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Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything
If the viral Buzzfeed-style personality quizzes are any indication, we are collectively obsessed with the idea of defining and knowing ourselves and our unique place in the world. But what we're finding is this: knowing which Harry Potter character you are is easy, but actually knowing yourself isn't as simple as just checking a few boxes on an online quiz.
For readers who long to dig deeper into what makes them uniquely them (and why that matters), popular blogger Anne Bogel has done the hard part--collecting, exploring, and explaining the most popular personality frameworks, such as Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram, and others. She explains to readers the life-changing insights that can be gained from each and shares specific, practical real-life applications across all facets of life, including love and marriage, productivity, parenting, the workplace, and spiritual life. In her friendly, relatable style, Bogel shares engaging personal stories that show firsthand how understanding personality can revolutionize the way we live, love, work, and pray.
For readers who long to dig deeper into what makes them uniquely them (and why that matters), popular blogger Anne Bogel has done the hard part--collecting, exploring, and explaining the most popular personality frameworks, such as Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram, and others. She explains to readers the life-changing insights that can be gained from each and shares specific, practical real-life applications across all facets of life, including love and marriage, productivity, parenting, the workplace, and spiritual life. In her friendly, relatable style, Bogel shares engaging personal stories that show firsthand how understanding personality can revolutionize the way we live, love, work, and pray.
217 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2017
About the author
Anne Bogel
6 books72.9k followersAnne Bogel is an author, the creator of the blog Modern Mrs Darcy, and host of Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and What Should I Read Next? podcast.
She is the author of My Reading Life: A Book Journal, My Reading Adventures: A Book Journal for Kids, Don’t Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life, I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life, and Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything.
Anne lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, four children, and a yellow lab named Daisy.
She is the author of My Reading Life: A Book Journal, My Reading Adventures: A Book Journal for Kids, Don’t Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life, I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life, and Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything.
Anne lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, four children, and a yellow lab named Daisy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,527 reviews
October 17, 2017
"We are all different-in matters both serious and silly-and discovering those differences is strangely enjoyable. Cynics argue that we're drawn to these simple check-the-box quizzes because we're ill-equipped to deal with the complexity of real life, but I believe this trend points to something more substantial."
This year has unexpected rendered an explosion of ARCs to read, leaving very little time for pleasure books of my choosing. When I saw the opportunity to review a read that was on my "for fun" wish list, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and here we are. I don't read nearly enough nonfiction, as I'm in the walk of life where I'm needing fictional escapes to refill my depleted tank of "ME", but picking up Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything helped me understand the WHY behind that need, along with a multitude of other self realizations I hadn't known I had been searching for. It won't be for everyone, but if this type of stuff interests you I can't imagine finding a better resource out there.
"A big part of learning about personality is learning to make peace with who we are. But if we use personality insights well, we wouldn't dream of stopping there."
I truly believe that the above quote sums up the entire purpose of this book; sure, we want to be able to cope with our quirks and throw up a good defense, but the end goal really is to take it a step further and go on the offensive so that we can thrive utilizing our best traits. Going into this book, you should know that the author has done her research; over the course of multiple years she has utilized some of the most popular and useful resources and condensed what she feels is the most helpful of such into one succinct companion to help you discover and apply the parts you need to know. After reading the introduction and first chapter, it is encouraged to flip through and read the rest of the book in whatever order interests you most; there's no need to just hunker down and absorb in numerical fashion. I really enjoyed the freedom this gave me and found myself skipping back and forth, while also reading certain sections more than once. I'm going to briefly list the table of contents below since I've received a good number of questions wondering what all is covered here; this way you can decide if it contains some of the topics interesting you personally.
Introduction- A Noble Pursuit
1. Understanding My Personality Type
2. Introverts and Extroverts
3. Highly Sensitive People
4. The Five Love Languages
5. Keirsey's Temperments
6. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
7. The MBTI Cognitive Functions
8. The Clifton Strengths Finder
9. The Enneagram
10. How Much Can People Change?
Obviously that's a lot of information and it took me almost 2 weeks to get through it all, but this isn't the type of study that you want to rush through. I was able to learn so many things, like how I'm actually an introvert and not an extrovert (I AM STILL SHOCKED AND SHOOK AND A MESS ABOUT THAT GUYS) and I'm a Highly Sensitive Person (I didn't understand what that actually meant.I thought it was just people who cried at grocery store openings like my mom). Clearly we all can stand to learn a little bit about ourselves, and if you're looking to do so but have no idea where to start and are as overwhelmed as I felt, this is the perfect book for you! Listen, Anne has done all of the hard work for you so that you don't have to sift through all the muck that she did. If you'd like to do the hard thing and look at yourself a little longer than is typically comfortable, give this a try. I can attest that Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything is an eye-opening experience, whether you're just looking to brush up on some of the latest trends or if you need an overhaul on your personality like I did. Highly recommended to all!
*Quick side note- if you haven't had the pleasure of listening to one of Anne's podcasts and hearing her voice, make sure and do that before picking up the book. Imagining her reading this out loud to you just enhances the experience, I promise!
*Many thanks to the author for sending me a signed copy; it now sits on my special signed shelf and sings Nanny Nanny Boo Boo to all who walk past. <3
This year has unexpected rendered an explosion of ARCs to read, leaving very little time for pleasure books of my choosing. When I saw the opportunity to review a read that was on my "for fun" wish list, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and here we are. I don't read nearly enough nonfiction, as I'm in the walk of life where I'm needing fictional escapes to refill my depleted tank of "ME", but picking up Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything helped me understand the WHY behind that need, along with a multitude of other self realizations I hadn't known I had been searching for. It won't be for everyone, but if this type of stuff interests you I can't imagine finding a better resource out there.
"A big part of learning about personality is learning to make peace with who we are. But if we use personality insights well, we wouldn't dream of stopping there."
I truly believe that the above quote sums up the entire purpose of this book; sure, we want to be able to cope with our quirks and throw up a good defense, but the end goal really is to take it a step further and go on the offensive so that we can thrive utilizing our best traits. Going into this book, you should know that the author has done her research; over the course of multiple years she has utilized some of the most popular and useful resources and condensed what she feels is the most helpful of such into one succinct companion to help you discover and apply the parts you need to know. After reading the introduction and first chapter, it is encouraged to flip through and read the rest of the book in whatever order interests you most; there's no need to just hunker down and absorb in numerical fashion. I really enjoyed the freedom this gave me and found myself skipping back and forth, while also reading certain sections more than once. I'm going to briefly list the table of contents below since I've received a good number of questions wondering what all is covered here; this way you can decide if it contains some of the topics interesting you personally.
Introduction- A Noble Pursuit
1. Understanding My Personality Type
2. Introverts and Extroverts
3. Highly Sensitive People
4. The Five Love Languages
5. Keirsey's Temperments
6. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
7. The MBTI Cognitive Functions
8. The Clifton Strengths Finder
9. The Enneagram
10. How Much Can People Change?
Obviously that's a lot of information and it took me almost 2 weeks to get through it all, but this isn't the type of study that you want to rush through. I was able to learn so many things, like how I'm actually an introvert and not an extrovert (I AM STILL SHOCKED AND SHOOK AND A MESS ABOUT THAT GUYS) and I'm a Highly Sensitive Person (I didn't understand what that actually meant.
*Quick side note- if you haven't had the pleasure of listening to one of Anne's podcasts and hearing her voice, make sure and do that before picking up the book. Imagining her reading this out loud to you just enhances the experience, I promise!
*Many thanks to the author for sending me a signed copy; it now sits on my special signed shelf and sings Nanny Nanny Boo Boo to all who walk past. <3
November 22, 2019
Would you believe I never reviewed my own book? Here we are, two years later: I'm a huge personality geek; the insights I've gleaned from personality typologies like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Enneagram, and the Five Love Languages have changed my life.
I wrote Reading People because the personality book I wanted to hand others—one that focused on the WHY and HOW of putting this information to work in your own life, work, and relationships—didn't exist. This book is designed to deliver maximum insight with minimal effort for the reader, encapsulating big empathy boosts in an easy-to-access package.
Reader, I hope you enjoy it and learn from it. Happy reading!
I wrote Reading People because the personality book I wanted to hand others—one that focused on the WHY and HOW of putting this information to work in your own life, work, and relationships—didn't exist. This book is designed to deliver maximum insight with minimal effort for the reader, encapsulating big empathy boosts in an easy-to-access package.
Reader, I hope you enjoy it and learn from it. Happy reading!
July 22, 2017
Because of this book:
1) I have an excuse forever to drink multiple cups of coffee per day. (Thank you extroverted brain.)
2) I found out my husband is an HSP (highly sensitive person) and how to prevent him from getting into the "Overtalked Introvert Danger Zone."
3) Finally confirmed, without a doubt, my Myers-Briggs type. It's ESTJ, BTW ;-)
4) And, found an old copy of StrengthsFinders 2.0 on our bookshelf (Score!), so I can hopefully decide where my career should be headed from here.
I was thrilled to learn Anne Bogel (of the Modern Mrs. Darcy blog and What Should I Read Next? podcast) was launching a book with an overview of the top personality tests and why they've made a difference in her life.
I am obsessed with personality tests. I am constantly analyzing my friends and family members (whether they want to be or not). Even though I've heard of all these typing systems and taken most of them, I didn't know how to learn from the results.
The real gems from this book, in my opinion, are not the overviews of the personality types (though extremely helpful), it's Anne's insights into how that typing system can improve your life and help you along in your journey to personal growth.
I think most people have been forced to take an assessment in a school or job setting, and then thought: "This isn't me!" Anne goes over common user-error issues in taking these assessments.
Also, anyone who thinks personality tests are dumb or dislike being "put in a box" should read this book. Anne systematically debunks both assumptions, and more eloquently than I could ever try.
As they old adage says: When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. This one found me at just the right time.
P.S. I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. And, honestly, I love it!
1) I have an excuse forever to drink multiple cups of coffee per day. (Thank you extroverted brain.)
2) I found out my husband is an HSP (highly sensitive person) and how to prevent him from getting into the "Overtalked Introvert Danger Zone."
3) Finally confirmed, without a doubt, my Myers-Briggs type. It's ESTJ, BTW ;-)
4) And, found an old copy of StrengthsFinders 2.0 on our bookshelf (Score!), so I can hopefully decide where my career should be headed from here.
I was thrilled to learn Anne Bogel (of the Modern Mrs. Darcy blog and What Should I Read Next? podcast) was launching a book with an overview of the top personality tests and why they've made a difference in her life.
I am obsessed with personality tests. I am constantly analyzing my friends and family members (whether they want to be or not). Even though I've heard of all these typing systems and taken most of them, I didn't know how to learn from the results.
The real gems from this book, in my opinion, are not the overviews of the personality types (though extremely helpful), it's Anne's insights into how that typing system can improve your life and help you along in your journey to personal growth.
I think most people have been forced to take an assessment in a school or job setting, and then thought: "This isn't me!" Anne goes over common user-error issues in taking these assessments.
Also, anyone who thinks personality tests are dumb or dislike being "put in a box" should read this book. Anne systematically debunks both assumptions, and more eloquently than I could ever try.
As they old adage says: When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. This one found me at just the right time.
P.S. I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. And, honestly, I love it!
August 8, 2017
First of all, I am typically pretty private with my thoughts on a book unless I really hated it or really loved it. Other than this, I am pretty sure that the world will still spin without hearing my thoughts on someone's writing and creativity (or not). I now know that this is because I am the personality type that I am, which is, depending on what chapter of Reading People you are studying - an INFJ, an Introvert, an HSP...and the list goes on. I am in Human Resources, so it is pretty much in my job description that I need to have an interest in...the Humans...and I do. And I would have told you that I had a pretty fair understanding of personality assessments and all ripple effects of how that makes the human interact with others, learn, deal with stress, emote in general, etc. However, until I read the advanced reader copy of this book, I didn't realize how wrong I was in some of my preconceived notions. Anne breaks this down in such a way that all can understand, even HR people. Additionally, she makes you understand with each chapter WHY this is important to know, and HOW to work with folks that are unlike you - a pretty important thing we need to know in life. If you know of Anne, or her blog Modern Mrs. Darcy, or her podcast (SWOON), What Should I Read Next, you know that the word for Anne's tone is warm. This book is written as if you are already friends with Anne, and she has something really interesting and really informative to tell you. I plowed through it in two days, but have already begun a slow re-reading, and a plan to have the husband learn alongside me our "ways" and how to best connect through, and in spite of, our differences. Grab this book as soon as you can and start understanding those around you in a different and better way than before. Get it for your HR person, maybe. Just do not miss it.
September 26, 2020
I have to say, I was a bit disappointed with this one.
First off, I think to get anything out of this book you need to at least have completed an Myers-Briggs personality test, and also know your Enneagram type (and the types of anyone you wish to understand more). I know the author states that online tests aren't that great at indicating your type accurately, but some of us don't have the time or money to pay to have these tests done professionally. I say this because a good chunk of the book gives information about different types, with the aim of providing a better understanding of yourself and/or people in your life.
That said, there is a lot of information about other personality tests and types, and Highly Sensitive People. So, if you have a strong interest in personality and particularly the personality tests mentioned above, perhaps this is worth checking out. The author includes a lot of examples from her own life to explain some of the subtle differences in personality and why people act they way they do.
But on finishing the book I found myself wondering what the author was trying to achieve. If you don't know anything about MBTI or the Enneagram perhaps this (if not read all in one go) would be a nice, basic introduction. But if you do know about these tests then this would probably not be all that helpful, as while it does give some detailed information, it doesn't go into too much depth. Yet you need to at least have some knowledge of these to get anything out of it at all. See the problem?
As you can probably tell, I feel pretty conflicted about this book. All in all it was well written and a quick read, I just had some problems working out what it was exactly trying to achieve.
First off, I think to get anything out of this book you need to at least have completed an Myers-Briggs personality test, and also know your Enneagram type (and the types of anyone you wish to understand more). I know the author states that online tests aren't that great at indicating your type accurately, but some of us don't have the time or money to pay to have these tests done professionally. I say this because a good chunk of the book gives information about different types, with the aim of providing a better understanding of yourself and/or people in your life.
That said, there is a lot of information about other personality tests and types, and Highly Sensitive People. So, if you have a strong interest in personality and particularly the personality tests mentioned above, perhaps this is worth checking out. The author includes a lot of examples from her own life to explain some of the subtle differences in personality and why people act they way they do.
But on finishing the book I found myself wondering what the author was trying to achieve. If you don't know anything about MBTI or the Enneagram perhaps this (if not read all in one go) would be a nice, basic introduction. But if you do know about these tests then this would probably not be all that helpful, as while it does give some detailed information, it doesn't go into too much depth. Yet you need to at least have some knowledge of these to get anything out of it at all. See the problem?
As you can probably tell, I feel pretty conflicted about this book. All in all it was well written and a quick read, I just had some problems working out what it was exactly trying to achieve.
Read
September 13, 2017Just a disclaimer: this was sent to me by the author, whose podcast I was featured on last October. However, as usual, all opinions are my own and there was no obligation on my part to give this book any rating or review. Huge thanks to Anne for sending me an early copy though!
Now on to what I thought of this book.
Firstly, it's definitely a book that's outside of my reading wheelhouse. You might've noticed, if you've been following me for any period of time, that I don't read a ton of non-fiction, and especially not self-improvement type books. I don't often find non-fiction books that fascinate me enough to spend much time with them, but this one really piqued my interest because it deals with personality and personality assessments.
I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for a good personality quiz. I've taken many: the MBTI, Enneagram, StrengthsFinder and silly Buzzfeed quizzes (all of which Anne covers in different chapters of her book, minus the latter). So to read about how these can be applied to your life and your relationships with other people was super interesting to me. I love getting the results from these assessments, but I rarely do anything with them.
Reading this helped me to see not only how one person has used personality frameworks to change their old habits, but how to build new ones and see the world through new lenses. Though some of it was old news to me, I found many parts to be really illuminating and helpful. Newbies to any of these personality assessments will get a lot of great info to start their journey to better understanding themselves and how they fit into the world around them. If you're at all interested in reading this, I'd say go for it! Not only because you'll be supporting someone who is very invested in the book community, online & offline, but you also may find something that flips the script on how you view yourself or others in your life.
Now on to what I thought of this book.
Firstly, it's definitely a book that's outside of my reading wheelhouse. You might've noticed, if you've been following me for any period of time, that I don't read a ton of non-fiction, and especially not self-improvement type books. I don't often find non-fiction books that fascinate me enough to spend much time with them, but this one really piqued my interest because it deals with personality and personality assessments.
I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for a good personality quiz. I've taken many: the MBTI, Enneagram, StrengthsFinder and silly Buzzfeed quizzes (all of which Anne covers in different chapters of her book, minus the latter). So to read about how these can be applied to your life and your relationships with other people was super interesting to me. I love getting the results from these assessments, but I rarely do anything with them.
Reading this helped me to see not only how one person has used personality frameworks to change their old habits, but how to build new ones and see the world through new lenses. Though some of it was old news to me, I found many parts to be really illuminating and helpful. Newbies to any of these personality assessments will get a lot of great info to start their journey to better understanding themselves and how they fit into the world around them. If you're at all interested in reading this, I'd say go for it! Not only because you'll be supporting someone who is very invested in the book community, online & offline, but you also may find something that flips the script on how you view yourself or others in your life.
September 15, 2017
I love all things personality. I was that teen that bought magazines mostly for the quiz section. What type of friend are you? What career should you get into? I loved it all and not much has changed. If you are new to personality quizzes Reading People is the perfect place to start.
November 27, 2017
What did I learn about my personality after reading Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything? That I hate learning about personalities. (#sorrynotsorry #unpopularopinion)
I have spent so much time trying to figure out my personality, so I thought this book would be the perfect match for me. I preordered it because I was so excited! Once it was released, I saw rave reviews all over #bookstagram about it and I was excited all over again.
All of that to say, I had HIGH hopes when it came to this book. But sadly, it just left me frustrated. I don't feel like it added anything new to the conversation; it was just a compilation of all the information already out there. I still need to go to websites to take the personality quizzes, or buy books or pay money to learn what personality type I am! #ugh. I don't have money lying around to hire a professional to administer the tests to me and then explain my results. So basically, I know just as much now about personality typing as I did when I started.
Also, the examples provided throughout the book were weak at best and mostly about the author and her personal friends and/or family; therefore, very unrelatedable to me. Unless you're the same personality type as Anne Bogel, don't expect to get a lot of insight into your personal type.
Now, if we were to judge a book by its cover, this is a handsdown winner! The cover is gorgeous! I love the colors, especially the shimmering gold. I like the script of the title, and I love the whimsical feel it gives off. Pictures don't do it justice so take my word and seek this one out at a bookstore just so you can get the full effect of it!
Lastly, this doesn't change my opionon of Anne Bogel or her podcast, What Should I Read Next?, in the least! I think she is brilliantly knowledable about books and I find that my #tbrlist has no chance of shrinking as long as she's producing episodes. She is well-spoken and I enjoy listening to her conversations with her guests. I also love her blog, Modern Mrs. Darcy, and find it to have so much valuable information as well (especially the daily links she provides to the best e-book deals of the day).
I wanted to love this one, but I honestly think it's more about me than the book. I think I've finally realized that I'm not all that fascinated with personality assessment. People who are will find this to be a great resource to add to their research and library!
I have spent so much time trying to figure out my personality, so I thought this book would be the perfect match for me. I preordered it because I was so excited! Once it was released, I saw rave reviews all over #bookstagram about it and I was excited all over again.
All of that to say, I had HIGH hopes when it came to this book. But sadly, it just left me frustrated. I don't feel like it added anything new to the conversation; it was just a compilation of all the information already out there. I still need to go to websites to take the personality quizzes, or buy books or pay money to learn what personality type I am! #ugh. I don't have money lying around to hire a professional to administer the tests to me and then explain my results. So basically, I know just as much now about personality typing as I did when I started.
Also, the examples provided throughout the book were weak at best and mostly about the author and her personal friends and/or family; therefore, very unrelatedable to me. Unless you're the same personality type as Anne Bogel, don't expect to get a lot of insight into your personal type.
Now, if we were to judge a book by its cover, this is a handsdown winner! The cover is gorgeous! I love the colors, especially the shimmering gold. I like the script of the title, and I love the whimsical feel it gives off. Pictures don't do it justice so take my word and seek this one out at a bookstore just so you can get the full effect of it!
Lastly, this doesn't change my opionon of Anne Bogel or her podcast, What Should I Read Next?, in the least! I think she is brilliantly knowledable about books and I find that my #tbrlist has no chance of shrinking as long as she's producing episodes. She is well-spoken and I enjoy listening to her conversations with her guests. I also love her blog, Modern Mrs. Darcy, and find it to have so much valuable information as well (especially the daily links she provides to the best e-book deals of the day).
I wanted to love this one, but I honestly think it's more about me than the book. I think I've finally realized that I'm not all that fascinated with personality assessment. People who are will find this to be a great resource to add to their research and library!
October 24, 2018
Anne Bogel is one of the only bloggers I follow religiously. First, I fell in love with her podcast, then I fell in love with her blog.
I am interested in the personality assessments available in the world today to better myself personally. However, sometimes I find that it's too much and too overwhelming to try to remember what "type" you are on the multitude of parameters that exist today. Anne has such a wonderful voice that I knew I had to read this one via audio. I appreciated her generalizations on the major personality assessments out there today. She summarizes the Myers-Briggs, Ennegram, Strengthsfinder and more. She did add in literary references and characters to help frame some of the typing.
Essentially, I found this interesting but not all too helpful. This book is enough of a primer to get you started down the rabbit hole of personality, but doesn't go deep enough to resonate any true retainable value.
I am interested in the personality assessments available in the world today to better myself personally. However, sometimes I find that it's too much and too overwhelming to try to remember what "type" you are on the multitude of parameters that exist today. Anne has such a wonderful voice that I knew I had to read this one via audio. I appreciated her generalizations on the major personality assessments out there today. She summarizes the Myers-Briggs, Ennegram, Strengthsfinder and more. She did add in literary references and characters to help frame some of the typing.
Essentially, I found this interesting but not all too helpful. This book is enough of a primer to get you started down the rabbit hole of personality, but doesn't go deep enough to resonate any true retainable value.
February 6, 2021
I love everything Anne Bogel. She is so wise and full of knowledge on personality, learning and best of all- reading!
I am a weekly listener to her podcast, so knew I needed to read this book while listening on audio. She did not disappoint.
This book gave me practical information on personality and the things that make me who I am.
If you are interested in anything related to personality- read this!
I am a weekly listener to her podcast, so knew I needed to read this book while listening on audio. She did not disappoint.
This book gave me practical information on personality and the things that make me who I am.
If you are interested in anything related to personality- read this!
December 31, 2017
4.5 stars. Allow me to start with a bit of a humble brag: it’s not every day your friend credits you for an entire chapter in her book. (So full disclosure: Anne is my friend and I might be biased…but I really am impressed with this book!)
Yep, Anne says my enthusiasm for the Enneagram is what got her interested in figuring out her type and I’m not sure I’ve ever received a better compliment. More on that below.
Reading People is a fantastic resource and I wish it had been around when I was first looking into various personality frameworks in my early 20s. Anne walks us through several personality type frameworks, giving a basic introduction to each, explaining how to figure out your type, and then, most importantly, what to do with the information.
It’s that latter aspect I could have used help with. I’ve always enjoyed figuring out my personality type. But when I was younger, it seemed like fun or interesting information but not anything that would necessarily change my life. That may be because I was still figuring out who I was, apart from any frameworks.
Anne’s examples and analogies were relatable and easy to understand. It was fun to see what the personality type might be for various literary characters. (I often think about this when it comes to the Enneagram.) I’m especially grateful for the way she unlocked insights into the cognitive functions for MBTI. This aspect of Myers-Briggs has always confused me, even after my MBTI-junkie friend tried explaining it to me a few years ago. But after reading that chapter, I have a better grasp on how my INFJ works.
If you’re friends with me for any length of time, chances are good I’ll bring up the Enneagram. It’s my favorite personality type framework and the one that’s had the most impact on my life. Figuring out I was a Four seven years ago has ultimately made me a stronger, healthier person. I got to vet chapter 9 ahead of time- I’m the Leigh she references- and I really hope Anne’s introduction to the Enneagram gets people more interested in figuring out their type. It’s not always the easiest to figure out your type because you have to own up to your struggles but each type has amazing gifts and gives us a path toward healing and wholeness. It’s completely worth it.
If you’re new to figuring out your personality type or you’re not sure why personality types matter, this is the book for you.
A brief note: Reading People was published by Baker Books, a Christian publisher. If you’re not a Christian, be aware there are some references to faith and Christianity. However, I don’t think it would be an off-putting amount if you’re not religious.
Yep, Anne says my enthusiasm for the Enneagram is what got her interested in figuring out her type and I’m not sure I’ve ever received a better compliment. More on that below.
Reading People is a fantastic resource and I wish it had been around when I was first looking into various personality frameworks in my early 20s. Anne walks us through several personality type frameworks, giving a basic introduction to each, explaining how to figure out your type, and then, most importantly, what to do with the information.
It’s that latter aspect I could have used help with. I’ve always enjoyed figuring out my personality type. But when I was younger, it seemed like fun or interesting information but not anything that would necessarily change my life. That may be because I was still figuring out who I was, apart from any frameworks.
Anne’s examples and analogies were relatable and easy to understand. It was fun to see what the personality type might be for various literary characters. (I often think about this when it comes to the Enneagram.) I’m especially grateful for the way she unlocked insights into the cognitive functions for MBTI. This aspect of Myers-Briggs has always confused me, even after my MBTI-junkie friend tried explaining it to me a few years ago. But after reading that chapter, I have a better grasp on how my INFJ works.
If you’re friends with me for any length of time, chances are good I’ll bring up the Enneagram. It’s my favorite personality type framework and the one that’s had the most impact on my life. Figuring out I was a Four seven years ago has ultimately made me a stronger, healthier person. I got to vet chapter 9 ahead of time- I’m the Leigh she references- and I really hope Anne’s introduction to the Enneagram gets people more interested in figuring out their type. It’s not always the easiest to figure out your type because you have to own up to your struggles but each type has amazing gifts and gives us a path toward healing and wholeness. It’s completely worth it.
If you’re new to figuring out your personality type or you’re not sure why personality types matter, this is the book for you.
A brief note: Reading People was published by Baker Books, a Christian publisher. If you’re not a Christian, be aware there are some references to faith and Christianity. However, I don’t think it would be an off-putting amount if you’re not religious.
September 13, 2017
Too much introspection can be harmful, sure, but as Anne Bogel claims in Reading People, uncovering insights into personality – our own and other people’s – also helps us see the world from someone else’s point of view for a while. It can explain why we have a difficult time getting along with someone, why clutter irritates us so much, why we get our energy from being by ourselves, and so on. It can also improve our relationships – particularly in the way we approach conflict – and gives us the tools we need to create an environment of peace for ourselves and those we love.
On the pages of Reading People, Bogel arms us with easy-to-absorb information, as well as handing us the keys to truly know ourselves and those we love. She gives an overview of several personality frameworks, including:
the Five Love Languages
Keirsey’s Temperaments
the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (and the Cognitive Functions that go along with that)
the Clifton StrengthsFinder, and
the Enneagram
Bottom Line: For anyone who can’t get enough of those personality quizzes that invade social media, this is the book you need to read! If you’ve ever asked yourself, ‘Why does my spouse (or parent or child or friend) do that?’, this is the book you need to read! Reading People by Anne Bogel is conversational, educational, and applicable to everyday life. The frameworks she presents have the potential to be eye-opening and life-changing for those who take the time to truly understand themselves and others. There’s a lot of information here, but Bogel’s engaging style sets you at ease and feels like a chat between friends. While I do wish there had been more time devoted to ‘ok, now I understand myself better – how does that play out in my interactions with other types?’, the author also leaves us with a list of recommended reading for further study. Now that I know what I want to know, this list points me in the right direction to find out what to do with what I know.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
On the pages of Reading People, Bogel arms us with easy-to-absorb information, as well as handing us the keys to truly know ourselves and those we love. She gives an overview of several personality frameworks, including:
the Five Love Languages
Keirsey’s Temperaments
the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (and the Cognitive Functions that go along with that)
the Clifton StrengthsFinder, and
the Enneagram
Bottom Line: For anyone who can’t get enough of those personality quizzes that invade social media, this is the book you need to read! If you’ve ever asked yourself, ‘Why does my spouse (or parent or child or friend) do that?’, this is the book you need to read! Reading People by Anne Bogel is conversational, educational, and applicable to everyday life. The frameworks she presents have the potential to be eye-opening and life-changing for those who take the time to truly understand themselves and others. There’s a lot of information here, but Bogel’s engaging style sets you at ease and feels like a chat between friends. While I do wish there had been more time devoted to ‘ok, now I understand myself better – how does that play out in my interactions with other types?’, the author also leaves us with a list of recommended reading for further study. Now that I know what I want to know, this list points me in the right direction to find out what to do with what I know.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
September 6, 2017
Reading People is the first book Anne Bogel has written, and you guys, it's so good! Anne has long been my most trusted book-recommender (her podcast is amazing and always so fun to listen to!) and one of my very favorite bloggers, so I was thrilled to see her write a book of her own, especially one that is such a marriage of my favorite things! It was a joy to be chosen to join the launch team for this one (heads up, there are affiliate links in this post, and you should know I was sent a free copy to read and review with you all!) -- I was dying to read it anyway.
If you are interested in personality types at ALL, grab this one. I'm serious. If you're curious about the ways that WHO you are affects HOW you are and WHY you are, grab this one. If you like trying to figure people out or better understand yourself, grab this one!
For as much of a personality type nerd I am, there was still SO much I learned in this book, especially about the cognitive functions and deeper levels to the MBTI! I especially loved the Enneagram talk since I'm fascinated by all things Enneagram and can't stop reading/talking about it... But there wasn't a single chapter that didn't teach me something new, help me understand myself a little better, and give me something new to think about.
This one is fun (not heavy at ALL!), delightfully written, conversational, easy to read, and still full of great, helpful information about all kinds of personality aspects.
Hope you all love this one as much as I do!
If you are interested in personality types at ALL, grab this one. I'm serious. If you're curious about the ways that WHO you are affects HOW you are and WHY you are, grab this one. If you like trying to figure people out or better understand yourself, grab this one!
For as much of a personality type nerd I am, there was still SO much I learned in this book, especially about the cognitive functions and deeper levels to the MBTI! I especially loved the Enneagram talk since I'm fascinated by all things Enneagram and can't stop reading/talking about it... But there wasn't a single chapter that didn't teach me something new, help me understand myself a little better, and give me something new to think about.
This one is fun (not heavy at ALL!), delightfully written, conversational, easy to read, and still full of great, helpful information about all kinds of personality aspects.
Hope you all love this one as much as I do!
May 9, 2018
Before reading this book, I had dappled in personality frameworks (I knew my Myers-Briggs type!) and saw the value in learning more about them for nurturing relationships and getting to know yourself better, too. But apart from that, I didn't quite know where to start. This book just so happens to be the perfect leaping-off point!
Parts of this book felt familiar, but the majority of it was new information to me, or cleared up some misconceptions I didn't realize I had (I realized that my understanding of a Highly Sensitive Person was completely wrong ... and more shockingly, that I AM one).
This is a thorough and well-researched book -- the perfect place to start if personality frameworks feels overwhelming to you, and also the perfect book to keep on hand to get all your friends hooked on the benefits of personality frameworks. The fact that Anne Bogel was able to cover so much ground in a 200 page book speaks to her talent of not wasting words, and still writing in an engaging, entertaining way. This is a great book for learning more about how your brain works, and maybe more importantly: why other people's brains don't work like yours. This would be a fantastic book to read and discuss with your friends and loved ones. You just might find yourself starting to appreciate the very thing that used to annoy you about a particular person in your life. My copy is already riddled with notes, I may have to get a second copy solely to lend to friends!
Parts of this book felt familiar, but the majority of it was new information to me, or cleared up some misconceptions I didn't realize I had (I realized that my understanding of a Highly Sensitive Person was completely wrong ... and more shockingly, that I AM one).
This is a thorough and well-researched book -- the perfect place to start if personality frameworks feels overwhelming to you, and also the perfect book to keep on hand to get all your friends hooked on the benefits of personality frameworks. The fact that Anne Bogel was able to cover so much ground in a 200 page book speaks to her talent of not wasting words, and still writing in an engaging, entertaining way. This is a great book for learning more about how your brain works, and maybe more importantly: why other people's brains don't work like yours. This would be a fantastic book to read and discuss with your friends and loved ones. You just might find yourself starting to appreciate the very thing that used to annoy you about a particular person in your life. My copy is already riddled with notes, I may have to get a second copy solely to lend to friends!
September 1, 2017
Full Review on my blog... Reading People | Blog Tour Review!
This is only my first time through... gonna need to go back and spend some more time on a couple of chapters with a pen and notebook once I get my physical copy!
Anne Bogel, of Modern Mrs. Darcy (blog) and What Should I Read Next (podcast) does wonderful job of presenting some of the most common and popular personality frameworks out there right now. Sharing insights from her own journey to figure out how *she* ticks, Anne gives an outline of these frameworks, as well as tools and tips for assessing yourself, and putting that new found information about your personality to work for you!
This is only my first time through... gonna need to go back and spend some more time on a couple of chapters with a pen and notebook once I get my physical copy!
Anne Bogel, of Modern Mrs. Darcy (blog) and What Should I Read Next (podcast) does wonderful job of presenting some of the most common and popular personality frameworks out there right now. Sharing insights from her own journey to figure out how *she* ticks, Anne gives an outline of these frameworks, as well as tools and tips for assessing yourself, and putting that new found information about your personality to work for you!
August 12, 2017
I had the honor of being part of the launch team for this book. I have been a fan of Ann Bogel for years. First with her blog The Modern Mrs Darcy and recently with her podcast What Should I Read Next. I have to be honest and say I struggled with this book. I was halfway through and wondering to myself what I was going to walk away with. Well, let's just say the end did it for me. A realization that knowing myself, the good and the bad, better will only help me. The better I am the better my kids are, my relationship with my husband is and the better I am at my job.
February 9, 2018
This book doesn't teach you how to read people, like the title suggests. It merely states that we all have different personalities, therefore we think differently, therefore we should act accordingly and not expect all people to be like us. There. No need to read the book. That's all it is.
If you've taken ANY entry level Psychology class, you know everything that's in this book. She added nothing new to the topic, so if you're interested in personality just Google it and you'll get the same info. I feel like that's what she did anyway.
The cover, however, is beautiful. :)
If you've taken ANY entry level Psychology class, you know everything that's in this book. She added nothing new to the topic, so if you're interested in personality just Google it and you'll get the same info. I feel like that's what she did anyway.
The cover, however, is beautiful. :)
September 1, 2017
Book covers can say a lot about what is inside them. They can hook you and can cause an auto-reflex I call, have-to- have-this-in-my-hand syndrome, or H2H (Have to have). I walk through a bookshop on a mission. I must. Those pesky covers can stop me cold in my tracks, even if I have walked in with force of mind to go directly to the item of want. The fear of the book police (my wife) compels me to get out before my primal bookish urges cause me to divert, and ultimately walk out more poor in cash, but rich in literature (Do you really need more books?). Having read the digital copy of the book, “Reading People: How seeing the world through the lens of personality changes everything”, I had firm ideas as to what I would write in this review. Then I received the print edition, I found that, although I had already read it, I was compelled to hold it, stare and… smile. This work of non-fiction By Anne Bogel, displays a glass dome at its center containing a rose, set against a blue green backdrop and a gold spine on its edge. The cover sparked additional thoughts and reflections.
Now, having discussed covers, this brings to mind another type of book that hooks. One that can give us some insight into ourselves through tales of others:
Anne Bogel shares her story of learning about herself, from her initial attempts as a teen, later as she matured into a young adult and into the present day as a wife and mother of four. I found her story to be not unlike many. A big part of learning about personality is learning to make peace with who we are.
- Anne Bogel, Reading People
She expresses that in our youth, we think we know who we are and what the world is all about. However, as we engage life (Or it engages us) and meet its challenges, we face the reality of a world not so easily navigated. Some of the ideas she had about herself were not correct and weaknesses were exposed later. In this way she helps the reader understand, perhaps we did not know everything about the world we live in or, more important, everything about ourselves. There are epoch moments in life that can alter our perspectives and give us a paradigm shift. This book is one that can assist you with navigating those shifts. It is suggested that around your thirties is when best to start a deeper dive into this subject matter and if we wish to slay the beast that has caused error, the author suggests, we need to get real with ourselves. The rose Anne Bogel offers is one that will, help you better understand your personality, lead you to perspective on why you are who you are (and perhaps not who we think we are). That rose is delivered in the form of personality frameworks and it is an offer difficult to refuse.
Just like the beast of the fairy tale, we've had to learn to love as well as several other life skills. We cannot do this well without getting to know and understand ourselves first. The Beast had to learn how to confront issues from his past, get to know his true self, grow within his strengths, and understand his weaknesses and how they impact each other. In the fairy tale, once he did work through these things, not without hard work and trial and error, the spell was broken. The author of Reading People shares that this process in real life can be messy.
Thales of Miletus, one of the sages of ancient Greece, put it plainly: "The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself."
- Anne Bogel, Reading People.
Mrs. Bogel further explains, personality frameworks are steps you can take toward a better understanding and knowledge one's self and, even better, she guides you through the weeds of the processes, so to speak. Each framework, The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, StrengthsFinder, and Enneagram are just a few of the toolboxes unpacked. They all are delivered in a manner that easily digestible. If just one of these frameworks are applied honestly and correctly, it is suggested, one can slowly open their eyes into windows of possibility for themselves. As each framework is discussed they are broken out in chapters and you are given further resources to dig deeper.
The Reading People book is not a cure for all that ails you. It is a reference guide of some of the many tools the author has uncovered and used herself, after years of effort. As she explains each, she does so with passion. Anne Bogel is an Author, Blogger and Podcaster. She is well known for her blog, Modern Mrs. Darcy, a Book Club and the podcast, What Should I Read Next. In her podcast she does, “Some literary matchmaking” or as I would describe it, she is a book whisperer. She patiently listens to readers, gains insight into who they are and what makes them tick. She will then suggest titles they might read next. The Reading People book ties neatly with her ability in book matching. Only now instead of helping mediate readers towards getting to know what best suites them in literary pursuits, she mediates in the form of personality frameworks.
Previous to this reading, I had never given much thought to personality frameworks. As you weave your way through this book you begin to see yourself differently, strengths and weaknesses appear in your mind. You may see applications toward resolution to some silly conflicts with a wife or your kids, friends or co-workers. How I respond to criticism, for better or worse is tied to my personality type in the case of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Things started to click. As for myself, I've started thinking before I reacted to external input. I began looking into my own personality type (INFP).
I know this much: when it comes to understanding yourself and others, wishful thinking will get you nowhere. If personality information is going to help you, you're going to have to get comfortable with the true self that lies deep within you.'
- Anne Bogel, Reading People
I've started researching some of the literature offered as a further resource. I have begun to learn more about myself so I can, perhaps, be less of the beast I know I can be at times. I've started a blog as a creative outlet, suggested by my personality type and its needs. Anne Bogle has written a guidebook to help you understand these personality frameworks and practical applications. It is waiting for you, if you are ready. This book is proof that by reading and reflecting on it, we just might deliver new versions of ourselves. The more I have pondered its content, the more the message has resonated.
- Be Well
Reading People: How seeing the world through the lens of personality changes everything. By Anne Bogel will be released September 19th, 2017 from the publisher, Baker Books . You can Pre-Order your copy today for bonus content at www.ReadingPeopleBook.com
Finally, I was provided an advanced reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest feedback. My hope is that, by the words I have shared, you see that I have done just that. I could not say anything less than honestly. I would not sleep well if I did otherwise.
Now, having discussed covers, this brings to mind another type of book that hooks. One that can give us some insight into ourselves through tales of others:
"The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty-first year. If he could learn to love another, and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time."
―Narrator. Beauty and the Beast
Anne Bogel shares her story of learning about herself, from her initial attempts as a teen, later as she matured into a young adult and into the present day as a wife and mother of four. I found her story to be not unlike many. A big part of learning about personality is learning to make peace with who we are.
- Anne Bogel, Reading People
She expresses that in our youth, we think we know who we are and what the world is all about. However, as we engage life (Or it engages us) and meet its challenges, we face the reality of a world not so easily navigated. Some of the ideas she had about herself were not correct and weaknesses were exposed later. In this way she helps the reader understand, perhaps we did not know everything about the world we live in or, more important, everything about ourselves. There are epoch moments in life that can alter our perspectives and give us a paradigm shift. This book is one that can assist you with navigating those shifts. It is suggested that around your thirties is when best to start a deeper dive into this subject matter and if we wish to slay the beast that has caused error, the author suggests, we need to get real with ourselves. The rose Anne Bogel offers is one that will, help you better understand your personality, lead you to perspective on why you are who you are (and perhaps not who we think we are). That rose is delivered in the form of personality frameworks and it is an offer difficult to refuse.
Just like the beast of the fairy tale, we've had to learn to love as well as several other life skills. We cannot do this well without getting to know and understand ourselves first. The Beast had to learn how to confront issues from his past, get to know his true self, grow within his strengths, and understand his weaknesses and how they impact each other. In the fairy tale, once he did work through these things, not without hard work and trial and error, the spell was broken. The author of Reading People shares that this process in real life can be messy.
Thales of Miletus, one of the sages of ancient Greece, put it plainly: "The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself."
- Anne Bogel, Reading People.
Mrs. Bogel further explains, personality frameworks are steps you can take toward a better understanding and knowledge one's self and, even better, she guides you through the weeds of the processes, so to speak. Each framework, The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, StrengthsFinder, and Enneagram are just a few of the toolboxes unpacked. They all are delivered in a manner that easily digestible. If just one of these frameworks are applied honestly and correctly, it is suggested, one can slowly open their eyes into windows of possibility for themselves. As each framework is discussed they are broken out in chapters and you are given further resources to dig deeper.
The Reading People book is not a cure for all that ails you. It is a reference guide of some of the many tools the author has uncovered and used herself, after years of effort. As she explains each, she does so with passion. Anne Bogel is an Author, Blogger and Podcaster. She is well known for her blog, Modern Mrs. Darcy, a Book Club and the podcast, What Should I Read Next. In her podcast she does, “Some literary matchmaking” or as I would describe it, she is a book whisperer. She patiently listens to readers, gains insight into who they are and what makes them tick. She will then suggest titles they might read next. The Reading People book ties neatly with her ability in book matching. Only now instead of helping mediate readers towards getting to know what best suites them in literary pursuits, she mediates in the form of personality frameworks.
Previous to this reading, I had never given much thought to personality frameworks. As you weave your way through this book you begin to see yourself differently, strengths and weaknesses appear in your mind. You may see applications toward resolution to some silly conflicts with a wife or your kids, friends or co-workers. How I respond to criticism, for better or worse is tied to my personality type in the case of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Things started to click. As for myself, I've started thinking before I reacted to external input. I began looking into my own personality type (INFP).
I know this much: when it comes to understanding yourself and others, wishful thinking will get you nowhere. If personality information is going to help you, you're going to have to get comfortable with the true self that lies deep within you.'
- Anne Bogel, Reading People
I've started researching some of the literature offered as a further resource. I have begun to learn more about myself so I can, perhaps, be less of the beast I know I can be at times. I've started a blog as a creative outlet, suggested by my personality type and its needs. Anne Bogle has written a guidebook to help you understand these personality frameworks and practical applications. It is waiting for you, if you are ready. This book is proof that by reading and reflecting on it, we just might deliver new versions of ourselves. The more I have pondered its content, the more the message has resonated.
- Be Well
Reading People: How seeing the world through the lens of personality changes everything. By Anne Bogel will be released September 19th, 2017 from the publisher, Baker Books . You can Pre-Order your copy today for bonus content at www.ReadingPeopleBook.com
Finally, I was provided an advanced reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest feedback. My hope is that, by the words I have shared, you see that I have done just that. I could not say anything less than honestly. I would not sleep well if I did otherwise.
February 27, 2018
This was definitely a fun book. It stays pretty near the surface of things, but it gives a great review of the basics and gives you the language to dig deeper.
It also shook me up in my Enneagramming. I have only recently been interested in the Enneagram and I had thought I found my profile based on the description of the type of person. I read Seven's description and could relate. But reading Reading People introduced me to the idea that Enneagram is not just a profile, like MBTI (which this ENFP loves), but is more about finding your core needs, biggest fears, or motivations. I am getting a sick feeling in my stomach even writing that. Do you want to know why? SEVEN'S CORE NEEDS ARE TO AVOID PAIN AND SADNESS.
Before Reading People, I felt like I was tricked into digging into the Enneagram by just reading some fun things about me. I could relate to this, for instance, from some random website: "Outgoing and spontaneous, you love anything that is new, novel or unusual. You are fascinated by people, places and ideas. Upbeat, positive and optimistic, you naturally cheer up and inspire others. Quick to laugh and make a joke, you easily entertain people. You are also easily entertained..."
That felt MBTI to me. That felt true. That felt happy.
But when I read in Reading People that Enneagram is "based not on external traits but underlying motivations," and that the Enneagram "shows how we're inclined to go off the rails in specific, predictable ways," I froze. WHAT??? I don't want to talk about that.
I already felt like Seven was right, so I thought I better see what Seven's fears are to see if that matches up. But I was (and am!) nervous just thinking about that! I was afraid to look at what my fears might be. It was hilarious (and made perfect sense) when I read that Sevens don't really want to acknowledge pain, fears, and sadnesses. I literally never thought this about myself in my whole life. I never even wondered if I was trying to avoid pain. But Sevens are in flight from pain! Enneagram wants me to acknowledge pain! I don't even want to acknowledge that I don't want to acknowledge pain!
I think it might help other people knowing this about me, too, if I ever annoyingly seem like nothing fazes me. (I don't THINK I seem this way, but just in case. My kids know what fazes me. And none of this means I am a syrupy sweet person. I just might appear like things are OK most of the time. ) More things would faze me if I let them, I guess, but I am too afraid to be fazed for long! Maybe things are OK most of the time, because I can't afford for them not to be! I look for the bright side not because I am this bright person, but because I am afraid what living too long in the dark would feel like. That concept literally terrifies me--that there could be a dark I might live in--and a few days ago I didn't even know this about myself. Maybe I'm afraid to do anything but find the silver lining! I don't feel especially optimistic, but thinking about it now, I might be. I'm guessing that even things that could crush my hopes, don't. I probably just instinctively temper my hopes.
I do believe that belief in God and belief that God is sovereign is a true help to a Seven. I both believe it is true, and depend on it being true, that God is in control and if something is meant to be, it will be. This is not a crutch, because it is the way the world actually works. But I see how I must depend on this truth often.
(Apparently oversharing is not one of my fears.)
It also shook me up in my Enneagramming. I have only recently been interested in the Enneagram and I had thought I found my profile based on the description of the type of person. I read Seven's description and could relate. But reading Reading People introduced me to the idea that Enneagram is not just a profile, like MBTI (which this ENFP loves), but is more about finding your core needs, biggest fears, or motivations. I am getting a sick feeling in my stomach even writing that. Do you want to know why? SEVEN'S CORE NEEDS ARE TO AVOID PAIN AND SADNESS.
Before Reading People, I felt like I was tricked into digging into the Enneagram by just reading some fun things about me. I could relate to this, for instance, from some random website: "Outgoing and spontaneous, you love anything that is new, novel or unusual. You are fascinated by people, places and ideas. Upbeat, positive and optimistic, you naturally cheer up and inspire others. Quick to laugh and make a joke, you easily entertain people. You are also easily entertained..."
That felt MBTI to me. That felt true. That felt happy.
But when I read in Reading People that Enneagram is "based not on external traits but underlying motivations," and that the Enneagram "shows how we're inclined to go off the rails in specific, predictable ways," I froze. WHAT??? I don't want to talk about that.
I already felt like Seven was right, so I thought I better see what Seven's fears are to see if that matches up. But I was (and am!) nervous just thinking about that! I was afraid to look at what my fears might be. It was hilarious (and made perfect sense) when I read that Sevens don't really want to acknowledge pain, fears, and sadnesses. I literally never thought this about myself in my whole life. I never even wondered if I was trying to avoid pain. But Sevens are in flight from pain! Enneagram wants me to acknowledge pain! I don't even want to acknowledge that I don't want to acknowledge pain!
I think it might help other people knowing this about me, too, if I ever annoyingly seem like nothing fazes me. (I don't THINK I seem this way, but just in case. My kids know what fazes me. And none of this means I am a syrupy sweet person. I just might appear like things are OK most of the time. ) More things would faze me if I let them, I guess, but I am too afraid to be fazed for long! Maybe things are OK most of the time, because I can't afford for them not to be! I look for the bright side not because I am this bright person, but because I am afraid what living too long in the dark would feel like. That concept literally terrifies me--that there could be a dark I might live in--and a few days ago I didn't even know this about myself. Maybe I'm afraid to do anything but find the silver lining! I don't feel especially optimistic, but thinking about it now, I might be. I'm guessing that even things that could crush my hopes, don't. I probably just instinctively temper my hopes.
I do believe that belief in God and belief that God is sovereign is a true help to a Seven. I both believe it is true, and depend on it being true, that God is in control and if something is meant to be, it will be. This is not a crutch, because it is the way the world actually works. But I see how I must depend on this truth often.
(Apparently oversharing is not one of my fears.)
April 29, 2020
I'm a big fan of Anne Bogel's podcast, which is about books, but she also references personality frameworks a lot in her episodes. So it's not a surprise she wrote a book summarizing a lot of the frameworks! She covers the basics of extrovert/introvert, the 5 love languages, highly sensitive people, Myers-Briggs type indicators, Strength Finders, and the Enneagram. It's actually thanks to her I just read a whole book on the Enneagram, and this was a nice refresher. This is a great primer and probably does exactly what she meant to do, being just an introduction to all these ideas, but I kind of wish she had gone deeper into each one.
She includes a resources section with recommended reading, so I will probably hit up some of those. Also the end notes are worth reading (I always read them!) because she includes the links to a few free tests for the various frameworks. I immediately took them for fun.
She is very honest about her journey and how difficult it can be to examine yourself honestly, but she encourages people to do it so that a) they don't feel crazy, and b) learning about other points of view can make us more compassionate.
She includes a resources section with recommended reading, so I will probably hit up some of those. Also the end notes are worth reading (I always read them!) because she includes the links to a few free tests for the various frameworks. I immediately took them for fun.
She is very honest about her journey and how difficult it can be to examine yourself honestly, but she encourages people to do it so that a) they don't feel crazy, and b) learning about other points of view can make us more compassionate.
July 31, 2017
I received an advance copy for review purposes and I am so glad I did. Quite simply, I'm a personality quiz addict. INTJ, Enneagram 1, Victor, Slytherin, Acts of Service, Questioner, Strategic. Anne's book embraces the idea of personality frameworks to better know yourself. I've done a lot of self-reflection on the frameworks, especially over the past few years. Reading people has insights that I hadn't considered.
(The chapter on the MBTI Cognitive Functions was completely new to me and eye-opening.)
A fantastic read for people who want to learn more about themselves.
I suspect we're going to see this one again on my top 10 of 2017 list.
(The chapter on the MBTI Cognitive Functions was completely new to me and eye-opening.)
A fantastic read for people who want to learn more about themselves.
I suspect we're going to see this one again on my top 10 of 2017 list.
March 8, 2018
AWESOME book for people who love thinking about personalities and behavior! I love this stuff and I loved the author's interpretation of everything. I listened to it on audio, narrated by the author, but I immediately went to amazon and bought a paper copy. This is definitely a book you want to thumb through, dog ear, highlight and go back and forth!!! I'm also going to need to look further into many of the other books and tests she refers to.
Midway through the book I just smiled and realized - I want to be Anne Bogel's friend :) I connected with so many of her thoughts and felt so strongly that she spoke my language. And that comes from someone who rather occasionally thinks she is speaking a very different language from a lot of people.
I have never thought of myself as an introvert - my personality is big, I'm not shy at all, I'm loud and animated, overly happy and smiley at people, speak my mind too often, and can talk to just about anyone. I love being by myself though and I very regularly need to decompress from people. This book made me realize that at the core - I really am an introvert and sometimes I drive myself crazy trying not to be! I can't wait to dig into this more.
The best advice I will take away from this book - Understand yourself so you know how to care for yourself and your own well being, and at the same time.....understand others!!
Midway through the book I just smiled and realized - I want to be Anne Bogel's friend :) I connected with so many of her thoughts and felt so strongly that she spoke my language. And that comes from someone who rather occasionally thinks she is speaking a very different language from a lot of people.
I have never thought of myself as an introvert - my personality is big, I'm not shy at all, I'm loud and animated, overly happy and smiley at people, speak my mind too often, and can talk to just about anyone. I love being by myself though and I very regularly need to decompress from people. This book made me realize that at the core - I really am an introvert and sometimes I drive myself crazy trying not to be! I can't wait to dig into this more.
The best advice I will take away from this book - Understand yourself so you know how to care for yourself and your own well being, and at the same time.....understand others!!
July 25, 2017
I feel very lucky to be part of the launch team for this fun and insightful book. I'm pretty stingy with 5 star ratings, but I promise that 4 stars means I really enjoyed it. I definitely think it is helpful, while not necessary, to be a follower of the Modern Mrs Darcy website and especially a listener of the What Should I Read Next podcast, to really get into this book. I can definitely hear Anne's voice in my head while I'm reading. And anyway, if you're not listening yet, why not???? I feel like I have told the world to listen to this podcast. Well, unless you don't read, of course. But then what are you doing on GoodReads? This book is an easy read and definitely helped me identify myself in my confusion over what Myers Briggs type I really am, and introduced me to some new ways to look at myself and others. I especially enjoyed the personal examples and the great book references as well as Anne's ability to find humor in her own self exploration. Really enjoyed this book. Now I need to go catch up on her WSIRN podcast and add to my never-ending TBR list.
September 20, 2017
Even though the book is not exactly what I thought it was going to be, it is one of those rare "special" surprises that is actually much better than I thought it was going to be. It is really easy to follow, fun to read and well organized. It would be a good read for readers age 13 and up. It's always good for readers, like me, to learn more about themselves and those around them. I have taken so many of these personality assessments (ENTJ, Moderate, etc.) for my psychology classes but after receiving the results, never really gave them further thought.
I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family and appreciate the opportunity to read and review it (Goodreads win). 4.8
I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family and appreciate the opportunity to read and review it (Goodreads win). 4.8
June 9, 2020
I read and relatively enjoyed Bogel's I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life, so I thought I'd give this one a try (plus it's short!).
And the length is part of the appeal. This is a very brief and simple introduction to the world of personality typing, or different personality systems. I was surprised at how many different methods Bogel had explored.
She sorts the Myers-Briggs types into four different sorts and describes them. She talks about Strengths Finder 2.0. She talks about the Enneagram, particularly The Essential Enneagram, I think. Though I've been eyeing The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth for a while.
Additionally, she references other ideas -- like introverts and extroverts from Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking and love languages from The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. She talks about a fixed vs. growth mindset from Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
She also mentions books like Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture, which I've also been eyeing for a while, and Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence, which I've now added to my list. She also praises Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ, and I'm sure there are other references I'm forgetting.
Overall, it's a neat little intro to the topic, and could spark much conversation. I could see this being a good book for a group discussing psych, relationships, or family dynamics, especially in counseling. Or any church group would do well to study this, as it's written from a Christian perspective, but the author doesn't push too hard on the religious aspects.
And the length is part of the appeal. This is a very brief and simple introduction to the world of personality typing, or different personality systems. I was surprised at how many different methods Bogel had explored.
She sorts the Myers-Briggs types into four different sorts and describes them. She talks about Strengths Finder 2.0. She talks about the Enneagram, particularly The Essential Enneagram, I think. Though I've been eyeing The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth for a while.
Additionally, she references other ideas -- like introverts and extroverts from Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking and love languages from The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. She talks about a fixed vs. growth mindset from Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
She also mentions books like Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture, which I've also been eyeing for a while, and Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence, which I've now added to my list. She also praises Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ, and I'm sure there are other references I'm forgetting.
Overall, it's a neat little intro to the topic, and could spark much conversation. I could see this being a good book for a group discussing psych, relationships, or family dynamics, especially in counseling. Or any church group would do well to study this, as it's written from a Christian perspective, but the author doesn't push too hard on the religious aspects.
August 30, 2017
Raise your hand if you’ve taken a BuzzFeed quiz today? More than one? Yeah, you’re not alone. I hate to admit I might have just taken a quiz titled “Choose Some Baked Goods and We’ll Predict Your Future” because if you know me, you know I love bread more than Oprah. (Don’t worry, I received good results. I’m going to travel the world.) I’m a sucker for those silly little quizzes, and for good reason too. It’s more than wanting to know if my choice in baked goods will lead me to have a good life; it’s wanting to know more about myself and my life.
Anne Bogel’s Reading People goes beyond the silly check-box quizzes to help you deal with the complexity of real life. She explores several of the leading personality frameworks, including Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, Keirsey’s Temperaments, and the 5 Love Languages, to show you how they are set up and interconnected. If you’re looking for a good way to get an overview on these frameworks, this is book for you. Read more to hear my thoughts on this highly engaging read.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of Reading People as part of the Reading People Launch Team, which allows me to give you an unbiased review. Thank you Anne Bogel, NetGalley, and Baker Books. All opinions are my own.)
I’m not going to lie, I consider Anne Bogel my reading spirit animal. She jokingly says she’s just an everyday reader who shares her thoughts on her blog and podcast. But Anne is anything but ordinary. She just gets books. She is so eloquent in her recommendations that I fall for books that I wouldn’t normally pick up. I’ve followed her podcast, What Should I Read Next, since the first few episodes and always come away with at least one new read to add to my TBR. I don’t even want to admit how often I visit her blog over at Modern Mrs. Darcy. So when I heard that she was writing a book, I knew this was one I had to pick up.
Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything takes a look at several of the leading personality frameworks and gives you a basic idea of each of how they are structured. Frameworks like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Keirsey's Five Temperaments, the Five Love Languages, StrengthsFinder, and the Enneagram are shared through the viewpoint of an everyday human being. You don’t have to worry about fancy language, aside from the specific terminology required for the framework. Anne explains what each framework is all about, shares an anecdote or two about her personal experience with the framework, and then shows you how to use it in your life. She doesn’t go completely in detail with each framework, but she gives you enough to get your feet wet so you can decide if you want to dive into the nitty gritty later on.
Not only does Reading People give you a basic understanding of these frameworks, but Anne gives you resources for more information, including a list of books that she found helpful in her exploration on the topics. She also takes the time to explain how these frameworks are interconnected and can be used to complement each other. Before diving into Reading People, I had pieces of the puzzle. I’m an introvert. I am a Highly Sensitive Person that finds noise, decisions, media, and people to be overstimulating. (I feel all the feels all the time, people.) I value quality time over words of affirmation. I’m an INFP. I’m an Enneagram Type 2. I’m an NF Idealist. All of those are great to know, but Anne helps me to put the puzzle pieces together to see the bigger picture. Now I’m beginning to explore how all of these types work together to make me, me. (If you know what any of that means, leave me a comment because I’m dying to chat about all of them!)
I’m a note-taking reader, and I don’t want to admit how many pages of notes I took on Reading People. I know when I go back for a re-read (which will be very soon, I’m sure) that I’ll have these notes to build on as I explore these personality frameworks more in depth. The frameworks help me understand how I am wired, both positively and negatively. They allow me to understand that not everyone has the same personality that I do. Anne explains in the early chapters that personality is simply a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make us unique. Seeing all of the possible personality types illuminated by these frameworks have allowed me to take a step back with my friends and family that I interact with every day. Personality frameworks help us to see beyond the first person to help us understand those we do life with. I understand myself better and then I can work on understanding those around me.
"As you become more aware of the amazing variety of people and experiences, your worldview changes, making you more humble, more open, more aware of the possibilities in each person you encounter."
Anne shows us the possibilities we gain when we take the time to truly understand ourselves and others through these frameworks. They can be applied to the workplace, your church life, your friendships, your relationships, even your kiddos or students. Anne is quick to warn that these frameworks shouldn’t be the absolute definition of who we are.
"My personality isn’t a limiting label; instead, understanding my personality has blown my possibilities wide open."
These frameworks are conversation starters. They are a way to explore how and why you interact with the work they way you do. They are the lenses through which we see the world. They can be the catalyst to a deeper exploration of who you are. They go beyond silly quizzes about bread to help you learn more about yourself and others. Reading People is the perfect place to start if you’re wondering what personality frameworks are all about and if they are worth your time and effort.
Reading People will be available on September 19th. I know, I don’t know if I could wait that long either. I have good new though! If you pre-order your book, you’ll receive some great bonuses including Anne’s class on the reading personalities for FREE! (I’ve taken it, and it gives some awesome book recommendations based on my reading personality. You can find out your Reading Personality here). In addition, you can get a FREE download of the audiobook! After you order, you’ll simply head on over to readingpeoplebook.com to get let them know you preordered, and you’ll have all you need to get your fantastic bonus perks.
TL/DR: Reading People explores several popular personality frameworks, showing you how they work together, in order to learn more about yourself and others.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Anne Bogel’s Reading People goes beyond the silly check-box quizzes to help you deal with the complexity of real life. She explores several of the leading personality frameworks, including Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, Keirsey’s Temperaments, and the 5 Love Languages, to show you how they are set up and interconnected. If you’re looking for a good way to get an overview on these frameworks, this is book for you. Read more to hear my thoughts on this highly engaging read.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of Reading People as part of the Reading People Launch Team, which allows me to give you an unbiased review. Thank you Anne Bogel, NetGalley, and Baker Books. All opinions are my own.)
I’m not going to lie, I consider Anne Bogel my reading spirit animal. She jokingly says she’s just an everyday reader who shares her thoughts on her blog and podcast. But Anne is anything but ordinary. She just gets books. She is so eloquent in her recommendations that I fall for books that I wouldn’t normally pick up. I’ve followed her podcast, What Should I Read Next, since the first few episodes and always come away with at least one new read to add to my TBR. I don’t even want to admit how often I visit her blog over at Modern Mrs. Darcy. So when I heard that she was writing a book, I knew this was one I had to pick up.
Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything takes a look at several of the leading personality frameworks and gives you a basic idea of each of how they are structured. Frameworks like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Keirsey's Five Temperaments, the Five Love Languages, StrengthsFinder, and the Enneagram are shared through the viewpoint of an everyday human being. You don’t have to worry about fancy language, aside from the specific terminology required for the framework. Anne explains what each framework is all about, shares an anecdote or two about her personal experience with the framework, and then shows you how to use it in your life. She doesn’t go completely in detail with each framework, but she gives you enough to get your feet wet so you can decide if you want to dive into the nitty gritty later on.
Not only does Reading People give you a basic understanding of these frameworks, but Anne gives you resources for more information, including a list of books that she found helpful in her exploration on the topics. She also takes the time to explain how these frameworks are interconnected and can be used to complement each other. Before diving into Reading People, I had pieces of the puzzle. I’m an introvert. I am a Highly Sensitive Person that finds noise, decisions, media, and people to be overstimulating. (I feel all the feels all the time, people.) I value quality time over words of affirmation. I’m an INFP. I’m an Enneagram Type 2. I’m an NF Idealist. All of those are great to know, but Anne helps me to put the puzzle pieces together to see the bigger picture. Now I’m beginning to explore how all of these types work together to make me, me. (If you know what any of that means, leave me a comment because I’m dying to chat about all of them!)
I’m a note-taking reader, and I don’t want to admit how many pages of notes I took on Reading People. I know when I go back for a re-read (which will be very soon, I’m sure) that I’ll have these notes to build on as I explore these personality frameworks more in depth. The frameworks help me understand how I am wired, both positively and negatively. They allow me to understand that not everyone has the same personality that I do. Anne explains in the early chapters that personality is simply a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make us unique. Seeing all of the possible personality types illuminated by these frameworks have allowed me to take a step back with my friends and family that I interact with every day. Personality frameworks help us to see beyond the first person to help us understand those we do life with. I understand myself better and then I can work on understanding those around me.
"As you become more aware of the amazing variety of people and experiences, your worldview changes, making you more humble, more open, more aware of the possibilities in each person you encounter."
Anne shows us the possibilities we gain when we take the time to truly understand ourselves and others through these frameworks. They can be applied to the workplace, your church life, your friendships, your relationships, even your kiddos or students. Anne is quick to warn that these frameworks shouldn’t be the absolute definition of who we are.
"My personality isn’t a limiting label; instead, understanding my personality has blown my possibilities wide open."
These frameworks are conversation starters. They are a way to explore how and why you interact with the work they way you do. They are the lenses through which we see the world. They can be the catalyst to a deeper exploration of who you are. They go beyond silly quizzes about bread to help you learn more about yourself and others. Reading People is the perfect place to start if you’re wondering what personality frameworks are all about and if they are worth your time and effort.
Reading People will be available on September 19th. I know, I don’t know if I could wait that long either. I have good new though! If you pre-order your book, you’ll receive some great bonuses including Anne’s class on the reading personalities for FREE! (I’ve taken it, and it gives some awesome book recommendations based on my reading personality. You can find out your Reading Personality here). In addition, you can get a FREE download of the audiobook! After you order, you’ll simply head on over to readingpeoplebook.com to get let them know you preordered, and you’ll have all you need to get your fantastic bonus perks.
TL/DR: Reading People explores several popular personality frameworks, showing you how they work together, in order to learn more about yourself and others.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Read
February 24, 2022It was interesting to learn more about different perspectives on personality, and how you can evaluate yourself (and consequently, the different aspects of your life) through those views. But I didn't particularly find myself retaining as much of the information as I would have liked, and perhaps that had to do with listening to the audio versus reading it physically (or on ebook).
September 19, 2017
About 25 years ago, when I was working at a big web development company in San Francisco, our Creative Director planned a team summit, the centerpiece of which was a Myers-Briggs expert to help us all learn our personality types. I was young and desperately eager to please, so despite the instruction to answer honestly, quickly, and without overthinking it, I (unintentionally) answered most of the questions the way I wished I would answer them. The result? I was identified as an extrovert.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
I have much better grasp on who I am now. I’m an introvert who likes to occasionally get dressed up and try to be the center of attention. I require plenty of downtime to recover from adventures—but if I don’t have adventures once in a while, I grow very pouty and twitchy.
Getting to know ourselves is a lifelong pursuit—and finding ways to understand and really know the people around us is equally vital to developing the kind of relationships that are sustaining, joyful, rejuvenating—and allow us to avoid unnecessary conflict.
This book is a breezy read that could have huge impact on your worldview by helping you understand what your personality needs—and how to interact with other personalities.
You know how Tim Ferriss experiments on himself then shares the results in his books (The 4-Hour Work Week, The 4-Hour Chef)? That’s basically what Anne has done with personality frameworks in Reading People. She’s done the work on herself to deeply understand the various personality frameworks and generously shares her observations, and—BONUS! — Anne’s voice has zero bro-dude attitude and is infused, instead, with tons of charm and encouragement.
The book begins with personal revelations from Annie and a review of the introvert-extrovert spectrum, clearing up some misconceptions about these two biggies of personality, while acknowledging that the int-ent gap might be the biggest divide we must cross to understand each other: ‘If you’re an introvert and you’ve ever had a baffling conversation with an extroverted roommate and thought, My brain just doesn’t work like that, you’re absolutely right. Your brain doesn’t work like that.”
Subsequent chapters of the book dive into the popular personality-typing frameworks—the Five Love Languages, Keirsey’s Temperaments, Myers-Brigs, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram—outlining how each one works and what you can learn from your results. Anne does a really nice job of leading you through the jargon to clearly explain what terms mean so you can apply the concepts to everyday life.
The strength of this book is Anne’s infectious curiosity about how people work—how our cognition and physiology and personality all work together to make us us. Just as Anne doesn’t judge the books on her podcast—instead she plays match-maker, helping people find the books that best suit them—there’s no judgment in in Reading People. Anne helps you assess the results of your personality investigations with openness, thoughtfulness, and insight so you can make the best choices for you.
The last chapter is like the best pep talk ever and examines what we can do with the information we learn from personality tests—can we really change? As Anne explains, personality traits don’t change all the much over time, “but our behaviors are significantly more pliable. Understanding our personalities makes it easier to change the things within our grasp.”
And that is the beauty of Reading People: “When I understand myself, I can get out of my own way.”
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
I have much better grasp on who I am now. I’m an introvert who likes to occasionally get dressed up and try to be the center of attention. I require plenty of downtime to recover from adventures—but if I don’t have adventures once in a while, I grow very pouty and twitchy.
Getting to know ourselves is a lifelong pursuit—and finding ways to understand and really know the people around us is equally vital to developing the kind of relationships that are sustaining, joyful, rejuvenating—and allow us to avoid unnecessary conflict.
This book is a breezy read that could have huge impact on your worldview by helping you understand what your personality needs—and how to interact with other personalities.
You know how Tim Ferriss experiments on himself then shares the results in his books (The 4-Hour Work Week, The 4-Hour Chef)? That’s basically what Anne has done with personality frameworks in Reading People. She’s done the work on herself to deeply understand the various personality frameworks and generously shares her observations, and—BONUS! — Anne’s voice has zero bro-dude attitude and is infused, instead, with tons of charm and encouragement.
The book begins with personal revelations from Annie and a review of the introvert-extrovert spectrum, clearing up some misconceptions about these two biggies of personality, while acknowledging that the int-ent gap might be the biggest divide we must cross to understand each other: ‘If you’re an introvert and you’ve ever had a baffling conversation with an extroverted roommate and thought, My brain just doesn’t work like that, you’re absolutely right. Your brain doesn’t work like that.”
Subsequent chapters of the book dive into the popular personality-typing frameworks—the Five Love Languages, Keirsey’s Temperaments, Myers-Brigs, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram—outlining how each one works and what you can learn from your results. Anne does a really nice job of leading you through the jargon to clearly explain what terms mean so you can apply the concepts to everyday life.
The strength of this book is Anne’s infectious curiosity about how people work—how our cognition and physiology and personality all work together to make us us. Just as Anne doesn’t judge the books on her podcast—instead she plays match-maker, helping people find the books that best suit them—there’s no judgment in in Reading People. Anne helps you assess the results of your personality investigations with openness, thoughtfulness, and insight so you can make the best choices for you.
The last chapter is like the best pep talk ever and examines what we can do with the information we learn from personality tests—can we really change? As Anne explains, personality traits don’t change all the much over time, “but our behaviors are significantly more pliable. Understanding our personalities makes it easier to change the things within our grasp.”
And that is the beauty of Reading People: “When I understand myself, I can get out of my own way.”
July 26, 2017
"The point isn't to trap you in those boxes; it's to organize your behavior in a way that makes sense and helps you understand how the pieces work together, how to find them when you need them, and how to put them to work in pursuit of your best self."
What a fun and informative read from Anne Bogel. I have always enjoyed personality tests and systems so jumping into this for me was already exciting; however, I believe Anne has approached these systems in such a way that those who know absolutely nothing about them will come away informed and excited to dive into their own personalities. She speaks about each framework with the confidence and authority of someone who's done her research, but she never seems patronizing or preachy. If you've ever wondered, "why do I do this?" or "does anyone else act or think like this?" or even "is this normal?!?" then this book is for you. I also love how Anne was so intentional in this book to not only inform readers about these different frameworks and structures but encourage us to use this new knowledge to better ourselves. I think often times people get discouraged by personality tests because they're not "the type that they want" but she reminds us that it's never wrong to be who you are. Buuut, she also doesn't give us permission to stay the same "just because it's my personality" but urges us to do better, and be better!
I would recommend this to almost anyone, but especially those who already love reading - she uses examples of characters from classic literature to help explain some of the personality types (!!!).
P.S. I'm an INTJ, Enneagram 1, and my Strengths Finder 2.0 Top 5 are learner, input, intellection, discipline, and analytical.
September 21, 2017
I first found Anne Bogel when a friend of mine suggested that I listen to her podcast: What Should I Read Next. I was hooked from the first episode, and not only because of Anne's soothing voice and the discussion about all things books and reading, but because Anne really seemed to be able to discern exactly what people wanted in a book, at a deeper level than just "a good story."
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Reading People, and I dove into it right away. In each chapter, Anne tackles a different personality framework (some popular, some less well-known) and argues that by being purposeful about knowing ourselves, we can then learn to better understand people around us. She intersperses science and explanations with experiences from her own life (and some from literature) that illustrate her points.
It's a fantastic book. Very well-researched and supremely readable. She manages to give us a ton of information without overwhelming the reader, and in fact, I felt even more motivated to dive into personalities after I was finished. Especially as I started to make connections to myself and the people I love. I feel like a learned more about myself--especially in her sections about highly sensitive people (which comes down to having a more sensitive nervous system) and I loved the reminder about love languages and how I needed to think about that with my children.
I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone who is interested in how understanding different personality types can help strengthen their relationships.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Reading People, and I dove into it right away. In each chapter, Anne tackles a different personality framework (some popular, some less well-known) and argues that by being purposeful about knowing ourselves, we can then learn to better understand people around us. She intersperses science and explanations with experiences from her own life (and some from literature) that illustrate her points.
It's a fantastic book. Very well-researched and supremely readable. She manages to give us a ton of information without overwhelming the reader, and in fact, I felt even more motivated to dive into personalities after I was finished. Especially as I started to make connections to myself and the people I love. I feel like a learned more about myself--especially in her sections about highly sensitive people (which comes down to having a more sensitive nervous system) and I loved the reminder about love languages and how I needed to think about that with my children.
I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone who is interested in how understanding different personality types can help strengthen their relationships.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
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