[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Adams Media in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary/Structure
The book begins with something of a quiz for readers to help them identify their Enneagram type. Then there’s some introductory and background material before the author dives into a description for each of the nine types (about 5 pages of content per number). Then the book considers the numbers in pairs – Type One with Type One, Type One with Type Two, etc. – in the areas of relationships at home, romantic relationships, and relationships at work.
Review
In a lot of ways, this is an introductory level Enneagram book. There’s a lot of breadth. There’s a brief introduction to the nine types and some of the features of each (wings, stress and security numbers, strengths and challenges). A good portion of the book looks at the numbers in various relationship contexts.
My first concern is with the quiz. Most certified teachers will tell you that tests are notoriously bad at helping people find their true Enneagram Type. In fact, the tests can put someone on the wrong path for a long time, leaving the individual frustrated because their number only sort of fits. (You can find pieces of yourself in all nine types.) The best approach for discovering your number is to listen to some highly respected teachers (The Enneagram Journey Podcast by Suzanne Stabile is my personal favorite.). And then do some reading on the types. (You can see my reviews of other Enneagram resources here.)
My favorite thing about this resource is the author’s exploration of the various triads involved in the Enneagram – stances, or the Hornevian triads; Harmonic triads; Object Relations triads; and then the usual centers of intelligence. In my opinion, these triads are easily second or even third level material on the Enneagram. They can be helpful to beginners, because if someone finds themselves in a particular triad, it narrows their possible type from nine down to three. If they find themselves in a couple triads, they might be able to pin their number down even farther. But most introductory materials don’t dig into anything beyond the centers of intelligence.
I was delighted to find the triads piece in this book, but it is really only touched on. I would love to find a meaty resource that really digs into that level of study, but this is not that resource.
If a beginner asked me where to start, I would still recommend The Road Back to You before any other resource. And for those looking to dig into the types in relationships, I would suggest The Path Between Us. But this is a resource that could also work as an introduction to the Enneagram and to the Enneagram in relationships for those starting to explore their type.
