Reviews

The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge by Beatrice Chestnut

jensoos's review against another edition

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4.0

Such a comprehensive and deeper dive into the Enneagram than offered by many other books. I've read most of the "starter" books about the Enneagram and Chestnut's explanation of many of the deeper concepts was very, very helpful (sub-types and growth paths.) A worthy investment in your self-study growth around the Enneagram.

soavezefiretto's review against another edition

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3.0

Definitely recommended if you want to dig deeper into the Enneagram. I suppose for this rather weighty tome some repetition was inevitable, but it made reading a bit dreary. I missed the humour of the first book on the Enneagram I read, Ian Cron's "The Road Back to You". He recommends this a lot, and I defnitely learned a lot - I will probably re-read quite a bit, and I have already underlined about a third of it. So, an absolute staple for Enneagram students, just not a keen reading pleasure.

epilieaspiechick's review against another edition

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5.0

If you're interested in the Enneagram, there really is no better book! It's very informationally intensive though, so be prepared for that going in.

livvyberrigan's review against another edition

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3.0

I was only able to skim the general chapters and 2 of the numbers, but this was very insightful and well rounded information! Interested to learn more about the subtypes.

leahreads_but_lea_michele_cant's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

being__brit's review against another edition

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5.0

For anyone interested in psychology, ancient philosophy/ religion, and identifying one’s personality strengths and weaknesses. This book was incredibly transformative for how I approach school/work, my personal relationships, and myself.
Warning: I would be weary of reading this book if you’re not at a place to accept your own bullshit. This book, while embracing personality strengths, also delves into some hard topics that might be hard to accept about ourselves. It doesn’t sugar coat each types downfalls and how you might have developed your personality—it’s a process both transformative (in the best way possible) but also deeply emotional, and potently hashes up old wounds. Despite these possibilities, I would implore anyone interested in “understanding” themselves/others better to give it a read!

notdallycetexas's review against another edition

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5.0

The most comprehensive enneagram text I have ever read. I can tell Beatrice Chestnut put her heart and soul into this work. I own a few other books on the enneagram but I find myself reaching for this one over and over.

anaplana's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

k_gregz's review against another edition

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4.0

I liked that this enneagram book was more grounded in psychology than faith. It added some balance to my enneagram reading. I have to say I'm skeptical of the subtypes. I found myself having a number crisis at several subtypes, especially when they sound nothing like the main type of that number. At some point I (a 5, I think) legitimately felt I could be a social 5, a social 6, a self-pres 3, or a social 1 because there was so much overlap between numbers in the subtypes. And sometimes it was difficult to see how that subtype could be that number at all (I'm looking at you self-pres 3). So, while I am not saying that I think the subtypes are definitely bogus; I am saying that I do not find them personally to be that helpful to my understanding of the enneagram. I do, however, find her discussion of the integration/disintegration movements to be the most helpful I've read.

l2intj's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

This book is set apart from most other books on the Enneagram in that it not only discusses the nine major types, but their 27 sub-types. It’s rather incredible how different each type can look, depending on whether one’s strongest sub-type is security-based, socially-based, or sexually-based. A bit repetitive at times, but overall an excellent book if you want a deep dive into the Enneagram. And as a five, I’m always ready for a deep dive.  🙂