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18th out of 285 books
—
291 voters
Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types
Professor Keirsey is a long time clinical psychologist of the gestalt-field systems school. After 30 years of treating hundreds of teaching, parenting, marriage, and management problems, Dr. Keirsey now challenges the reader to "Abandon the Pygmalion Project", that endless and fruitless attempt to change the Other into a carbon copy of Oneself.
Paperback, 210 pages
Published
January 1st 1984
by Prometheus Nemesis Book Company
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145th out of 411 books
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428 voters
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Another thing about "types" of intellects. I just finished reading a book called Please Understand Me by David Keirsey. It is about the 16 temperament types. Some of what you are describing sounds like the characteristics of a certain temperament, the sensorial judicial --
"When you combine the practical, realistic, fairly cautious aspect of S (sensation) with the determined, closure-seeking aspect of J (judgment), you have a traditionalist, an SJ temperament. The SJ is driven, above all, by her...more
"When you combine the practical, realistic, fairly cautious aspect of S (sensation) with the determined, closure-seeking aspect of J (judgment), you have a traditionalist, an SJ temperament. The SJ is driven, above all, by her...more
Reading this for work--need those learning points
I have been using the 16 types as an analytical social tool for over a decade, as taught by my Jungian-influenced father. The authors here do credit Jung at moments, but they tend to ignore, underestimate, or occasionally outright reject many Jungian principles in favour of other theories. These newer theories and analyses nearly always felt wrong to me, and didn't fit with my empirical understanding of those around me. For those who care, I'm an ENTJ (close to P).
Written in the late 70s, the te...more
Written in the late 70s, the te...more
The follow-up, Please Understand Me II, is the big seller, but this one is almost the same thing. I first read it in high school and still think in terms of extra/introvert, sensing/intuiting, thinking/feeling, scheduling/perceiving.
My particular temperament (INFJ) is one of those who is naturally interested in this stuff, so there's only so much I can say. But it is PROFOUNDLY SATISFYING (especially after a rough time) to look up your own profile and that of others around you and figure out wh...more
My particular temperament (INFJ) is one of those who is naturally interested in this stuff, so there's only so much I can say. But it is PROFOUNDLY SATISFYING (especially after a rough time) to look up your own profile and that of others around you and figure out wh...more
This book presents the concept of personality types and explicates at length about the four main categories of human temperament. The four primary personality types and their various subtypes are explored at some length. Special attention is given to how different personalities relate in the various roles of children, spouses, and leaders. Temperament diversity is shown to profoundly effect how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Religious groups striving to incorporate a wide diversi...more
"I discovered this book in 1981 at local book store. At the time I realized that I didn't have very good insight into myself or the people around me. This book introduced me to the Myers-Briggs personality classification system. After reading this book, I had a better understanding of myself, both my strengths and my weaknesses. My appreciation of people who were different from me grew significantly and I was able to start thinking of them as different rather than ""plodding"" or ""insensitive""...more
Apr 30, 2007
charissa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
if you want to know what vanessa is always talking about
i resisted learning all the ridiculous letters, but i admit that reading it was very interesting... it's good if you like thinking about the way other people are
I read this as a requirement for an Freshamn introductory course in a Christian seminary program in 1979.
As I remember, there was quite a bit of controversy in the class over using the test to 'type' people.
I remember that I significantly increased the furor when I started doing research into the birth dates of the people with the different types in our class and the preceeding one.
My research uncovered that the personality types from this test very closely compare to the personality traits...more
As I remember, there was quite a bit of controversy in the class over using the test to 'type' people.
I remember that I significantly increased the furor when I started doing research into the birth dates of the people with the different types in our class and the preceeding one.
My research uncovered that the personality types from this test very closely compare to the personality traits...more
I first read it in the late 80s, and it has remained one of the most influential books in my life. I've found very few areas of life where it does not apply. It has been most helpful & interesting in interpersonal relationships, professional situations, & understanding a lot of religious & political differences & phenomena among individuals who otherwise share families, cultures, geographic spaces, goals, or interests. It's fascinating. I never tire of discussing it, although I'v...more
I'm a big believer in the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator) and this is a very useful and informative book. I find it to be more clinical and scholarly, but not as warm and accessible as the books on type written by Isabel Briggs Myers who actually pioneered development of personality analysis. Another good series of books along these same lines would be the books from a married couple Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger "Do What You Are" which is about type and work/career, an...more
I read this book and took the personality test in it when I was a teenager. I found the book on my sister's shelf recently and decided to read it again. This whole time I thought I was an ENFJ, but turns out that's what my sister is. I'm an ESTJ. I'd really like to have Lee take the test and see how our personalities compare. If you're wondering what all these code letters mean, you'll just have to read the book. :) I really enjoy books that help me better understand myself and cause me to think...more
This is an excellent book which I read years ago but deserves re-reading. I think Myers-Briggs has been largely discredited by psychologists these days - or at least the science has moved on and there are a number of other indicators that are used as well or instead of this - but as a quick shorthand guide I think the 16 temperament types are invaluable in building teams of people who genuinely see problems from different angles and consequently are able to come up with great solutions.
Elaborate book on the personality types based on the Myer Briggs temperament indicator test (MBIT). The book provides an in-depth discussion of the history of personality typing. Too much back ground information for me. The book also provides a general description of each personality group, namely: guardians, artisans, rationals and idealists. The book further describes four personality types for each group. I found the book "You've got personality" by Mary McGuiness a more interesting read.
Very much like the Myers-Briggs and the Enneagram testing and profiles.
I answered the questions, added up my numbers, looked up my type and was of course stunned at how accurate the results are - once again confirming who I am in the world. I read the whole book and found myself guessing at which of my friends and associates were which combination of types. The teaching and learning sections were really interesting.
I'm an INFP by the way.
I answered the questions, added up my numbers, looked up my type and was of course stunned at how accurate the results are - once again confirming who I am in the world. I read the whole book and found myself guessing at which of my friends and associates were which combination of types. The teaching and learning sections were really interesting.
I'm an INFP by the way.
This is a good book if you are looking for a personality assessment. It is fairly in depth. There are many other good resources I've read on the subject but I would probably choose this one before the others. It is important to remember that these tests tell you one piece of the puzzle that makes up who we are. And it only tells us what we are thinking like now, now whether that is good or bad.
This is a very good beginning read for those who want to know more about Character and personality type. Dr. Keirsey does take a difference approach from the true Jungian and Myers Briggs Type development. Although closely related, his focus in more on the temperament of type rather than the whole type itself. Valaubale for those who want a beginning start to the MBTI and Keirsey Sorter.
A dear friend reintroduced this to me years after I first heard of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Once my interest had been re-piqued, I took the quiz and read the book in one weekend. Introvert or Extrovert? Ruled by iNtuition or Senses? A Thinker or a Feeler? Judger or Perceiver? As an ENFJ, nothing is more gratifying than self discovery. Maybe that's why I love LOVED this book.
For anyone who is familiar with the Myers-Briggs tests this book helps to become more self-aware and to understand people around you. After you answer the questions and count your scores there are Four main Temperaments based on Ancient Greek Mythology and 16th Types that based on four pairs of Preferences. You read your description and the end result is amazing.
XNTJ - what's your sign?
Fun book, one I initially read in a corporate team building class.
Another thing, woman love this stuff. If a woman as taken this
test, you've got a great conversation starter, you don't have to
hope she's a Leo, and it may never
end. For some reason they are fascinated with the categorization
of people.
I really like personality quizzes and this one is the best! It's like a real one and not one you take online and get some cheesy general response at the end. Of course I spent the next few months testing everyone I knew and reading about it. I think there is a lot of truth to the book, I mean it doesn't master your entire personality, but more whether you are an idealist or more traditional. At the very least it is fun to read.
This is a great introduction to the whole theory behind personality testing and personality types. I love that the author is careful to present all types from neutral, positive, and negative angles.
The sequel is also good and goes in more detail behind the theory, but when testing others and reading descriptions aloud, I prefer this version.
The sequel is also good and goes in more detail behind the theory, but when testing others and reading descriptions aloud, I prefer this version.
Guess this was pretty influential book for me because I ultimately did major in Psychology and used a lot of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator in research and experiments. Probably the break from this being a 5 star to a 3 star is taking the Tests and Measurements class to understand the flaws in the MBTI and Keirey Temperament Sorter.
Very interesting and insightful. It relies on the Myers-Briggs typing. It will help me to understand others. I am INTJ. I have always known that I am an introvert, but I wasn't aware of the NTJ part. The book goes into a lot of detail such as mating and temperaments, children in temperament, and temperament in leading. I would recommend this book for people wanting to understand why people behave as they do.
As an INFJ it wasn't until I read this book that I finally felt like someone understood me. Introverts have a difficult time in our extroverted world. Many don't believe I'm an introvert as I display as extrovert - learned behavior - and this book made me cry.
I loved, loved, loved this book.
I loved, loved, loved this book.
while the book merely skims the MBTi types, the four temperaments are a useful reduction. I am, according to Keirsey, an Apollonian, and I found the analysis to supplement well what I have read by Briggs Myers, giving me further insight into how I function.
It's been a while since I've read books on personality types and it's obvious why this one is a classic. The authors walk through Myers-Briggs personalities and how these personalities are expressed professionally, in romantic relationships, in families. Nice to think about from time to time.
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!
*****
"INFJs can intuit good and evil in others, although they seldom can tell how they came to know. Subsequent events tend to bear them out, however."
"[INFJs:] are masters of the metaphor, and both their verbal and written communications tend to be elegant and complex."
*****
"INFJs can intuit good and evil in others, although they seldom can tell how they came to know. Subsequent events tend to bear them out, however."
"[INFJs:] are masters of the metaphor, and both their verbal and written communications tend to be elegant and complex."
4 likes · like · see review
This book is a primer for the Myers Briggs test. By understanding yourself, you can avoid the Pygmalion trap and start appreciating others for who they are.
If you like this book, you might also be interested in other ways to use the Myers Briggs test.
If you like this book, you might also be interested in other ways to use the Myers Briggs test.
Being self-aware and understanding the people around you are two essential components of leadership. This book provides a fantastic framework for understanding and relating to the people around you. I'd recommend this book to anyone!
was skeptical, then amazed at how accurate personality typing actually is. i didnt think it was possible to classify the entire populus into a few catagories, but the proof is in the typing, if one answers the questions honestly.........
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Jun 14, 2009 09:26pm
Dec 27, 2012 08:42pm