The Enneagram Intelligences: Understanding Personality for Effective Teaching and Learning

by Janet Levine

First taught in the United States in 1971, the Enneagram is now used in counseling settings, corporations, university classrooms (including Stanford Business School) and other educational institutions. The Enneagram system is a model of human development which describes nine patterns of personality. Each type is distinct with its own point of view and focus of attention based on nine psychological strategies. Janet Levine, a long-term educator, and with many years experience using the model, has through research and refinement, pioneered an application for educators and students in their quest to facilitate teaching and learning. This is an in-depth description of the system, and a practical guide.

The Enneagram Intelligences pioneers a new field, a study of the impact of personality in education on both teaching and learning styles, and other areas of institutions―for instance, the faculty roles and rewards debate. The Enneagram model describes with great accuracy why we behave the way we do. The book is a practical guide to understanding personality and applying that knowledge in all educational dynamics. Through the words and observations of educators, we gain insight into the Enneagram. We can see and understand the 360 degrees of human possibility, and are no longer limited to our forty degree take on reality. This liberates us into a new understanding of ourselves and others, a new way of perceiving differences.

Levine's book does for personality and teaching and learning styles what other great innovations such as those of A.S. Neill, Maria Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, John Dewey, Isabel Myers and Katherine Briggs, and Ernest Boyer have done for education in move forward the frontier of understanding, shift the paradigm, change the perceptual lens.

Paperback

First published January 30, 1999

About the author

Janet Levine is a literary author and journalist whose work spans both fiction and
nonfiction, blending history,
social insight, and deeply human storytelling. She is the author of several acclaimed books,
including the
bestselling Inside Apartheid (1988), a landmark work examining life in South Africa under
apartheid, and Liv’s
Secrets, a sweeping Jewish family historical saga set in South Africa between the 1880s and
1960s. Liv’s Secrets
was nominated for the 2023 National Book Awards.
Levine’s writing often weaves real historical events with richly imagined characters,
reflecting her lifelong
engagement with social justice and human rights. Her nonfiction work includes Reading
Matters: How Literature
Influences Life (2022), an insightful exploration of the enduring power of literature as an
enriching and
transformative force.
As a journalist and commentator, Janet Levine has been interviewed by Terry Gross on
NPR’s Fresh Air and is a
reviewer for the New York Journal of Books. She is currently working on a memoir.
Levine was born in South Africa and later immigrated to the United States. More
information about her life and
work can be found on her website, janetlevine.com, and on Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Holly Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime member of Boxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, I approach works on educational theory with both curiosity and a measure of skepticism. The Enneagram Intelligences not only met my expectations, it quietly surpassed them. Janet Levine doesn’t merely explain the Enneagram as a system; she treats it as a living, humane way of understanding people. What stood out most to me was how thoughtfully she connects personality structures to real classroom dynamics, drawing from genuine educational experience rather than abstract theory. This book helped me see more clearly not only why students learn so differently, but also why educators themselves teach, respond, and engage in distinct ways. Levine’s language is accessible without ever being simplistic, and her insights feel deeply earned through decades of observation, listening, and reflection. Reading this book encouraged greater patience and empathy, both for others and for myself. This is not a trend-driven personality manual; it is a compassionate, rigorous framework that respects human complexity and invites a more inclusive, understanding approach to teaching and learning.

[Lucas Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a member of Boxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, I’m drawn to books that deepen understanding rather than offer easy answers, and The Enneagram Intelligences does exactly that. Janet Levine presents the Enneagram not as a labeling system, but as a compassionate framework for recognizing how differently people perceive, process, and respond to the world. Her approach feels especially valuable in educational settings, where misunderstanding personality differences can quietly shape success or failure. What makes this book stand out is Levine’s ability to translate complex psychological ideas into meaningful classroom realities. Through the voices and observations of educators, she shows how teaching and learning styles are deeply influenced by personality, often without our awareness. Reading this book expanded my perspective beyond my own limited viewpoint and encouraged a more generous understanding of others. It is thoughtful, humane, and intellectually grounded, a work that invites reflection long after the final page and deserves a place in serious conversations about education and human development.

[Isabella Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being part of Boxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die has introduced me to many books that expand the mind, but The Enneagram Intelligences is one that truly touched both my intellectual and emotional understanding of education. Janet Levine writes with the depth of a lifelong educator and the sensitivity of someone who genuinely believes in human potential. Her interpretation of the Enneagram as a set of “intelligences” rather than rigid personality categories feels respectful, liberating, and deeply relevant to today’s learning environments. What stayed with me most is the way this book encourages a shift from judgment to curiosity. Instead of asking why a student is disengaged or why a teacher favors a particular method, Levine helps us see the underlying patterns of attention, motivation, and perception. That shift in perspective is powerful. It creates space for patience, for flexibility, and for more meaningful connection within educational institutions. There is also something profoundly hopeful in Levine’s work. She reminds us that when we understand personality, we are not limiting people, we are opening doors to more effective communication, more inclusive teaching, and more authentic learning experiences. This is not a quick, surface-level read; it is a reflective and deeply rewarding one. I finished the book feeling more compassionate, more self-aware, and more appreciative of the complexity each person brings into a shared learning space.

[TERRI · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a member of Boxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, I’m always searching for books that don’t just inform, but transform the way we see people and systems. The Enneagram Intelligences is one of those rare works. Janet Levine approaches personality not as something fixed or limiting, but as a dynamic source of insight that can deepen understanding in educational spaces and beyond. Her writing carries the quiet confidence of someone who has spent years observing, teaching, and reflecting. What struck me most was how naturally Levine bridges theory and practice. She shows how personality patterns shape classroom interactions in ways that are often overlooked, yet profoundly influential. While reading, I found myself revisiting past educational experiences, teachers who inspired me, classrooms that felt restrictive, and moments of connection that suddenly made more sense. Levine’s explanations feel respectful, never judgmental, and her vision of education is rooted in empathy rather than control. This book doesn’t offer simplistic solutions; instead, it invites a more attentive way of seeing others. It reminds us that understanding personality is not about categorizing people, but about expanding compassion and possibility. Thoughtful, insightful, and deeply humane, this is a book that deserves careful reading and lasting reflection.

[Ananika Pandey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Enneagram Intelligences, but by the end I was completely absorbed. Janet Levine manages to take something that could easily feel dry or academic and make it readable, personal, and genuinely insightful. I found myself stopping on almost every chapter to think about how these personality patterns show up in my own learning and teaching experiences. It’s not just about categorizing people it’s about noticing differences, seeing why we behave the way we do, and understanding the many ways people approach life and learning. The examples from educators felt so real that I kept imagining how I would apply these ideas in my own classroom or even just daily interactions. By the time I finished, I felt like I had a new lens for seeing not only other people, but myself in a much deeper way. As a member of Boxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, I c an say this book is exactly the kind of thoughtful, transformative read our community celebrates. It’s one of those books that lingers in your head long after you close it.

[Jannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Enneagram Intelligences felt like being gently guided into a deeper understanding of both myself and others. As a member of Boxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, I’ve encountered many books on personality and education, but few combine rigor with empathy as seamlessly as this one. Janet Levine doesn’t just describe the Enneagram types, she illuminates the human experience behind them, showing how subtle differences in perspective and attention shape both learning and teaching. I was particularly moved by her reflections on the classroom as a microcosm of human interaction. Every personality type brings unique gifts and challenges, and Levine’s insights helped me recognize the often invisible dynamics that influence engagement, motivation, and growth. The writing is precise yet warm, and it communicates both authority and compassion. After finishing this book, I felt more patient, more observant, and more understanding, not only toward students and colleagues, but toward myself. This is a rare book that challenges, enlightens, and comforts in equal measure.

[Bella Jasdron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like it was written by someone who has spent decades really paying attention. The Enneagram is often presented in a way that feels rigid or simplified, but Levine treats it as a tool for curiosity and reflection, not labeling. I found myself reflecting on my own tendencies and habits, wondering why I react to certain situations the way I do, and thinking about how others’ personalities shape their responses too. The way she connects the model to teaching and learning is brilliant it’s practical but also philosophical, in a way that makes you reconsider what it means to educate or even just interact with people. I underlined more passages than I can count, and I keep coming back to the ideas because they keep unfolding new insights each time. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and quietly profound. As a member of Boxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, I can say this is exactly the kind of thoughtful, reflective, and transformative book our community loves to explore.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book backed up what I've already learned regarding the 9-personality enneagram system. But it took it a step farther in that it views things from the perspective of the education realm.
I was expecting this to be more about dealing with different personality types in students (how they learn, interact, assimilate information/knowledge, etc.), but, remarkably it focused more so on the personality of the educator.

It makes sense to understand one's self before trying to relay information and impart knowledge to others. The things which we should watch for, the things which are assets in our personality, and other things we may need to overcome.
I just wish I would have read this about 15 years ago!!