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Who am I? The 16 Basic Desires that Motivate Our Actions and Define Our Personalities [Paperback]

Steven Reiss
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

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Book Description

March 5, 2002
What do we want? What makes us tick? From acceptance to vengeance to curiosity, this book explains the 16 basic and universal desires that shape our behavior—and shows how the ways we prioritize them determines our personalities. Grounded in up-to-date psychological research, this book can help

parents comprehend their children’s needs and behavior couples understand each other better employers motivate their employees employees become more effective in their work YOU achieve greater satisfaction and happiness in life


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Editorial Reviews

Review

“In [this] ground-breaking book, Steven Reiss opens a window into what drives our emotions, how they affect our behavior toward those around us, and most significant, how we might use this information to improve our self-image and our relations with others.”Gerald Schroeder, Ph.D., author of Genesis and the Big Bang and The Science of God

“Rather than consult astrological charts or take quizzes in magazines, read Who Am I? for an authoritative, research-based understanding of why we do the things we do.”Ellen Langer, Ph.D., author of Mindfulness and The Power of Mindful Living

“Readers…will [better understand] their motivational stylesand have a lot of fun doing so.”Edward Zigler, Sterling Professor of Psychology, Yale University

“Using a wealth of everyday examples, Steven Reiss offers…insight into such matters as why some interpersonal relationships are enduringly satisfying, and others are not. His theory of motivation illuminates the important questions in our lives.”Richard J. McNally, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University

“Reiss shows us how to identify our own pattern of desires and how to compare and contrast the patterns in our relationships. The applications of this scientific extension of Maslow’s hierarchy extend beyond the personal: Reiss’ system can improve our working relationships and enhance our professional lives.”Ruth Luckasson, J.D., Regents’ Professor and Professor of Special Education, University of New Mexico

“An ‘outside the box’ approach to understanding individual behavior. Reiss clearly explains the sixteen basic desires, and shows how to easily plot one’s own ‘desire profile.’ Readers of Who Am I? will gain valuable insight into their motivational stylesand have a lot of fun doing so.”Edward Zigler, Sterling Professor of Psychology, Yale University

“Steven Reiss provides an exciting new way to think about ourselves.”Ellen Langer, Ph.D., author of Mindfulness and The Power of Mindful Learning

“Well explained in lay readers’ terms.”Library Journal

About the Author

Steven Reiss, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University, as well as the director of the Nisonger Center for Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. His internationally acclaimed, influential research has been translated into more than a dozen languages and widely adopted by professionals and educators. Dr. Reiss lives in Columbus.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley Trade (March 5, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0425183408
  • ISBN-13: 978-0425183403
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Overall, certainly worth the read. Adam  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
It is interesting and it covers the information behind the Reiss profile. Wendy  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
I recommend this book to everyone I can. Michael Chiodi  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading, but repetitive May 3, 2004
Format:Paperback
I have read many books about self help, psychology, and human behavior, and I believe I learned more from this one than from any other book. Reiss's theory is that all human beings are motivated by sixteen basic desires, and your personal prescription for happiness depends on the relative strengths of these desires. He argues that these desires are genetically determined. I believe that the science behind the "Reiss Profile" is sound, unlike the many other similar books that claim to tell you about yourself. The theory of personality originated with William James; Reiss has extended this work and in this book makes his important findings available to the general reader.

My only complaint about this book is that it is very wordy, which is so absolutely typical of self-help books. He presents the theory concisely and clearly, then goes on to apply the theory to many different areas of human behavior. This seems excessively detailed and it makes for tiresome reading, so I skimmed much of the second half of the book. At times the book approaches a catalog in unreadability.

By all means get the book and answer the questions to determine your own desire profile. I believe you will learn more about yourself, more quickly, than you have ever done before.

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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Not such a bad book. August 6, 2009
Format:Paperback
For those of us unlucky enough to have read various MA Theses or Ph.D Dissertations, the construction of Reiss' book will appear eerily familiar. The book is long-winded and repetitive with little room spent on introspection or variety. The basis of the book is that we are genetically programed to prefer certain values over others,e.g., romance over conservation, status over honor, etc. Our individuality is made up of the combination of things we highly value as well as those we don't. While I enjoyed reading about the basic desires, I found it silly and sophomoric to deny how life's experience affect somebody's personality. After all, no matter how social somebody may "genetically" be, a long history of child abuse will no doubt curb many of the behaviors associated with social people.

Dr. Reiss presents an evolutionary psychological perspective that I found to be more distracting than illuminating. However, that being said, the concept that a person's life is judged by the satisfaction of values close to an individual was something that I enjoyed reading. The book functions well as a quick character study. These are the major flaws as I see it.

1. Repetitive with unimaginative writing.
2. Reiss subjects each "value" to his criticism. Some traits are given moral equivalency,e.g., a high desire for honor implies that somebody is moral (example given: soldier), somebody with a low desire for honor is immoral(example given: bank robber). Under Reiss' definition, a value of honor was defined by upholding ethnic, religious, and traditional duties. The concept of putting morality to the values is my greatest criticism.
3. One very important value: Family, is absolutely off limits to those without children. Family was defined as how important it is to you that you raise children. However for people without children there was no way to "record" our family rating as without children the Family value was moot.

Overall the book is a nice read but not worth a buy.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary motivational foundation August 2, 2005
Format:Paperback
I learned about Maslow's motivational hierarchy decades ago but found it not very useful for determining what an individual would do, particularly in a specific circumstance. This book provided a scientifically-appealing foundation for making that kind of determination. It well explained why I get along better with some people than others and what I can do about improving my relationships with those people with whom I don't seem to fit. After testing myself, spouse, children, and close friends and associates, I believe I better understand both myself and them. I can better predict what they might do and where they are going with their thought processes. I believe this book contains a revolutionary foundation for understanding the motives of people.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Tool!
I have to disagree with those who said this book was repetitive. I often find that people need help in understanding different applications of concepts and felt Dr. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Denise Ryan
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read...
The Reiss Profile is something I across only recently and this is a book that describes how it works. It is interesting and it covers the information behind the Reiss profile. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Wendy
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and worth the read
A book listing and explaining the 16 basis desires that motive your actions and the actions of those around you? This is a no-brainer, right? Well written and well organized. Read more
Published 3 months ago by GR
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read
This book does a great job of fleshing out the 16 basic desires, and explaining how each of them manifest themselves in our everyday lives. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Adam
5.0 out of 5 stars Gives You a Whole New Way to Understand Yourself (& Others)
I never understood how important curiosity, order, and honor are to me until I read this very helpful book. Read more
Published 5 months ago by 505 Auctions
1.0 out of 5 stars Interesting permutations of personality, super flawed philosophy
Long story short, don't waste your time reading this book if you want to glean a solid understanding of personality, you are much better off reading Handbook of Personality, a... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Z
4.0 out of 5 stars 16 Human Basic Desires
Human motives are complex and modified by culture, experiences, beliefs and values. Embracing, to a certain degree, but surely extending A. Read more
Published 16 months ago by FRANCESCO FERZINI
5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary ideas
By far the best book on human behaviour I have read (and I've read a few). I use the principles to assess new staff and to help my existing staff achieve results based on their... Read more
Published on August 2, 2010 by Adam Bourke
5.0 out of 5 stars I am 50 years old, and NOW I KNOW WHAT I WANNA BE WHEN I GROW UP!!
I've been tossed and turned by everything that seemed like a good idea, at the time ...job-wise, relationship-wise, and other-wise. Read more
Published on June 21, 2010 by jacqueline wells
2.0 out of 5 stars a disappointment
This book purports to based on high quality research. If so, the author has not made a good comunication job of setting it forth. I found the book superficial. Read more
Published on July 12, 2007 by regular reader
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