Customer Reviews

The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've read just about every book on the subject of temperaments and this one is "hands down" the best. It's an easy read, and it covers all the nuances of the four basic temperaments to my delight - and the frustration of my phlegmatic husband [read the book!]. I read paragraphs to the kids at the dinner table and it started a funny and fruitful discussion about what makes each of us tick. Other books define and give examples but this is the only one I've seen that includes what really matters --how our temperaments help us love other and come closer to God.

I really enjoyed how this book brought in the important aspects of one's life into the temperament profile: especially the spiritual strengths and weaknesses specific to each temperament. It also came with an extensive test at the end where you can determine which of the four temperaments you are, as well as your secondary temperament. It really opened my eyes to my own natural inclinations, and the habits of family members!

I'd like to go with 6 stars for this book which I can't stop talking about. The words choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic and - woe is me - melancholic have carved a permanent place in our vocab. A fun read and very user friendly for the layman who wants a better understanding of human relationships.

If there is, this would be my #1 highest pick. Truly, this book will help you out so much! It helps you understand why people do what they do, how to deal with each temperament, and motivating every type of person(teachers-this is SOOOO the book for you!) I can't recommend it highly enough. Its modern, catholic, and easy, enjoyable reading. It allows you to take a "temperament" test to decide which temperament is yours, and how to most effectively motivate yourself to become the person God wants you to be. A great conversation starter and awesome gift for any young, old, or in between Catholic. I can't say enough! You'll love this book!

This is a GREAT BOOK! I'm a homeschooler and this is really helping me to understand my 4 boys' temperaments, especially how to approach them the right way regarding their schoolwork. You think you know your children and then you read this and realize just how much you need to learn. I highly recommend it.

Do you ever wonder why two people could be in the exact same situation but react totally differently? This helps explain it. This book was so dead-on to my temperament that I felt like they had done an interview with my subconscious. It's quick and interesting read. You'll end-up using it as a reference book.
This book also explains how to relate to differing temperaments and has truly opened my eyes to the way my loved ones "tick". It also has great tips for the work environment. Most importantly it has helped me pin-point the style in which I should approach my relationship with God.
If you know anyone who is engaged...A MUST READ!

This book gave great insight as to how I respond to others and my environment as well as insight as to how the others in my life respond. It is an invaluable aid in improving communication. It is easy to read, it is a good reference book. It is written with both humor and sensitivity. I highly reccommend his book.

First, a disclaimer... I only read the parts my wife told me to read. I'm not a religious man, so reading the whole book would just turn my stomach. But, my wife seems to think it's a great book and the temperaments seem to be pretty accurate, which helps us understand a little bit more about each other. I'd recommend it for anyone thinking "why does my spouse, or child, act like that?" (if you don't mind the Catholic religious spiel that comes with it)keep in mind,though, it does not tell you how to change the person, but instead how to live with and motivate the person.

I was on retreat in solitude for about 10 days. As I normally do, I brought what I considered "light stuff," which maybe I could read at night, after dinner, when I was winding down for the day. I would usually put a limit on this period of reading. I have found it very good to break up the day. Many times, things seem to dovetail at that hour and I receive additional benefit from it.

I brought this book with me, and though it did for me what I am usually looking for, I could not put it down. I could have stayed up and finished it that first night, and had to muster up some discipline to spread the reading out across the following days.

I found this fascinating! I have studied the four temperaments before. Many of us have, or have been familiar with them, and may not know it. The study of these dates back to Hippocrates (460-370 BC)--yes, ancient Greek physician who gave us the Oath--who believed we could trace some of our human moods, emotions and behaviors to certain four body fluids (labeled as "humors"). These were blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. Hippocrates developed this into a medical theory. For close to 2,000 years they have gone by the names sanguine, melancholic, choleric, and phlegmatic, respectively.

This all still has meaning today. That's what this book is all about! And, it is, by far, the best I've read on the subject. It is informative, easy to understand; but, most of all, Art and Laraine Bennett have gone overboard in making it enjoyable! Believe me, the knowledge you find here about the four temperaments can make an incredible difference in your personal life, your marriage, family life and all of your relationships.

A brief summary of these can help you make the connection; although, Art and Laraine do a much more thorough and comprehensive description of these and provide real-life situations and historical personalities as examples. You might see yourself in one or two of these. You can briefly see each's strengths, quirks, needs, and virtues best for them to pursue. Knowing these things, and going over the rough spots in our relationships, Art and Laraine show us that things, we may have taken personal or as an offence, may not have any basis to it at all. These are things that are directly tied to the other person's temperament and part of the way that temperament behaves. There may be little will involved!

Cholerics are goal-oriented and highly determined. They need definite areas of control and loyalty from others. They can be bossy and driven; and, they benefit from growing in compassion and meekness. Melancholics have nobility of purpose and great attention to detail. They tend to be critical. They can live in hope and can trust in God. They prefer quiet, space and order. The phlegmatics are the peace-makers. They are harmonious colleagues. They are somewhat withdrawn. The have a certain boldness as disciples. Lastly, sanguines are joyful and generous. They can be flighty. They need excitement and enjoyment. They also need TLC. They can be indifferent to criticism. They can persevere.

Art and Laraine show us how to identify our primary and secondary temperaments. They also help us to see those of our spouse, children, friends, etc. They describe what the temperament combinations mean. They provide advice right down to our spiritual lives. Lastly, they add a little testing--Temperament Indicator--at the end for those who want to hone in more precisely on their temperament types.

Coming off of that retreat, where I first read this, I have recommended this numerous times and bought copies as gifts for families and friends. I think you will too!

On reading it, I've found that if one is truly "open" to learning about the strong points of the temperament of one's spouse, and what needs to be conquered in one's own temperament, it can actually "smooth the waters" and rough edges that are always present in any relationship between two "imperfect people in an imperfect world".

The book also treats with our children's temperaments, which are never more visible than at the beginning of their life - and so easier to recognize in their "pure form" during their earlier years. How to resolve the natural conflicts that occur between their (and our) temperaments is worth the price of the book.

Let me emphasize that such books should NEVER be used to try to correct your spouse's temperament (unless they ask for your help) - that is THEIR job, but only to correct your own failings. At the same time, such books will help you to realize the tremendous gift a spouse's temperament brought into your relationship (as well as your own gifts), and help refresh the good reasons you got together in the first place. It will also help you to know how to strengthen the weak points in your children's temperaments, prior to their becoming "independent".

I highly recommend thsi book to all.The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord