Tag: Enneagram

REVIEW: Take Care of Your Friends by Christina Wilcox

REVIEW: Take Care of Your Friends by Christina Wilcox

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

I enjoyed this new Enneagram resource focused on interpersonal relationships. I’m not sure the author did enough with the “six pillars of friendship” to make their inclusion work out. But the rest is great – I loved the early descriptions of all of the types.

The book includes sections on stress/security (called “health levels” which is different than the way other writers/instructors talk about health levels with the Enneagram), triads, stances, and conflict styles. I felt like the author’s descriptions were fresh and not rehashed ways of describing things. I’ve read a lot of Enneagram resources so it really catches my attention when I read something that feels innovative or insightful in a new way. Her approach makes this the sort of book I would read start to finish rather than just pull out my type info and then move on.

If someone’s really interested in digging into the Enneagram, I would start with other resources to help you determine your type. But this would make a nice gift for someone who has done that initial work, knows their type, and wants to apply the Enneagram to their interpersonal relationships. You can pair this with Suzanne Stabile’s The Journey Toward Wholeness which also looks at the Enneagram and relationships.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Enneagram for Teens by Ainsley Britain

REVIEW: The Enneagram for Teens by Ainsley Britain

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Zonderkidz in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This Enneagram book for teens lays out a great introduction of the personality system in an approachable way. The author comes from the Your Enneagram Coach approach to the Enneagram, and this includes religious/faith components.

The type chapters include two narrative examples for the number along with the usual details like core fear, wounding message, core desire, stress/security, etc.. The sections on career and faith were among my favorite parts – I thought the approach to these areas was great.

The writing style and voice here is good. This is a solid introduction for teens who keep hearing about this Enneagram thing and want to know what it’s about in a simple, approachable way. The chapter on my type felt spot on. I was disappointed that the author indicates that an Enneagram “test” could be helpful to readers. My bias is that tests are more often wrong than right. I think that’s even more complicated for teens whose identity and self-reflection is still in development.

I would be comfortable handing this to a teen who wants to start reading about the Enneagram. But I would follow it up with either podcasts by Enneagram-masters or other books rather than suggest teens try a test. I would also caution teens that their self-perception is still in development, so they might hold their ideas of their type loosely while they continue to mature.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great!

 

REVIEW: The Unfiltered Enneagram by Elizabeth Orr

REVIEW: The Unfiltered Enneagram by Elizabeth Orr

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Convergent Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

When I discovered that @RudeAssEnneagram from Instagram was going to have an Enneagram book, I was eager to check it out. I’ve been working on and through the Enneagram for almost 8 years, and I am to the point where basic books are blah, and I’m always on the lookout for something that can help me go deeper.

The beauty of this book is that it covers the “basics” but in what felt like a completely new way. The author has done a brilliant job with both the voice and the technical writing of this book. Her word choices are brilliant and convey some nuances to the different types that make this resource feel fresh. As I read this it reminded me of some of the irreverence and straight-scoop I loved from Millenneagram, but without the f-bombs that could make that book feel at bit abrasive. Reading this felt like standing at the edge of a pool while someone does a cannonball. You are getting aggressively splashed with a lot of truth – both positive and challenging – right in your face.

But while this is pretty direct, the writing is super conversational. There’s a coaching tone to this that I really liked, with encouragement to lean in, dig deep, and do the work. While with most nonfiction books I struggle to keep moving forward because there’s no narrative arc to pull me through, the writing here drew me into chapters of types that are not closely affiliated with me, just to read the author’s insights and observations about all of the types. And with each chapter, the author is there inviting the reader to explore, consider, and reflect.

My only caution is for those who are new to the Enneagram, or who only know about it because they like funny memes on social media. The frank assessment here may be off-putting for those who don’t recognize the need to do the work, who don’t come ready to be emotionally flayed open a bit for their own long-term good.

This is my new go-to recommendation for Enneagram resources. I would  still advise newcomers to start with The Road Back to You. Listening to some podcasts from long-time Enneagram teachers is another great way to start. (You can also see my reviews of other Enneagram resources at the link above.) But once you see the value of studying the Enneagram for personal growth, you are ready for this excellent resource. Highly recommend! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

♥♥♥♥♥+++ = Best of the best!

 

REVIEW: Enneagram Life by Elizabeth Bennett

REVIEW: Enneagram Life by Elizabeth Bennett

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

The full title of this book is Enneagram Life: Personal, Relational, and Biblical insights for All Seasons, and the author has also published a set of 60-day devotionals by type. So this comes from a Christian perspective.

This Enneagram resource was a fascinating read. The structure of the book – assigning content to different life stages – was clever and unique. It’s not often you save the topic of wings, for example, until the end! There are also some references to non-Enneagram things like birth order and introversion/extroversion and gender, but as they relate to the Enneagram, which was interesting. (The gender chapter references only male/female.) I learned a lot from working through this material, although I did stick mostly with my own number rather than reading broadly for each section/chapter.

My favorite section was the chapter on workplace stances. It gave me a fresh perspective on my workplace and co-workers. I will definitely be revisiting that material.

I don’t know that I would recommend this as a starting resource for Enneagram newbies – it includes some higher tier material like subtypes pretty early on. But I think after something like The Road Back to You, this could be a good second book. The author and I seem to both like this idea of starter material vs higher tier information as she has a tiered list of recourses at the end of the book as well.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Gospel for Helpers by Tyler Zach

REVIEW: The Gospel for Helpers by Tyler Zach

Posted on by Jaymie

My YA review scheduled for today turned out to be a bust so instead I thought I would tell you a bit about a new Enneagram devotional I picked up this month. I have reviewed two of Tyler Zach’s previous devotionals in this series, but I have been waiting for it to be my turn – and that time has arrived!

I compared my husband’s copy of the book for his number to mine, and was pleased to see that they were different. This isn’t the sort of deal where every book follows the same outline, wedging in stuff for each type. And the entries I have read so far have been right on target. In fact, I have left each reading feeling  seen, understood, and valued, but also challenged or encouraged in some area of growth. There are spaces at the end of each entry for the reader to answer reflection questions. There’s also a prayer and a suggestion of how to respond to the material for that day.

If you have an Enneagram fan in your life, I think this devotional would make a great gift. There are devotionals for all of the numbers except 5, 7, and 8. I expect we will see those release in 2023.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Story of You Workbook by Ian Morgan Cron

REVIEW: The Story of You Workbook by Ian Morgan Cron

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and HarperOne in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This is a companion workbook for The Story of You, an Enneagram resource from Ian Morgan Cron that released last year. I thought the book was fantastic!

The purpose of the book and the workbook is to examine the stories we tell ourselves (related to Enneagram type) and correct the less functional ones. The author says learning your type is the “appetizer” while transformation is the “main course” and purpose of studying the Enneagram.

While the full book explains the SOAR process for all nine types, the workbook is designed to walk the reader through the process individually.  There are sections of the workbook that briefly address all 9 types alongside the journaling questions.

I appreciate the emphasis on self-awareness with the questions and with the examination of both positive and negative traits. The questions are challenging and made me want to sit down and start writing.

This is absolutely the sort of book where you will get out of it what you put in. If you want to explore the concepts and put the book on a shelf, go with the full book that released last year. But if you want to go toe to toe with yourself to actively pursue personal growth, you want to grab this workbook – and maybe your own journal or notebook – and a dive in.

Occasionally I will consider a workbook like this  and think I’ll read the book from the library and buy the workbook for my personal work. I feel like this approach to the Enneagram lends itself more to having the full book at hand. I think the concepts described and the examples in the book will help workbook users along the way.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Enneatype Five by Liz Carver and Josh Green

BONUS REVIEW: Enneatype Five by Liz Carver and Josh Green

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Fair Winds Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This workbook is based on the work in the authors’ original book, What’s Your Enneatype?, as well as their hugely popular social media posts. The stated goal of this type-based workbook is to give readers an opportunity to live with this material – sit with it, consider the questions, take the recommended actions and reflect on them. The goal isn’t to finish the workbook and set it on a shelf. The questions are self-directed. Readers will get something out of the book based on the effort they put into it.

The content is brief, with several questions after each piece that allow the reader to dig into into each topic. The color scheme and art from the full book carry over into the workbook. Enneagram topics covered include: moves to stress in security, stances, wings, subtypes, relationships with other types, and practices to develop health.

I like the layout of this. I think this is a fantastic resource for folks who want to dig deeper in their number. (With the release of this book, along with the 8 and 3 books, the series is complete.) This could be used in a “devotional” sort of way, although there’s no spiritual content. It could also be used in a journaling practice.

I personally would pick the full book over the workbook for those interested in general Enneagram information. But for those who are certain of their number and want to know “what now?” this could be a great next step.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!

REVIEW: The Gospel for Improvers by Tyler Zach

REVIEW: The Gospel for Improvers by Tyler Zach

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

This is book 5 in the author’s series of devotionals for various Enneagram types. The devotionals for 3s, 9s, 6s, and 4s are already available; you can read my review of the first book, for Threes, here. It looks like *my* book for 2s will be out before the end of this year.

There are 40 days of devotionals in the book. Each day is laid out with the title, a Bible verse, a page or two of devotional thoughts and then a feature called “The Good News for Improvers.” This section ties the general Biblical content or truth to the personality of Enneagram 1s. After that section there is a short prayer, 3-4 reflection questions (with space to write answers), and a response activity.

Review

As with the book for Achievers (3s), I loved the introductory material for this book, especially the caveat that this is “an invitation to be rather than do or improve.” I have a very strong 1 wing, and that statement really connected for me.

As far as general Enneagram content, the devotional addresses moves in stress and security, defense mechanisms, and subtypes. Each devotional ends with resource references which can lead readers to other materials to check out. There’s a lot of material here for readers to dig into. I could see this being something to return to annually as the reader grows in self-awareness and understanding of their Enneagram nuances. This is a “second tier” resource in my opinion as it is for folks who are solidly aware of their number, although it could also be helpful for folks who are trying to discern between two numbers if they could read both versions.

I gave this to my husband to read as he identifies as an Enneagram 1. He read a few of the entries and immediately said he would like to have the whole book to work through. He felt like the content really connected for him in a way that he both felt seen and understood and in a way where he felt the book could help him grow.

We both highly recommend this resource! (You can read more reviews of Enneagram resources here.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Speaking by the Numbers by Sean Palmer

REVIEW: Speaking by the Numbers by Sean Palmer

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and IVP in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The book introduces the Enneagram and the author’s premise and then digs into stances (dependent – 1, 2,6; aggressive – 3, 7, 8; withdrawing – 4, 5, 9). Within the stances sections he talks a little about orientation to time and a lot about repressed centers. From there he talks about the importance of raising repressed centers and ties that into speech-making (teaching, sermons, speeches, etc.). Each stance section includes the text of a speech and tips for speakers in that stance.

Review

This is an interesting approach to the Enneagram and a valuable niche to explore. I’ve not read an Enneagram resource from this angle before. This is definitely a second-tier resource. I would not hand this to an Enneagram novice. This will make more sense to individuals who understand not only their own number but the basics of the Enneagram as a whole. Stance information is helpful, too, although this does provide more information on that level.

This didn’t go as deep as I was hoping when I first asked to read it. Large sections of the book are taken up by the three speeches, one for each stance, that the author includes to show a technique to help raise a certain center. I would have enjoyed this more and gotten more out of it if those speeches had at least been annotated. Even better might have been a lot more shorter examples or even one section of a speech written in three ways to show the difference in how to speak to each stance. An exercise to help readers craft a message that speaks to all three stances would have been invaluable.

Ultimately this feels like a good resource on stances, but only a starting point on growing as a communicator who can think and write to engage every listener regardless of Enneagram type.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good, solid, fine

YEAR IN REVIEW - Best of 2021 for Adults

YEAR IN REVIEW – Best of 2021 for Adults

Posted on by Jaymie

2021 was a tough reading year for me. Between starting a new job, rediscovering an old hobby, and (waves vaguely at a world in chaos), I found it hard to stop doom scrolling and focus long enough to really engage with the sort of reading I usually do. But that doesn’t mean 2021 didn’t have some amazing books that I thoroughly enjoyed. Here are some of my favorites for adults from what I read in 2021:

Best of 2021 – Adult Fiction

Hunt the Stars (♥♥♥♥½)- These books aren’t necessarily in order, but if I had to pick a favorite adult fiction book from last year, I think Hunt the Stars would be the one. It helps that it was one of the last books I read in 2021. But I remember so clearly as I was reading being delighted by the whole story and the characters, and feeling such joy whenever I checked my progress and saw I had so much book still left to enjoy.  This one doesn’t release until this year, but the author is a favorite, so I prioritized this one over some others I probably should have read – and I was not disappointed. If you enjoyed The Consortium Rebellion series or you love romantic scifi, put this one on your list for February 2022. Stay tuned for my full review in February as well.
Capture the Crown – If you’ve read my coverage of the Crown of Shards series, my love of this spin off shouldn’t come as a surprise. You can read my full review here.
The List (♥♥♥♥♥)- My husband pulled me into the Orphan X series a couple summers ago. One of my favorite characters is Joey, who features as the main character in this short story. It was everything I wanted it to be. If the author would ever spin off a series starring Joey, I’d be first in line to pick it up.
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It – This mystery was quirky and different, and I loved it. You can read my full review here. And stay tuned for my review of the sequel, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, which releases February 1st.
To Fetch a Felon – First in a new cozy series from late 2020 with a talking corgi, this was a delight from start to finish. (My blog was even quoted in the “praise for book one” section of the second book!) You can read my full review of book one here and book two here. Cozy fans should NOT miss this series!

Best of 2021 – Adult Nonfiction

All of the Marvels – Again, these aren’t listed in any particular order, but if I had to pick just one favorite nonfiction book from this year, it would be this one. I didn’t expect to love this like I did – the writing is fantastic, and the comics history and stories are fascinating. You can read my full review here.
Reading While Black (♥♥♥♥♥) – I read this one for me, rather than for a blog post, so there’s no review here on the blog. But I will tell you this was FANTASTIC. It was challenging in all the best ways. The writing is engaging and conversational. This is a resource I highly recommend.
The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up – I didn’t read much nonfiction in 2021, and the bulk of what I did read was Enneagram related. You can read my full review of this resource here.
The Enneagram Goes to Church – Another great Enneagram resource from 2021, you can read my full review here.
The Story of You – This was my final review of 2021, so this one might be more familiar to you. You can read the full review again here.