People sometimes ask about books to learn more about personality types and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator©. You can buy these titles from Amazon by clicking on the link. Here's my list of recommendations:
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This is my favorite book for those who are just getting started in learning about psychological type. It's easy to understand, has funny cartoons, and includes a short section on Enneagrams, for those who are interested. Renee writes a bit about careers & relationships in her book as well. She includes useful self-improvement tips for each type. |
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A good all-around book on type. It goes farther than Renee's book into relationships, work, and parenting. It has shorter descriptions of the 16 types, but has more information on other topics such as sex, religion, and learning. I believe it should be in every collection. |
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This book specializes in helping people find the right career fit. It's a good resource for those thinking about changing careers or who are trying to decide on a path. The title promises a bit too much: there are no secrets nor perfect careers. I'd also caution people about the job lists for each type. While the Tiegers write that each list is made up of suggestions and is not intended to be comprehensive, some readers have said they can't be a bookkeeper because it wasn't listed for their type, for example. This is not the Tiegers' fault. It comes from the natural human tendency to want confirmation for our decisions. If you want to be a bookkeeper but it's not listed for your type, then go be a bookkeeper! Listen to yourself more than anyone else. The book has interesting stories about each type & why they like their careers. |
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Yeah, it's another one of those sometimes annoying Dummies books, but it's worth it. You probably already have "Parachute." There are lots of career books out there, yet I would put this one at the top for being practical. Even if you're not interested in some of the weirder careers, Marty has good advice on finding a job. Well worth a look. |
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This book by the Tiegers covers relationships. Again, the title is a bit too much, in my view. The interesting thing is they have covered every possible type combination, 136 in all. As I've written elsewhere, I don't think choosing your mate on the basis of type is a good idea. Fall in love first, then when you're in an established relationship, use type to make sense out of your differences. The Tiegers' book covers the joys of each combination well; the frustrations can be off the mark. You might not experience the same things they've written about. |
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A good book on type & work. Each of their books has an introduction to type & descriptions of the 16 possibilities, so much is a repeat of other works. Still, this book goes into more depth on work issues such as ethics, sales, team building, hiring, stress, time management, and goal setting, among others. This book will get you started on trying to figure out your colleagues. The authors include a number of interesting stories to make their points. |
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A good book for those with a greater understanding of type. This book covers much of the same material as Kroeger & Thuesen, yet has other information on things such as meetings, change, stress, exaggeration, and leadership. Jean also covers things from a type bias angle: how our preferences will alter our perceptions of others' actions. |
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Another good book that starts at the beginning, yet covers a lot of ground. Gordon emphasizes teaching & learning styles in the classroom. If you're a teacher, get this book. Gordon also writes about organizations and type. I believe this book is better for those who already have some basic knowledge of psychological type. |
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A quick read, recommended for those heading off to school. It gives some great tips for each type on how to make the most out of your college experience, including study habits, roommates, learning styles, test taking, and stress. |
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And for those who want even more... |
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This book covers the unfamiliar side in each of us: the inferior, or "shadow" function. It'll help you understand when others are having "episodes" when they do things that appear completely abnormal for their personalities. Naomi's book can help you learn more about this poorly understood aspect of psychological type. |
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This is the book by the creator of the MBTI®. While not as up-to-date as some of the newer books, if you are very interested in the subject, you will eventually own this book. Gives some great insights into what went into creating the MBTI. |
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I put this last, because it's so hard to read. Only for those with insomnia or the greatest need to know. On the plus side, this is the book that got it all started. I'm not sure Jung really completely developed his personality theory. As far as I can tell, he did not consider his work on personality to be his most important contribution. Carl might be surprised to learn what has come out of it. |
