Rating: 
Summary: Reading this book jerked me back from Hell
Review: Does this sound absurdly melodramatic? I assure you it's accurate. I knew from another source that I was a Four (Romantic), but hadn't really delved into Enneagrams. (I'd been studying Myers-Briggs.) Yet as I leafed through my chapter in Personality Types, I was stunned and mortified to find an assessment of my character so chillingly accurate, it was as if the results of 10 years of intensive psychoanalysis was handed to me on a platter. Dazed, I read on: every single sentence skewered me relentlessly. Self-recognition swept over me in waves, and I furtively glanced around to see if other book store patrons noticed that I was starting to cry. My tears were of relief that through Don Riso's extraordinarily perceptive book I was about to save my own life. I am a Four in a far-advanced state of disintegration, my life so chaotic despite my attempts at self-understanding that I've been on the verge of suicide, or madness, or both. What a revelation....Here are the insights and the help I've spent 5 decades both seeking and avoiding, and thank God, it's NOT too late! I've turned away from a path that would lead to destruction of myself and the lives of my children. And you know what? I've bought tubes of lipstick more expensive than this book. After a TON of work, MY story's going to have a happy ending. Now I have the tools. Thank you, Don Richard Riso!
Rating: 
Summary: Riso and Hudson on the cutting edge
Review: Don Riso and Russ Hudson are to the Enneagram what Linda Goodman was for astrology. This book is interesting, educational, and left me wanting to know more about this fascinating subject.
This is humanistic enneagram at its best. The authors emphasize a healing approach and not the competative applications of enneagram that are out there in print. I'm pretty sure that once mastered enneagram can become a tool for interacting with others. But for the most part I think its incredibly self empowering and a great gift that can be shared among close friends. Anyone that enjoys humanistic psychology, astrology, Jung, self-help and healing will get something valuable out of this book. I also recommend "Discovering Your Personality Type," by Don Richard Riso as a companion to this book. I think its important to take the test, and you'll find that a whole new dimension of understanding the enneagram opens up to you when you see the results. A copy of this test is also available on the Riso Hudson website if you find that you want to save your bookshelf space for more of these authors' ever expanding collection of cutting edge enneagram texts.
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Summary: An insightful, revelatory book about you
Review: Don't let that weird shape fool you. There's nothing mystical or cultish about the Enneagram. While Riso does spend time up front exploring the ancient origins of the shape and its use in various traditions, you can quite easily forget all that (if it unnerves you) and focus on what the Enneagram actually is today: a personality typing model made up of nine categories. They're no more or less mystical than the categories you might get from Freudian or Jungian analysis - indeed, Riso helpfully spends quite a bit of time in later chapters mapping the nine categories to other models and traditions. So why use the shape at all? What it adds, in terms of understanding the nine types, is that it maps the paths of "integration" and "disintegration", i.e. the other personality type each one is likely to edge towards when the person is living at their best, or at their worst. For example, Type 4 integrates to Type 1 through objectivity and self-discipline, and disintegrates to Type 2 through self-absorption and self-indulgence. The best thing about this book is the detailed articulation of the range of healthy, average and unhealthy behaviours each personality type exhibits, plus some insightful analysis on childhood origins and the central problems each confronts. As Riso shows, we generally go about getting what we want in the worst possible way - because it feels like the best possible way - and end up bringing about the very thing we fear the most. For example, Type 7 thinks it will be happy if it gets all it wants, but ends up frustrated, alienated and anxious because it pursues everything to excess. That's good to know, but not very helpful if you don't know how to fix it. Fortunately, Riso has another book - "Practical Guide to Personality Types" - offering excellent recommendations for every type, and some useful tips on how not to misidentify your type, e.g. thinking you're Type 1 when you're actually Type 3, etc. Typing yourself can be tricky, but fortunately there is now a wide range of tests available to help you (many online, so try Googling). I first read this book back in 1989 and have found it immensely helpful over the years. Strongly recommended, if self-discovery doesn't turn your stomach!
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Summary: Most exaustive and ambitious explanation of the Enneagram
Review: Having searched different texts for information about the Enneagram, I finally found this book which gave me something to really sink my teeth into. In some of the texts on the Enneagram, the different names of the nine grams can be negative and communicate a judgement on the type but all nine of the names in Rosi/ Hudson book are both supportive and expressive. This also gives a clear profile of the "shadow side" of each of the types, where we could go if we go to sleep instead of staying awake. This has been the book of the year for me and I read a great deal. I bought eight copies to give to my siblings and best friends. Everyone has been astounded! It is such a relief to feel found and then guided to higher ground.
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Summary: No other Type book has toped this and I've read dozens!
Review: I bought the first edition of this book back in '88 and thought it was a masterpiece. The expanded edition is even better. Simply put, I have not come across a personality discription book that comes anywhere this close to accuracy and honesty. It can be difficult to read. If you give "Personailty Types" a fair chance, it will anger, depress or even horrify you. You will feel like the authors are ilicitly peaking into your soul. With truth can come serious pain. On the other side, no other book I've read also shows you the best qualities each personality holds better than this. "Personality Types" gives INDIRECT adivise on how to improve. It's not a follow-this-formula-that's-supposed-to-fit-all mentality. It's paradoxally simple and complex, easy to read and challangeing. I can't say I know if I actually believe in the Enneagram itself, or simply Riso and Hudson's interpertation of the Enneagram, all I know is I have had some version of this book for tweleve plus years( Over a third of my lifespan ) because I can see the people in my life and the corrolations to the descriptions in the book. Forget Myers-Briggs. astrology and the like...THIS is a masterpiece. Buy it and give it a chance, I can't recommend it more highly. But be warned. As I said, If one wants to grow, there are growing pains.
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Summary: Very Deep and Intersting
Review: I found this book immensely more enjoyable and interesting than Wisdom of the Enneagram. It has much more detailed descriptions of the wings, levels of health, and parental orientation. It's not very spiritual at all, which I consider a good thing--it gives me the facts. However, it doesn't mention variants until the end and doesn't have the questionaires given in Wisdom of the Enneagram. Still, it's worth the money. :-)
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I found this book immensely more enjoyable and interesting than Wisdom of the Enneagram. It has much more detailed descriptions of the wings, levels of health, and parental orientation. It's not very spiritual at all, which I consider a good thing--it gives me the facts. However, it doesn't mention variants until the end and doesn't have the questionaires given in Wisdom of the Enneagram. Still, it's worth the money. :-)
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Summary: Riso is the best source for Enneagram information
Review: I had been discouraged by the vagueness and inconsistencies in Enneagram books by two other authors, when I finally found this book. It took me a while to really get through this book, it is long and detailed. But the strategy of "breadth first" - reading the chapter overviews, and then digging incrementally into the details - made it accessible to even this impatient "seven". Riso could not have done justice to the subject without the thoroughness and depth. Now I keep going back to it for additional insights. The companion books, such as "Understanding the Enneagram" are helpful and accessible too - especially if you need more help making an identification, or want tips on how to work with your strengths and challenges, rather than be trapped by them.
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Summary: This is "The Bible" for Enneagram studies
Review: I have read most Enneagram books published and there is no doubt that this is by far the most insightful and complete explanation of the system. It is logical and intelligent without ever getting boring or overly technical. Any person who reads this book from cover to cover will gain tremendous new insights into themselves and others. I can't recommend this book highly enough, but I want to caution anyone unfamiliar with the Enneagram that it will take some effort on the part of the reader to grasp the system at first. Once that hurdle has been passed, a whole new way to look at the world will be unveiled. This is a book that can change your life. "The Wisdom of the Enneagram", by the same authors, may be a better introduction for a novice to the Enneagram.
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Summary: Best Reference Book
Review: I have researched the enneagram extensively, and this book is the reference. Many other authors only focus on the negative aspects of personality types, but Riso presents a balanced perspective. He also highlights opportunities for growth and maps the Enneagram into other psychological models.
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