The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others in Your Life

This book gives a very thorough and comprehensive exposition of the personality enneagram. There are books on the enneagram that go into details that this book does not, but they do not really stand on their own without a person being familiar with the material in this book. In other words, the other books are at best supplemental to this book. The author had studied the teachings of Gurdjieff, the insights of Claudio Naranjo, the information that the Jesuits have, and some information from the Arica system. The personality enneagram goes into nine personality types and their dynamics with each other. I have found that typing people according to the enneagram has been more useful than other systems, with the possible exception of astrology. But astrology takes longer to truly master and cannot be done as easily without getting the birth information of someone. With the enneagram, I can often make a rapid assessment that helps when I am meeting people to work with them doing hypnotherapy. For instance, with an ennea-six, taking time to check in to what is comfortable repeatedly makes them few secure and they relax and open up. The same behavior would make an ennea-eight very annoyed, since they take this same behavior as meaning I am weak and am trying to make them dependant on me. With an ennea-eight, being confrontative feels to them that I am honest and am putting all my cards on the table, and they start opening up and relaxing. But if the same thing was done with an ennea-six, they would panic and run out the door. In a similar way, each type responds ideally to a specific approach. There are some things that are only suggestive in this book and is gone more into detail in other books. Although not part of the enneagram, THE FOURTH WAY by Ouspensky goes into some detailed Sufi training material that is necessary to understand some of the charts that Helen Palmer has. The division of the human into the thinking center, higher and lower emotional center, moving center, sex center, and other centers is developed in this book. The directions of growth and degeneration are gone into more detail in the Riso books. The original Arica system gones into more detail on how the nine types evolve within certain exercises based on the number nine. The main point I differ with in some of the older enneagram books is that I do not feel that all types are pure types. I feel that some people shuttle between two or three enneagram points and are not easily reducible to one. I have found that sometimes when people are going through a lot of fear, they appear to be like ennea-six types even for a whole year, before falling back to their more usual style. I prefer these days to just type the enneagram strategy of the moment, rather than worry about typing people in a more enduring way. It seems, too, that some people shift their type sometimes. The other thing to mention is that there are more enneagrams than the personality enneagram. Alt

Here's a book that people seeking happiness in their careers should definitely read. It's the first step for career planning.Palmer gives clear, concise explanations of an intricate personality system making reading intriguing and exciting. Her understanding of the delicate nuances of the types makes her a trustworthy and solid guide. Additionally, she is particularly respectful to the limitations of categorizing people and avoids any hint of such. We wouldn't expect anything less from this top expert of the Enneagram.Part I gives an excellent summary of the theory; including numerous diagrams that define the passions and perspectives of the types. Part II gives explanations of each of the nine types.In particular, presenting the dilemma at the beginning of each chapter immediately gives us insight. If any doubt surfaced about where you fit in the Enneagram world her descriptions of the dilemmas clearly helps us understand ourselves, bringing a deep comfort. Palmer also provides a unique blend of personality characteristics and psychological perspectives. Such topics as major issues, intimate relating patterns and intuitive style are covered. Most importantly much of her knowledge and insights were gathered from twelve years of interviewing thousands of students learning the work.And all of these details are why Helen Palmer's book is so crucial to our development. Those wanting greater love in their relationships will find the book meaningful. Those in transition in love or career will find great insight into their desires and strengths. Whether we apply the understanding of personality to our professional or personal lives it is a benefit. While most of our time is spent in some type of relationship, it's amazing that discovering who we are is not a mandatory course. This book clearly would be the required reading. Helen Palmer has written the bible of the Enneagram -- a first choice for anyone desiring deeper self-understanding.

This audio series offers an incredible description of both the enneagram and the nine different survival types. I've read a lot on the subject and have not seen anything this comprehensive to date. Plus, being audio, makes a fantastic way to pass the time commuting, working, walking, whatever.

I first read this book in 1997 and it was life changing as I discovered that I wasn't so strange after all, but rather one of many. Being an Enneagram type 8, I for the first time understood what coaches, teachers and friends had been trying to tell me for years. Helen Palmer's book helped me for the first time develop an empathy for how others view me and the rest of the world. I've now read at least 8 texts on the enneagram and attended the first International Enneagram Conference in Chicago in 1997. I always choose this book to introduce people to the enneagram. Other books I've read, including the later version of Helen Palmer's, are too objective and practical to impart the understanding and empathy for the types that this book conveys. I've enjoyed all the other books and they've had value, but always start with this one so as to not miss the beauty and warmth of the enneagram.