Rating: 
Summary: The Best Personality Typology Bar None!
Review: The Enneagram is a typology I have been studying and applying for several years now. Although there are several very good books out by other Enneagram authors, Riso offers, overall, the most insightful and comprehensive information available on the Enneagram in a single publication. He was one of the chief pioneers in bringing the Enneagram to the mainstream. His writing style is precise, yet so universal, humane, and intelligible, it's inconceivable that any reader would NOT benefit from this book. Understanding the Enneagram's analysis of human motivations and patterns WILL change your life, IF you are ready and willing. If you have an active spiritual life and faith, all the better, because the Enneagram complements and enhances one's spiritual quest perfectly. Other recommended Enneagram authors: Richard Rohr and Helen Palmer. BUT START WITH RISO!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but use it wisely
Review: The main purpose of this book is to type yourself in order that you should know how to become a fully integrated individual. Understanding of the self is one step to self-discovery, but the next step, as the book illustrates, is to move toward one's 'point of integration', to attain one's full potential. To that end 'Character Types' has been heaven-sent for me. It becomes painfully clear that left to ourselves, we attempt to improve in the way which is exactly the opposite of what we really need. As a Four, I was constantly introspecting and obsessing, certain that if I did so long enough I would understand everything. Not until I read this book did I understand that the only way to improve would be to fight my natural tendencies, to become more open to experiencing and to take things easier. This insight, though it sounds small, leaves me indebted to Don Riso for writing a book which was as effective as any 12-step program, and which will be applicable for the rest of my life in setting goals to strive towards.On the other hand, this book should come with some disclaimers. The first is that this book should not be used in rigidly 'typing' other individuals besides yourself. The fact is, no one can ever presume to know what goes on inside another human being, and that natural barrier should be respected. Even if someone exhibits all the signs of a certain type, they should still be respected as the complex people they are, instead of being consigned to a filing cabinet. For people to start saying, "Oh, he's such a typical Five, always reading" is ridiculous, even degrading. For a basic understanding of the many facets of human nature, reading about the other types is fascinating--but that's as far as these descriptions should be taken to apply to real-life individuals and relationships. Also, people should take the type descriptions with a grain of salt. The book is sometimes too specific--these types should be used to describe general tendencies, not specific details within the personality. Just because I am a certain type, that does not mean I cannot be radically different from others who share my type. The world is a wonderfully complex place, and people are the most complex things in it. Sharing some similarities *does not* make us the same. The parental orientations, while interesting to read and perhaps even relevant sometimes, are the equivalent to psychobabble on some level and should also be taken with a grain of salt. The typing of celebrities is completely irrelevant, for reasons already expressed above. Taken all in all, 'Character Types' is a valuable tool toward attaining self-discovery and understanding the means to attain one's full potential. The levels of development are charted at length, and the points of integration and disintegration highlight the manner in which people deteriorate, or more positively, the way they achieve health and integration. It also provides insight into people other than yourself, making it possible to appreciate the differences in each human being. For a book on the Enneagram, look no further than this.
Rating:
Summary: Very well done!
Review: The only thing more I could ask for is an extensive enneagram test. I'll just say that when I found out my type, I was surprised at how much this book said about me! Great for self exploration and understanding, and if you are willing to put the work in, it is the best tool I know to understand others (espcecially "crazy" others).
This book is useful for friends and family as well, even though they might deny your categorization of their personality.
Rating:
Summary: Very well done!
Review: The only thing more I could ask for is an extensive enneagram test. I'll just say that when I found out my type, I was surprised at how much this book said about me! Great for self exploration and understanding, and if you are willing to put the work in, it is the best tool I know to understand others (espcecially "crazy" others).
This book is useful for friends and family as well, even though they might deny your categorization of their personality.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy this book unless you like grief in you life.
Review: This book apparently explains different types of personalities according to the "Enneagram" which basically is a nine point division of human personality traits. The problem I found was that nearly every group had similiarities causing confusion and grief to the reader. I couldn't even find my own personality catagory, it seemed like every division has traits that everybody displays. I'm sure proponents of the book will tell one to look at the "general personality type" but this was no use for me. This is the only book I ever returned here.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!
Review: This book is a "must read"! The book really breaks down the personality types from the healthy to the unhealthy which I found insightful, truthful and very accurate. If you want to gain more insight into your personality and the personality of those around you this book is a very good first step in that direction.
Rating:
Summary: Very Deep and Intersting
Review: This book is one of the best I've ever read. I bought Dicsovering Your Personality Type along with this book. I scored a 26 in my dominant trait (8), and when I read it was like someone has been watching me my whole life. I think I have said or thought just about everything it says typical 8's do. Even back to my childhood and events that shaped and made me an 8, unbelievable! I also picked out exactly what my wife was before she took the test and when she took the test she scored a 28! It was uncanny on how accurate it is. This book makes me want to carry that test around and give it to every person I meet and deal with. Especially if your in a relationship or think you have found someone, but that someone has issues DO NOT PRESS ON until you discover what personality type they are!!!! I tell ya, if I had found this book years ago, I would have been able to spot who is a potential pyscho, especially when coupled with stuff that they went through in the past, they are destined to fall exactly like the book says. Truly is unreal!
Rating:
Summary: Good read.
Review: This book is very descriptive and accurate. It is a good tool to help you learn about yourself and the people around you. According to the enneagram, you are classified under one of nine different types. Each type has sub divisions known as "wings." The book is written in clear simple language and is easy to understand. I highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to learn more about themselves.
Rating:
Summary: Revolutionary and Overwhelming
Review: This book revolutionized my life. Before, I was confused by some peoples' actions. No more. This book is your key to understanding people. It is a key to understanding you. When you read this, you realize what you really do (as opposed to what you think you do) and you realize why you do those hings (as opposed to why you think you do them). I cannot imagine a more useful book. This book will help anyone who will read it. It is the only book I have found that accurately describes personalities. Using this book, I can tell a person's personality. I can predict what they will do. And I can predict why they will do those things. Because knowledge is power, knowing what other people are like, and why, is very important. In fact, its importance cannot be overestimated when on the job. For example, it pays to know the character of your customers. And it pays to know the character of your coworkers... It may take some time to determine your personality. But you should buy it, anyway. In time, you will find your personality. The above gentleman who could not find his personality type, in all likelihood, did not realize that it takes some time to realize who you are. It took me a long time to discover my personality. It takes courage to realize who you really are, as opposed to what you would like to be. But when you do this, and wait patiently, in time you will know yourself. And only when you know yourself can you know others. This book would be worth the cost several times over. Don't pass it by.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent source on the different personality types!
Review: This is an excellent resource for those interested in learning about the different personality types and understanding their behavior. I have read other books on typology, but this book about the Enneagram goes even further. It provides detail on each personality type's "hot buttons", what motivates them, tips on enhancing relationships with the different types, and suggestions on what each personality type can do to develop themselves. What's really interesting is that the different traits and characteristics of each type are categorized so that you are able to determine if someone (or yourself) is healthy, average, or unhealthy. This is valuable information because it's an indicator when you, or a loved one, needs help because it tells you what traits are exhibited when someone is unhealthy or starting to drift towards the unhealthy range. This can happen when someone is under too much stress or for a number of different reasons. As I studied this book, I was easily able to type friends, family members, and myself.
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