Beside Ourselves: Our Hidden Personality in Everyday Life (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A style both simple and direct. For students of psychology as well as general readers interested in psychological type-theory. -- Choice, January 1994

An exciting and creative addition to our understanding of how psychological type operates. A joy to read. Reader-friendly. -- Bulletin of Psychological Type, Winter 1994

Holds a plethora of information on typology within Jungian psychology. Typology has become a popular fascination; Quenk's book is timely. -- Whole Life Times, February 1997

Mounds of illustrative case studies are highly readable and often compelling. The richness of each portrayal is dazzling. -- Contemporary Psychology, April 1995

Product Description

We have all experienced times when we felt out of character or "beside ourselves," acting in unexpected or inconsistent ways. And we have all witnessed equally confusing behavior in other people. BESIDE OURSELVES explores the hidden or unfamiliar side of personality, also known as the inferior function, which surfaces when we are fatigued, ill, under stress, or otherwise "beside ourselves."

Using Jungian psychological type theory as a framework to unravel and explain this fascinating and often confusing side of human personality, Naomi Quenk argues that the inferior function is not abnormal, but rather a natural and healthy part of personality that can lead to enriched understanding and increased personal growth and development. She deftly reveals how the part of personality that often looks and feels off center is, in fact, adaptive and helpful to overall functioning. Her positive message inspires readers to explore this new and exciting part of themselves, which results in increased personal and interpersonal effectiveness.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Davies-Black Publishing; 1st edition (January 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891060626
• ISBN-13: 978-0891060628
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #414,120 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best I've read on the subject, May 23, 2000

By	Leon M. Bodevin "Do right and fear no man" (Lemoore, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a great intro to how your life can be undermined by not being aware of your inferior function. Quenk is a master at presenting each of the eight functions and how we can lose control of these functions if we don't know exactly how our inferior function can take control when we're stressed, tired, irritated, etc. I've read a couple of books on personality type but I don't think I really understood the eight functions until this book. By going back to the basics (using Jung's typology instead of Keirsey's temperament theory), Quenk is able to see farther than most authors I've read. I also liked Quenk's discussion of the auxilliary function, which I'm slowly learning might be the most helpful function in becoming a complete person. With the information in this book, I feel like I can empathize so much more with other types than I could before. This is especially useful for an INTJ like myself who can have problems attending to people's feelings. I recommend this book and another excellent book: Lenore Thomson's Personality Type: An Owner's Manual.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Reading, August 13, 1999

By A Customer

This was an excellent, excellent book about the underpinnings of type and in particular, the inferior function. In addition to the excellent descriptions about what each type is likely to do when "in the grip" of the inferior function, I thoroughly enjoyed the sections that described each type's development in mid-life. I'd recommend this book to anyone familiar with type who wants to get a better depth of understanding.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking information, deepened my understanding of MBTI., April 10, 1999

By A Customer

WOW! New information! I am an avidly interested lay person who, since discovering Myers-Briggs through other popular books on the subject. has used MB informally and superficially for years in day-to-day personal and work settings. But MB had never even crossed my mind as relevant or helpful on really bad days when I or those near me were stressed to the point of being "beside themselves". But this book explains that people feeling, speaking and acting out of character during different kinds (depending on their Type, of course!) of stress can be understood and predicted just as successfully as their preferences, feelings and reactions on a normal, less stressful day can be understood and predicted. The beauty of the inferior function analysis really has to be read to be appreciated. If you are interested in Myers-Briggs, you owe it to yourself to read this book. For me, it was the eye opener of the year! (So far.) Granted, I love Myers-Briggs, but my jaw has not closed since I picked up the book. I am an ISFJ, by the way, living with an ESFP. Thank you, Naomi L. Quenk, for writing this book and thereby lifting the tent canvas up to offer us lay folk a deeper appreciation of the broad applicability and plain old day to day helpfulness of Myers-Briggs personality type theory.