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David Keirsey

Marilyn Bates

Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types Paperback – January 1, 1984

by David Keirsey (Author), Marilyn Bates (Author)

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Does your spouse's need to alphabetically organize books on the shelves puzzle you? Do your boss's tsunami-like moods leave you exasperated? Do your child's constant questions make you batty? If you've ever wanted to change your mate, your coworkers, or a family member, then "Put down your chisel," advise David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates in this book of personality types. We are different for a reason, and that reason is probably more good than bad. Keirsey and Bates believe that not only is it impossible to truly change others (which they call embarking on a "Pygmalion project"), it's much more important to understand and affirm differences. Sounds easier than it is, you might say. Well, this book is a guide for putting an end to the Pygmalion projects in your life and starting on the path to acceptance.

Print length

210 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Prometheus Nemesis Book Company
Publication date

January 1, 1984
Dimensions

5.3 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
ISBN-10

0960695400
ISBN-13

978-0960695409
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Does your spouse's need to alphabetically organize books on the shelves puzzle you? Do your boss's tsunami-like moods leave you exasperated? Do your child's constant questions make you batty? If you've ever wanted to change your mate, your coworkers, or a family member, then "Put down your chisel," advise David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates in this book of personality types. We are different for a reason, and that reason is probably more good than bad. Keirsey and Bates believe that not only is it impossible to truly change others (which they call embarking on a "Pygmalion project"), it's much more important to understand and affirm differences. Sounds easier than it is, you might say. Well, this book is a guide for putting an end to the Pygmalion projects in your life and starting on the path to acceptance.

For anyone acquainted with the ubiquitous Myers-Briggs personality test, Please Understand Me will be familiar territory--but gone over with a fine-toothed comb. And for the uninitiated, this book will be a quick introduction to personality typing the Myers-Briggs way--with a Jungian accent. After presenting a brief rundown of 20th-century psychology movements, Keirsey and Bates encourage you to take the 70-question "Keirsey Temperament Sorter," a sort of mini-Myers-Briggs test that places you in 1 of 16 personality types. Like the Myers-Briggs system, this test sorts your personality into groups of extraversion/introversion (E/I), sensation/intuition (S/N), thinking/feeling (T/F), and perceiving/judging (P/J). Unlike the Myers-Briggs system, Please Understand Me also presents four easy-to-remember temperament types--Dionysian (freedom first), Epimethean (wants to be useful), Promethean (desires power), and Apollonian (searches for self)--that underlie the 16 possible personalities identified by the test. The book then delves into a detailed analysis of each type, with sections on mates, children, and leaders. An appendix paints portraits of the 16 possible personality types.

Unless you're already a true personality-typing devotee, this book may seem a little esoteric, especially the somewhat "in" references to psychological theory that few laypeople will be likely to understand. But give it a chance and you may find that you'll begin to understand why you always know where to find Anna Karenina on the shelf (you have an ESTJ husband), why your boss is sarcastic one day and praises your achievements the next (she's an NF), and why knowing the reason that the sun comes up in the same place every day is important to your little one (he's Promethean). You may even find that once you accept quirks and ticks in others, they will understand you a little better, too. --Stefanie Durbin

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Prometheus Nemesis Book Company; 5th edition (January 1, 1984)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 210 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0960695400
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0960695409
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.3 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches

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David Keirsey
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Dr. David West Keirsey was born in Ada, Oklahoma but moved with his family to California when he was two years old. His interest in psychology happened in the 1940's during his World War II service as a U.S. Marine fighter pilot serving in the Pacific. The one book Keirsey carried with him through his entire war service was a psychology book; this book was the first spark of his journey into the field of personality.
After the war, at Pomona College and the Claremont Graduate School, Keirsey began his research and study of human behavior. As he researched historical literature in psychology, philosophy, and the sciences, he became intrigued by the patterns of four temperaments. These four distinct patterns of human behavior were woven throughout history, dating back to such figures as Hippocrates and Galen.
In the 1950's, he began putting his theory into practice as an Educational Psychologist, where he developed techniques in helping troubled and troublesome kids and their parents. He also developed techniques for counselors in training and coaching. For more than two decades, he served as a consultant to both educators and psychologists, with continued research and innovations in his theory of the four temperaments.
In the early 1970's Keirsey introduced his theory as an educational curriculum at California State University, Fullerton, where he served on the faculty, and eventually chair, in the department of counseling for ten years. During his time there, he published his theory in the book, Please Understand Me (1978), where he publicly introduced the Keirsey Temperament Sorter(R) to the world. Since then he has continued his research and refined his ideas and wrote several books including Portraits of Temperament (1987), Presidential Temperament (1992), Please Understand Me II (1998) and Brains and Careers (2008), Personology (2010). He had retired from public and worked on his theory of human action until his death in 2013. We hope to publish someday some of that work in the ebook Dark Escape and other forms.
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Marilyn Bates
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5 star		74%
4 star		13%
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2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Chess Maniac

The writing is rich with metaphor and simile.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 18, 2006

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I was motivated to write this review for a reason that seemed to be overlooked by the many other reviewers. Although the book is about the Myers-Briggs Temperament Scale, and that scale is a very informative method to learn about the personalities of yourself and others, I was more enraptured with the writing itself.

The language was so descriptive and so rich with metaphor and simile, that I felt I was reading an Anne Rice novel. It is a style of writing that mesmerizes me.

Since no other reviewer even mentioned the exquisite writing style, I felt an obligation to do so.

As for the Myers-Briggs Temperament Scale, here is my very brief explanation of it (after reading it about 15 years ago).

There are four temperaments: E-I, S-N, T-F, J-P.

E = extrovert. I = introvert. About 75% of the population are E (extroverts).

S - sensible. N = intuitive. About 75% of the population are S (sensible).

T = thinking. F = feeling. The population is split about 50%-50% on this temperament.

J = judgmental. P = perceptive (I think?). The population is split about 50%-50% on this temperament.

However, the descriptions can be misleading.

Although Extrovert and Introvert are what you would think, Sensible does not mean you have sense. Rather, it means you live completely in the real world, and can't imagine things being much different than what they are. In contrast, the iNtuitive person has a much richer imagination and thinks of the real world as only one of many possible worlds.

Thinking and Feeling also mean about what you would expect. The Thinking person is not very empathetic though. The Feeling person can be influenced by his/her emotions.

Finally, the Judgemental person is judgemental, but also responsible. In contrast, the Perceptive person is more care-free, but can be irresponsible.

There are four temperaments and two choices for each, making a total of 16 possible types.

Most heavy readers (and thinkers) are probably Introverts who are also iNtuitives with rich imaginations.

That is why it is no surprise to find so many INXX people giving reviews even though they constitute only about 1% of the population.

Oh, and by the way, I have taken the Myers-Briggs Test three times. The first time, I was an INTP. Years later, I took it again, and found I was an INTJ. Over a decade later, I (unkowingly) took a different version of the test, and found that I was an INFJ.

These discrepancies should not lead one to conclude that the test results can fluctuate wildley over time, because they actually don't. I just happen to be on the borderline between the T-F and between the J-P.

And when I read the different descriptions, they all seemed to fit my personality quite well (whereas the ESJP, for example, did not fit my personality at all).

4 people found this helpful

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April D

Life changer

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 7, 2013

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When my husband and I met, we had both read this book before and were very into the personality typing. He is an ENTP and I am a INFJ...perfect match. Not only did this book give my hubby and I common ground to discuss, but it has also given my insight and understanding into how other people operate. It helps me have more tolerance toward behaviors in others that are different from my own. My son is an INFP, one letter different from me, but that one trait gives him the laid-back-attitude that I as a "J" don't have. I am more organized and more of a planner. (Actually I envy my son...lol.) My husband is an extrovert and I am an introvert. We balance each other, but also, the book has given us the understanding of being more tolerant to how the needs of the other are vital to mental health. I, as an introvert, need my down-time away from noise and people, to regenerate my strength. He is energized by the excitement of being around others. The book also goes into how different types parent and what professions most suit each type. I would love for the authors to write another book of a more in-depth view of all the types, but this book gave us an understanding of people that has been invaluable to us.

14 people found this helpful

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Spartan

No Right or Wrong Answer

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 21, 2013

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There is no right or wrong answer here. You are you and I am me. Have used this book for many years to help understand myself, others and how we perceive each other. The information presented in the book has been a tremendous help in assuring more harmonious relationships with others. When I have a "problem" with someone, I refer back to these concepts to try to understand why. There may be other answers to a problem, but these concepts are a good start.

It is important to know that if you are an "I" and find yourself in a job or activity where you do not find time to be by yourself, you will be "exhausted" by the end. Opposite is true, if you are an "E" and find yourself in a job or activity where you have no contact with other folks, you will be "exhausted" by the end.

I give this book away as a gift to folks that show interest in the subject and want to learn more.

Suggest reading the classic book first "Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types" before moving on to "Please Understand Me II".

5 people found this helpful

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Enche Tjin

Helpful to understand self and others

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 7, 2010

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Although many scientists or behaviorist argue that that personality type thing is useless and subjective, I find that to find your preferences and temperament in life is important. It is also great for relationship because if you know other people preferences, you can understand them better. At the end of the book, you will helplessly notice that people are different. Therefore, there are many misunderstanding in the world.

This book is very helpful for one to find their their temperament strengths and weakness. If we consistently working on our strength and overcome our weaknesses, we'll be able to be a better person.

The book are divided into several parts: MBTI test, explanation about four temperaments, mating, children temperament, and leading temperament. It also has description of each of Myers Briggs sixteen personality types.

My favorite is in leading temperament part. It is very detailed about the strengths, weakness and how to deal with people with other preferences.

This book is outdated but nevertheless give a great insight of different type of personality and how they interacts. I recommend if to get it used. The new version is Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence

2 people found this helpful

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Cheryl

Such an important book everyone should read this!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 9, 2021

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Had this book 30 years ago loaned out and never got it back. Need it for my favorites library.
Condition was almost new will order from this shop again!

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Amazon Customer

Well written but........

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 10, 2018

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The book's author knew his subject and was able to explain it very well. However I have my reservations about it's title 'Please understand me' which implies that this system will allow the reader to understand the psychology and motivations of others. Perhaps the title should have been 'Please better understand me' since it does identify important constitutional temperamental attitudes and functions that can help distinguish people to an extent. However it doesn't tell us how secure or adequate a person feels, or on what basis they predominantly value themselves and others, nor does it tell us about how interpersonally dominant/submissive a person is, their level of volitional independence/dependence in relation to their executive dependence etc. So it does tell us some things but far from being able to understand others. This has to be so since the book is about temperament which provides the building blocks for character which is more complex and in turn provides the basis for personality. Keirsey was a psychologist and unlike Jung and Myers-Briggs focused more on observable aspects of the personality rather than the phenomenological-subjective aspects. To some extent this is a strength as well as being a weakness. Still it's a good book and should be read by all those working with people in fields like HR and occupational psychology. It's also of interest to those working in the fields of mental health-psychotherapy since Keirsey's types do like Jung's indicate the 'choice of neurosis' or psychopathology, to use a psychoanalytic term, for why people demonstrate different forms of psychological disturbance, although the focus of the book is far from being that of psychiatry/clinical psychology.

One person found this helpful

Rosalind Healy

Probably only for the MBTI aware

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 26, 2013

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I would not recommend this work for a someone with a casual, passing interest in MBTI or someone looking to discover more about their own personality - there are more accessible books around for these purposes. Keirsey has a particular take on MBTI, which I find interesting and useful, but to get the most from this book it really helps to be more than familiar with the philosophy and psychology underlying the indicator and it may help too if you are aware of Keirsey's position and ideas. Having said that, I find the type descriptions completely brilliant and they alone are worth the 4 stars. They are detailed and capture the essence of each type in a particular manner that seems to communicate to the relevant type - nearly always when they read their own descriptor, people smile, laugh and nod with recognition. I would say a useful addition to the MBTI library - if you are a practitioner you probably already own this.

3 people found this helpful

PatriciaBookworm

I haven't read it but my daughter quotes it all ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 23, 2016

Verified Purchase

I haven't read it but my daughter quotes it all the time and now my granddaughter uses it - I think it must be very revealing but I just couldn't seem to answer the questions myself - I needed someone else to help me understand myself?!

One person found this helpful

Leo Mahon

Fun start but types are overly characterized.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

Decent book for getting into type theory but it generalizes behaviors too much in the name of making it a fun read. Also disagree with rejecting the function stack as this is vital to understanding type theory properly.

Amanda

Very interesting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

Very interesting book. First helps you work out which type you are. Then explains your type in detail.

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