I’ve never met a personality quiz that I didn’t want to take. I’m an INTJ Slytherin Questioner. I am an Escapist Reader. My love language is Acts of Service. I’m an Enneagram 1 (a perfectionist – SHOCKING). The list goes on and on.
Typically, if there is an answer that indicates crazy ambitious (or perhaps cunning?), I’m going to get that one. I own it. (Yeah, Slytherin was hard at first. I thought from a Buzzfeed quiz that I was going to end up in Ravenclaw. Nope. Pottermore totally saw through that.)
Once I know about these categories, I want to know exactly what that means and how I relate to all the things.
(And we’re about to start a book review. All Amazon links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my link, I will receive a small commission to fund my book habit.)
Imagine my delight when my very good (completely one-sided) friend Anne Bogel announced that she was writing a book called Reading People. It’s about how to use all of those personality results. Yeah, signed up for that pre-order on Amazon right away. Then, I got the chance to read it early as a part of Anne’s Launch Team. And I’m dusting off ye olde blog to participate in the blog tour.
My Reading People Review
And, because I like to keep things tidy, we’ll use the same review format I always use.
First, here’s the blurb.
If the viral Buzzfeed-style personality quizzes are any indication, we are collectively obsessed with the idea of defining and knowing ourselves and our unique place in the world. But what we’re finding is this: knowing which Harry Potter character you are is easy, but actually knowing yourself isn’t as simple as just checking a few boxes on an online quiz.
For readers who long to dig deeper into what makes them uniquely them (and why that matters), popular blogger Anne Bogel has done the hard part–collecting, exploring, and explaining the most popular personality frameworks, such as Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram, and others. She explains to readers the life-changing insights that can be gained from each and shares specific, practical real-life applications across all facets of life, including love and marriage, productivity, parenting, the workplace, and spiritual life. In her friendly, relatable style, Bogel shares engaging personal stories that show firsthand how understanding personality can revolutionize the way we live, love, work, and pray.
Why Did I Want to Read Reading People?
Because I’m me, let’s make a list:
- Right now, Anne Bogel and Cat at Reader Eater are tied for having the most influence on my reading life. I am completely obsessed with Anne’s podcast, What Should I Read Next. I mean, I’m doing a WSIRN challenge to keep me occupied this fall. I have imaginary interviews with Anne all of the time, telling her three books I love, one book I hate and what I’m reading now.
- I am obsessed with personality quizzes. I’ve never seen Game of Thrones, but I know from a Buzzfeed quiz that I am Daenerys. It means nothing to me, but I still need that categorization. Buzzfeed, collect my data and tell me everything about me.
- When I read non-fiction, I usually do take the time to implement what I learned. I love the idea of figuring out how to work all of the different things I know about my personality.
- The cover is very pretty.
Did I Like Reading People?
This is a solid five stars from me. In each chapter, Anne walks through different personality frameworks and how understanding your results can help you in your life. Whether it is for your relationship, as a parent or even in your faith.
I don’t feel boxed in by my personality; instead, understanding myself has taught me how to open the box and step out of it.
Here are the frameworks she analyzes.
Introverts and Extroverts
I don’t think it is a surprise that I am an introvert. For years, I used my introversion as an excuse. Oh, I’m not good at networking because I’m an introvert. Within the past year, I called myself on my BS. After doing some self-study on introversion and reading this book, I realize that, for me, it’s all about how I manage that introversion. I have a much easier time extraverting now that I know myself a bit better and can plan time to recharge when I am in big-group situations. (Hence, you may see me hiding in a corner at a conference with my Kindle.)
Highly Sensitive People
A few years ago, my friend Stef sent me an article on how to tell if you are HSP and it described so many aspects of my personality. Now, I don’t feel as guilty that I hate horror movies and can’t handle graphic depictions of violence in books. It’s part of how I’m wired. If you are an HSP or you live with an HSP, this section will be incredibly helpful for you.
The Five Love Languages
I originally heard about the love languages book at a blogging conference and read it when I got home. I think this framework is so important for relationships. I am Acts of Service 100%. My secondary language is probably gifts because I really like sending people little surprises that I know they will like.
If you and your spouse speak different love languages, it can definitely cause strife. Reading People will give you some tips and tricks to dealing with each of the five love languages. (Apparently I need more foot rubs. I approve!)
Keirsey’s Temperaments
I have never heard of Keirsey’s Temperaments. It’s based on your MBTI (see below) and for me, none of them felt 100% right. It definitely didn’t align with my MBTI.
(And, friends, that’s okay. Not every framework will work for everyone. It’s all about knowing yourself better and enhancing your life with that knowledge.)
MBTI
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is my favorite. I took the test in a trial advocacy class in law school. I was an ENTJ then. I’m an INTJ now. (I suspect that the E at the time was probably on the cusp.) This is my favorite framework and it has taught me so much about myself.
Except I share a personality type with Walter White and Putin. (Remember when I said I was ambitious?)
The MBTI Cognitive Functions
This section was my favorite piece of the book. I have never read about the MBTI Cognitive Functions that make up the basis for the MBTI types. Absolutely fascinating and it can help you really dive into your type even more.
The Clifton StrengthsFinder
I took StrengthsFinder a few years ago and they say not to retake it, so I haven’t. My top strengths are Strategic, Achiever, Relator, Competition, and Significance.
How on earth did I ever doubt I am Slytherin?
The Enneagram
When I read the book, the Enneagram was the test I knew the least about. Now I am fascinated and plan to learn all the things.
The Enneagram pinpoints not our weaknesses but our motivations – the underlying reasons that drive everything we do.
I am an Enneagram 1, which is all about perfectionism. Not surprising at all. It’s been really interesting to dive into the ways that it impacts my life and how I can help myself when I get stuck.
Then what?
What I loved most about Reading People is that Anne walks you through the frameworks, but the goal is really to help you understand what it means for you and how you fit into the world. Anne offers great insights and offers stories on how knowing her personality helped her in so many ways.
Learning more about personality has helped me make peace with the way I was made (even though some days I’d rather trade myself in for a different model).
Who Else Will Like Reading People?
Don’t worry – you don’t have to be a personality quiz lover like me. Although, warning, you may become one by the time you are done reading. This book is structured so that you can dive into the information that most interests you.
We all live in the first person. I experience the world through my eyes; we all do. But each of these personality frameworks, when used thoughtfully, gives me eyes to see the world from someone else’s point of view for a little while.
And one more quote to send us off:
They’re not crazy; they’re just not us. They are hardwired differently than we are, and personality insights explain why and how.
Pre-Order Bonuses
The book comes out on September 19, 2017. If you pre-order, you can get the audio version for free when the book is released and access to Anne’s class, What’s Your Reading Personality. (I’m an escapist, which surprised no one.) The class includes recommendations for your reading type.
Go to Amazon or wherever else you buy your books. Then go to ReadingPeopleBook.com and enter the info. Get those pre-order bonuses!
And while you are on the Reading People site, take the quiz to see your reading personality!
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