Florence Littauer is a Christian self-help author and public speaker. Littauer is best known for her series of books based upon the Personality Plus personality system. She was listed as one of Helen K. Hosier's "100 Christian Women Who Changed the Twentieth Century" and has received the National Speakers Association's Council of Peers Award for Excellence and has been designated by them as a Certified Speaking Professional.
I'm going to invite some friends to this review. Melancholy Mona, Sanguine Sam, Choleric Colin and Phlegmatic Phil. "Mona, what did you think about this book?" I (Rachel) asked. "Why don't you ask me?", interjected Sam, because Sanguine people are just annoying that way. Mona's feelings were hurt, Colin tapped his foot impatiently and no one noticed Phil at all, because Phlegmatic people are boring. That's all you need to know about this book. It's stupid and poorly written, just like this review. The only difference is I'm doing this on purpose.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some personal beef with this book because of a weird experience I had, but in general I don’t think it’s that great. The good things I got from it I didn’t get from the actual book; I got them from things my professor taught us about using the personalities as a teacher.
Every person is this book feels like a cartoon character. I feel bad for saying that because these are all real people, but I don’t know, do people really talk like that? I feel like these personalities just made me like everyone less. I see why everyone would dislike every person now. Something about this book made all the personality traits seem like weaknesses to me.
In conclusion, not my fave, would probably totally disregard if not for the stellar advice our teacher gave us.
UPDATE: I remembered another reason why I don’t like this book! There’s an underlying implication that people can’t change. While it’s true that there are some traits people are just born with, I kind of resent the idea as it was presented. Often phrases would be presented like: That’s just the way people are. You can’t change them, so just accept it! Yeah, *I* can’t change other people, but people are able to change if they want to and work on it.
Personality Plus at Work By Florence Littauer and Rose Sweet
Have you ever wished it would just be natural for people to complement us in everything we do at work? If the workforce is a priceless resource, why do some employees feel they are reduced to things? Why is success based on fostering relationships? Is it enough to co-exist with colleagues we don’t easily get along with?
The workplace is a showcase of diversity. A dynamic team will always be composed of people who possess varying levels of competence and dedication. Brilliance in leadership is usually measured in terms of how well team members are guided when integrating their divergent views. There will always be self-starters, traditionalists, challengers, and onlookers. We bring our own little nature to the workplace, and finding harmony amidst all these differences can be a real handful.
Just like any other relationship, dealing with anyone successfully requires a lot of hard work. And if we want to have lasting and fulfilling relationships, seeing what is best in people should be our stance. This, however, might be difficult. We cannot easily show kindness to individuals we do not understand. Worse, we sometimes fall into judging them for behaving differently than we do. Perhaps it is time to give some real thought to the causes of these biases.
For decades, Florence Littauer’s Personality Plus has been a quick reference for employees all over the globe. Now, Personality Plus at Work particularly centers on working effectively with others by being sharp at recognizing that people can be predictably different. The chapters revolve around characters who possess at least one of the four types of temperaments:
Powerful Choleric: Decisive, born leader, and independent…but quick-tempered and unsympathetic. Perfect Melancholy: Profound, creative, and schedule-oriented…but negative and usually depressed. Popular Sanguine: Cheerful, sociable, and optimistic…but forgetful and chatty. Peaceful Phlegmatic: Gentle, diplomatic, and friendly…but indecisive and stubborn.
Cholerics are zealous enough to lead and take others to the finish line, but tend to avoid emotions, even when it is appropriate. Melancholies, who anticipate trouble and do nothing superficial, are quite reluctant to praise or thank others when the job is not finished or perfect. Sanguines are excellent communicators and motivators. They mean well, but hardly follow through. Phlegmatics appear to be the most cooperative and inoffensive, but would remain uninvolved in the absence of a structure.
The book also unravels how these temperaments operate in various fields. Every personality has a niche in ministry, multilevel marketing, retail, real estate, and health services. One would also discover that we do not have weaknesses at all. These are simply what the authors called “strengths carried to the extreme,” and could only be overcome by faith, generosity, and selflessness.
Certain sections were also devoted to the family. Knowledge about temperaments can help spouses encourage and appreciate each other, without getting defensive. Parents can exert real influence in shaping the future of their children. With the identity profiles, parents do not have to be restless in treating every child similarly. They can handle and mentor their children with wisdom that they can rest upon.
With these temperaments, we learn to agree with God that we are uniquely designed for His pleasure. There is absolutely no point in wearing ourselves out by trying to change or please people. From embracing strengths and accepting weaknesses, we respond by functioning in crisis situations more responsibly. We become concerned about meeting the emotional needs of the people around us. We also develop patience in giving ourselves and others time to realize that we are unrepeatable blessings who are worthy of love and respect.
Learning about personalities is worth your investment. This book would surely enlighten and equip you in becoming the purpose-filled boss, peer, employee, or spouse that the LORD envisioned you to be. We can truly take an active part in a successful business environment without putting on a mask!
ridiculous. another book that ignores situation-dependent demeanor from the start. people just don't walk up to you and tell you who they are. this book is as ridiculous as how i refuse to capitalize letters in this review. sorry, but fyi hippocrates is not modern science
I learnt so much from this book. I loved the facts, research, stories broken down in a relatable way and I learnt more about myself - even though I didn't want to - in a while. I had heard of this method through the birds: Peacock, Eagle, Owl, Dove. However, here they're Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy and Phlegmatic. I am a combination of 1 and 4. I struggled finding my inborn personality because I exhibit so many across the board. The book asks you to reflect on your childhood - what decision you would've made, how you acted etc and I loved doing that. The book taught the pros and cons to each trait so even though I'm one that I don't love, I know it has great pros and I know the weaknesses of the others. Most of all I like analysing my spouse, family and workmates to this. The book was detailed enough to give me a good understanding. And while I still believe in the OCEAN traits more, this book does have some standing. It was a bit wishy washy - written by a Sanguine - but once I got past that and saw the facts, my melancholy brain really enjoyed it.
A close friend recommended this book and told me that it was one of his favorites. I genuinely enjoyed reading about the four personality types (sanguine, melancholy, choleric, and phlegmatic). It was fun to take the quiz at the back of the book and discover what I am. The beginning part was more interesting, learning about each of the types and how to work with them in various situations. When I got to the second half of the book, it felt like they over-hashed them and all the examples felt like generalizations and caricatures… I still learned a lot, though!
This book is great but overshadowed with unnecessary details.
Although this book is great and I definitely recommend for understanding other people’s temperaments. It probably could have been written in 120 pages. The information in this book is amazing for helping you to understand others and why they do the things they do, even understanding yourself more. However it just began to drag and was hard to finish.
Florence L. is a a very fun author to read. I love her writing style. You do learn about the 4 Personalities from this book, but I wish there was more actual info., not the discussion of various people she knew.
I read parts 1 and 2 for an education course, and absolutely loved it! The book was especially helpful to me as a preservice teacher. I highly recommend this book as a way to better understand yourself and those you work with.
While the authors have some interesting observations about the different personality types, their over-generalizations, heavy use of stereotypes, and internalized misogyny make this book more harmful than helpful.
I read this book for work and despite breezing right through it, I had some major qualms that made me annoyed with it. (I bet you could say I'm Choleric! Except not really because that's dumb.)
To start out with: I don't have anything against personality assessments. Really, I don't. In fact, there was a period of time in which I probably took too much stock in the Myers-Briggs, despite the fact that I knew it has severe limitations. But even then, I think the prospect of finding four personality types and trying to apply them to EVERYONE is ridiculous (yes, people are technically "two types" but it still seemed limiting). Especially when it's trying to apply something so ancient that it doesn't even bother giving citations. It all comes down to three things which made me annoyed:
1) I took the test in the back of the book (which was in itself flawed because it had to deal with matching adjectives that described you, many of which were so close together that it didn't seem to make sense (i.e. "friendly" and "warm"). I tested as Melancholic and Sanguine, which should apparently be "impossible." The fact that right off the bat I couldn't see myself fitting in anywhere, and not because I am a Special Snowflake but because I just couldn't narrow things down, spelled trouble.
2) Once again, the unfounded belief that "introvert" (which was even listed as a negative!) was equated with "low self-esteem." I know extroverts who have low self-esteem, I know introverts who have high self-esteem (some of which are genuinely conceited individuals). This is a myth that has been perpetuated throughout personality books like this and it's irritating.
3) Finally, I found myself being the most bothered by the chapter on Cholerics. Maybe it's the bias of the fact that both of the authors call themselves Cholerics, but some of the ways of coping with this type seemed really... weird for me. For example, in trying to help them with sense of control "Resist the urge to rebel when you feel controlled; they might be right in trying to control you". The use of the word "control" throughout that chapter made me wonder if this was a book that just validates people who think that they are born leaders despite the fact that they have no business leading anything. Even when the book mentions the negatives, it still comes across as inevitable that this "type" is bossy and impetuous.
I ended up giving it 2 stars because I did end up reading through the whole thing, and because it does raise some good points on 1) how people have different ways of doing/learning/interacting and 2) how to work with difficult situations. In that sense, it's a good book. But there are many other books that do the same thing, with a personality system that at least has more scientific basis, without the cutesiness that this one has.
So in the end: some good things, but definitely not worth your time.
According to Hippocrates there are four personalities:
The Popular Sanguine that is fun, outgoing, optimistic... but disorganized and too chatty (extrovert) The Powerful Choleric that is goal-oriented, born-leader, confident... but bossy and insensitive(extrovert) The Perfect Melancholy that is deep, thoughtful, organized... but negative and often depressed (introvert) The Peaceful Phlegmatic that is pleasant, easygoing, adaptable... but indecisive and unmotivated (introvert).
What a great book...
Like what was I have expected, I am phlegmatic, but I don't know my secondary temperament, but this book help me so, my secondary temperament is melancholy. I am a phlegmatic-melancholy.
Anyways this book is a great book especially if you are a curious person who wants to know your personality. Though most people would say "don't box yourself" I don't care mind your own business. (those opinionated one).
A very good book and I highly recommend it to everyone! I mean EVERYONE!
"If only we all knew! By understanding the personalities, we are able to give words of encouragement to others that are sincere and authentic. We can get to know others, love them in the way they need to be loved, and help bring out their very best, at home, or at work." - Rose Sweet
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book definitely stands on some solid concepts; that there are four personality types and we all fit into one or a combination. It has some very useful information regarding how to interact with different personality types, how to respond to people's weaknesses and pressures. I would not follow it like a bible, but in general it was useful for learning a little about myself and how I would best work with people of 'conflicting' or opposite personality types.
I terms of the book itself, well, it was a little cringe inducing. The format of the book is mostly told in the story of a class, which happens to include eight students who perfectly fit into each of the four personality types, and behave exactly according to their stereotype. I really can't decide if we're supposed to believe the class really happened, but I found myself skimming through some of the classroom content to get to the real meat of the matter.
I would recommend this book to anybody in the workforce, particularly managers, employers, and freelancers. However as I said, it's not a bible, but a rough guide.
I would recommend this book as it reminds you that we are all different and definitely have strengths that can be used efficiently if valued. Loved the fact that in relationships the opposite personality seem to get attracted and this only makes the couple/partnership healthier and more round. No need to change, maybe more to learn from eachother. Look at how people behave and just tap into their streghts, though the instinct is to judge "he/she is not performing/not good" just because they are not like us. :) Took the test at the end and the scores were really close and I ended up to be double extrovert (sanguine & choleric) thought throughout the book I could see myself a phlegmatic too...maybe I'll do the best or maybe I will not try to fit a profile and get stuck there. :) Anyways, a helpful read in understanding we are all different (with strengths and weaknesses) and this is just OK!
Really thought this was helpful. The author makes it clear that this shouldn't be used to pigeonhole people or ostracize people, but that it can help work better with various personality types. I also found a place online to take the test and was surprised by what I found out. I think I thought I was a pretty even personality type (and in fact, I am) but it did tip toward a stronger Choleric than I would have thought. I can think of three people in my life who are extremely strong (wholly Choleric) and they were TERRIBLE to work with. Anyway, here's a online test if any of you want to try it out & see where you might fall. http://www.gotoquiz.com/personality_p...
I plan to look at the book again in view of knowing my own personality type and seeing where it might help me in working with people and being a better friend... lofty goals, right? :)
The author describes a class that she taught with Rose. They share the four personality types which are sanguine, choleric, melancholy and phlegmatic. She shares the strengths and weaknesses of each of the personality types. She continually reminded her students and her readers that each and every person is unique and valuable. "Each person is unique, unrepeatable, and worthy of love and respect. Each of us is a gift to our family, our workplace, and our community." This book encouraged me to study a few of my co-workers in an attempt to better understand why one talks to people but absently puts things places. My co-worker likes number and is detail oriented but bossy. This book reminded me to look for the strengths in a person rather than just whining to myself about their failings. I hope to get to read Personalities plus sometime in the future.
This book is based on Littauer's other book Personality Plus, which would probably be an interesting read. But I liked this one too. It is about the four main personality types (fun-loving but flaky, take charge but bossy, easy-going but unmotivated, and detailed but perfectionist). It is a great way to help you read people but can be a little hard to understand since there is a lot of overlap in the personality types. I liked hearing about how best to meet the emotional needs of other people/types since that is a big reason people hate work. Also, I enjoyed the case studies. But I didn't like the gimmick of telling of a group going through therapy together, and I really thought the writing was pretty bad. So worth a quick read--don't spend a ton of time on it. Personality Plus may be a better option for a someone not familiar with the types.
I got this book on my kindle for free and think I would have liked the original Personality Plus better. The stories were fun, but I skipped all the workplace stuff because they were all in categories that didn't apply to me. I didn't walk away able to identify anyone else's personalities or my secondary personality which was disappointing. Just an FYI to my friends on here, this is considered a Christian book. I read that the original has tons of biblical references, but this one only had a couple. Overall, fun to read, but I don't feel enlightened.
As a Choleric, I found this book very helpful. I personally thought this was one of the more well developed ones, which is expected since its publication is so recent. I copied many of the charts and put them on my wall to help me think of other's needs throughout the day. Highly recommend to people who want to make a difference in themselves and others in any cooperative environment.