The Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide [Paperback]

David N. Daniels (Author), Virginia A. Price (Author), Helen Palmer (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2000

The First and Only Scientifically Determined Enneagram Personality Test and Guide. A centuries–old psychological system with roots in sacred tradition, the Enneagram can be an invaluable guide in your journey toward self–understanding and self–development. In this book, Stanford University Medical School clinical professor of psychiatry David Daniels and counselling psychologist Virginia Price offer the only scientifically developed Enneagram test based upon extensive, time–tested research. The most fundamental guide to the Enneagram ever offered, this book features effective self–tests for the simple, accurate, and confident determination of your own personality type. Daniels and Price provide step–by–step instruction for taking inventory of how you think, what you feel, and what you experience. They then guide you in your discovery of what your type means for your personal well–being and your relationships with others, and they show how to maximise your inherent strengths. Brimming with empowering information on each of the nine personality types – Perfectionist, Giver, Performer, Romantic, Observer, Loyal Sceptic, Epicure, Protector, and Mediator, this one–of–a–kind book equips you with all the tools you need to dramatically enhance your quality of life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I can't rave enough about the new Stanford Enneagram Discovery Inventory and Guide (SEDIG). I love the graphic design and use of color; the layout adds to easy readability and understanding. The "Summary of the Key Discriminators" for each of the nine types supports clear recognition of the differences between types. The authors have condensed the complexity and wisdom of the Enneagram into essential, easily accessible nuggets. I feel indebted to Dr. Daniels and Dr. Price for this valuable tool. -- Carol Summers, MS, CMFT, CMHC Founding Associate Vision Point Associates Seattle, Washington --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

The Essential Enneagram is the first scientifically determined Enneagram personality test combined with a detailed guide to both discovering your type and furthering your personal growth. It was originally published as the Stanford Enneagram Discovery Inventory and Guide (SEDIG). It is now greatly expanded to include a comprehensive section on "What To Do When You Have Discovered Your Type."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 109 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (May 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062516760
• ISBN-13: 978-0062516763
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must-have" resource on the Enneagram, August 9, 2000

By 

Carole A. Whittaker (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide (Paperback)

the essential enneagram is a "must-have" book for anyone interested in the Enneagram, from beginning students to experienced teachers! This little book is power-packed with the expertise and wisdom of the authors condensed into a user-friendly form. It contains the Stanford Enneagram Discovery Inventory which is a short paragraph test that provides a first step in identifying one's personality type. The book then shows how to discriminate between possibilities and how to confirm one's choice. The section on the description of each of the personality types does not repeat the lengthy descriptions of behavior which are provided in other Enneagram books. Instead, it summarizes the key characteristics of worldview, attention, energy, avoidances, strengths and principles of personal development which are specific to type. In the final section of the book the authors provide principles and practices for personal and professional development which are general for all personality types plus practices which are specific for each of the types.

I have used the Stanford Enneagram Discovery Inventory as a key resource in helping students to discover their Enneagram personality type in an introductory workshop environment. After taking the test, we discuss how to discriminate between types using that section of the book. After more than 200 introductory students, I continue to be amazed at how much progress the students make within the course of a single day.

The final section of the book on general and specific practices for personal and professional development is a real gem. David Daniels brings his expertise as a psychiatrist (professor at Stanford Medical School plus private practice), his years of experience teaching the Enneagram with Helen Palmer to thousands of students, and his own personal embodiment to this deep and rich description of practical and simple practices for human and spiritual development. I personally will refer to this section often as my own development continues to unfold.

the essential enneagram is a whole library's worth of wisdom in a book...don't miss it!

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fascinating stuff -- but this is only a start, September 2, 2001

By 

Carol C. "ccjello" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide (Paperback)

Enneagram personality typing is fascinating stuff -- there are nine basic personality types, with connected wing, security and stress types. If you've taken (and found benefit from) the Myers-Briggs or other similar tests, give this a try. I was amazed that the description of my "type" really fit me to a tee, and the advice on how folks of my type should refocus their thinking was extremely helpful.

My concern is how valuable this book alone is as a diagnostic tool. The book is short (about a hundred pages, with lots of diagrams and white space), much of which will be irrelevant or marginally relevant to you. (If you find you're a type four, you probably won't need to read about type one.) You determine your personality type quite simply, by reading nine paragraphs (that describe the nine personality types) and choosing the one that fits best. It's a great introduction, but I think calling it "The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide) is a bit of an exaggeration.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Invaluable Resource!, March 16, 2001

By 

Evelyn I. Challis (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide (Paperback)

The Essential Enneagram, by David Daniels, M.D. & Virginia Price, Ph.D.

This is an absolutely fabulous "user-friendly" book! I'm a psychologist and I've been able to use it quite comfortably with my clients who are totally new to the Enneagram : Not only does it provide an exceptionally effective way for everyone to discover their own type, but it also provides a daily spiritual practice specifically tailored TO each type. In terms of identifying one's own type, the reader is supplied with the following concise and comprehensive information applied to each type:

The fundamental principal I lost sight of: What I came to believe instead: The strategy I developed to cope with this belief: Because of this strategy, my attention is on: I put my energy into: I do everything I can to avoid: My strengths: What causes me stress: What makes me angry: The nature of my anger: The ultimate goal of my development: How I can further my personal development: What hinders my personal development: How others can support my development:

But as if this weren't enough, by far the most useful and important gift of this book is to be found in Section 2: What to Do When You Have Discovered Your Type. This section provides us with a daily breathing and centering practice for all, complete with Five General Principles: (Three Laws of Behavior; Three Centers of Intelligence; Three Life Forces; Three Survival Behaviors {the Subtypes}; and Three Levels of Knowing and Learning). Best of all, we are then provided with a specific daily meditative practice for each type which covers practices in awareness, taking action, previewing/reviewing our progress and reflection. Whether or not you are a student of the Enneagram, I highly recommend this book to you.