSM IV, but it does give you an interesting thumbnail sketch of different personalities. It's also an interesting read, and you'll get a chance to learn a thing or two at the same time.
reviewed by bulldogs on November 24, 2006 1:26 PM
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Before reading this book, you need to have an open mind that human personality could be scentifically catagorized into types (in this case, 9 main types). On the other hand, the gist this book brings you is much more in-depth than some other popular self-help books such as "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" (i.e., if you denounce those self-help books, this book is not one of those; or if you love those books, you may find this one even better.) In fact, from time to time this book just gets to something so specific that it may echo what is deep in your mind. So be prepared.
If you are ready for the self-discovery journey, welcome to the Land of Enneagram. I believe this is the best book available to guide you through the process.
Warning: one pitfall for reading this book (or the theory in general) is that, it does not really tell you HOW to integrate to become a "better" person. It just tells you what makes you a better/worse person, what remains is your self-determination to drive yourself to be a "better" person (instead of the opposite). Good luck.
If you are ready for the self-discovery journey, welcome to the Land of Enneagram. I believe this is the best book available to guide you through the process.
Warning: one pitfall for reading this book (or the theory in general) is that, it does not really tell you HOW to integrate to become a "better" person. It just tells you what makes you a better/worse person, what remains is your self-determination to drive yourself to be a "better" person (instead of the opposite). Good luck.
reviewed by anexpert on November 26, 2006 3:37 AM