Personality Type: An Owner's Manual: A Practical Guide to Understanding Yourself and Others Through Typology (Jung on the Hudson Book Series)

by Lenore Thomson

Book Overview

The type test inside will tell you about the choices you've made and the direction you're taking--according to C. G. Jung's theory of psychological types. For Jung, knowing your type was essential to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877739870
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.1" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful way to get insight on others

I am not a student of personality typing, nor am I a student of Psychology. I discovered this book through a business communications class and have found the theories discussed to be very insightful. This is one of the better books on this subject that I have found. The broader theory of personality typing according to Meyers-Briggs is discussed in full detail, and there are large sections on each personality type. She brings in every day examples pinning a particular comedian to a personality type. She does give many Star Trek examples as well. I choose this book over others because of the depth she goes into the general as well as the individual personality types.Why was this useful in everyday life? Knowing a bit about this helps me realize how I come across, and how to communicate effectively with others. You approach introverts in a different way than an extovert. Some people want big picture details, and others was fine details in everything. You can save yourself a lot of time in dealing with people if you understand them. Myers-Briggs isn't about helping people with their issues, but it is a way of knowing how they relate to others and the world. Its wonderful to sum up a situation by understanding where all parties involved stand. This is a great book for this, and her writting style is very easy on the non scientific mind and the casual reader.

Astonishing!!

Hello. As an INTJ/INFJ ... I found this book to be fascinating, and of course, extremely useful. I completely share the view that this is not a good introduction to MBTI, if only because (especially if you're a pretty strong J like me) you need to have some headspace around the terms and concepts in order to really dive into this amazing book. There are a few truly remarkable things about this book that I'd enjoy pointing out here to possible readers...Some MBTI books out there do not focus enough on the basic fact that we are often our own worst enemies in a very predictable sense. We all have our own version of enjoyable living, and while our Dominant (1st) Function is on autopilot to take us there, if left UNCHECKED, it will INEVITABLY run out of control and float too far from shore, and take us to our own private living hell... it is rather terrifying, when you think of it. According to Ms. Thomson, the remedy for this is your Secondary (2nd) Function, which intervenes to regulate your Dominant Function's Dictatorship of you.. however, what usually happens (and has happened to me - it hurts to think of this) your Tertiary (3rd) Function steps in to tell you that the world is against you, and then (this is where it gets really freaky) your horrid Inferiour (4th) Function, which certain people refer to as your 'beloved child' but is really a self-destructive mutant waiting to ruin your lifestyle, finds an opportunistic hole and takes over. According to my research, somewhat irresponsibly, some MBTI books either imply or directly counsel people to develop their inferiour (4th) function in order to achieve a kind of personality 'wholeness'. Ms. Thomson profoundly and convincingly (because you yourself can see the evidence if you reflect upon recent or current crisis') smashes that concept to bits. Rather, she suggests relying on development of the Secondary Function in order to give some space for that Inferiour function to emerge in a benign way. Ms. Thomson does not pull punches here: the 4th function is NOT a helpful function - not because there is something wrong it, or with any of us, but because by its very nature it is misapplied. But we do not have to cut it out of our lives (or use it to our inevitable personal pain) if we strengthen our Secondary function, which moderates and checks our entire personality spectrum....this is getting long, hm? Okay, almost done. Sorry, I just love this book!A special note to INTJs and INFJs (and anyone else who wants to keep reading :)As a member of this extremely rare, but immensely powerful segment of people, do yourself an immeasurable favour, and get this book if only for the chapter on INxJs. Nothing I have read in any other book, or online, is as powerful as this chapter in terms of the sheer number of NERVES that it hits. Most other books tend to revere INxJs as the visionaries and the cerebral, otherworldly types. And it can be nice to read something that says such lofty things. Bu

Excellent in-depth guide to type

When I first read David Keirsey's "Please Understand Me" it was eye-opening, but now looks simple compared to Lenore Thomson's book. Excellent descriptions of the real meaning of extraversion and introversion. I found the effect of inferior and tertiary functions under stress particularly enlightening. Her use of cartoons and pop-culture references as examples helps keep things understandable, but make no mistake that this is still a pretty heavy read.The chapters on types, categorized by dominant function, were dead-on for ISTJ and ESFJ and likely are for the others as well - I found myself shaking my head and thinking, "So THAT'S why they act that way!!!!!" I've personally observed those types in action the most and can attest to their worldview and the influence of their tertiary function.The only fault I found, if it can be called that, is the lack of a section on intertype relations, but there are other books on that. For the territory Thomson covers, this book is an excellent reference and I'd highly recommend it to the hardcore student of type. Those unfamiliar with Jung or MBTI may want to read a more basic introduction to the concept first.

The best advanced book on Typology

Most people who know their Myers-Briggs type don't have a valid understanding of what it means. They interpret INFP to mean Introversion+iNtuition+Feeling+Perceiving, when it REALLY means Introverted Feeling with Extraverted Intuition. These are known as "functions", and up until this book, I never understood them. Functions like Introverted Feeling are difficult to understand, hence the simplification of seeing your MB type as simply four variables. With this book, you will understand much more than just what your behavior shows, but in HOW you THINK and UNDERSTAND. This is probably the Deepest book on the subject I have yet to see. It is definitely not for beginners, however for the advanced student of Myers-Briggs, it is definitely a treasure to keep. For a REAL understanding of the Myers-Briggs types and yourself, read this book immediately.

INTJ loves it, but not for the novice

As an INTJ I have been fascinated by MBTI for over 10 years and I have read many books. I highly recommend Lenore Thomson's book because she takes a biological left brain / right brain approach and combines it with a deep understanding of Jung and personality evolution. I especially appreciate that it is normal to turn to your lesser functions to re-evaluate your life periodically, especially at times of perceived "crisis." This is not a book for beginners, the subtle differences in functions are used with laser precision and require a good understanding of MBTI. She uses interesting examples drawn from the funny papers and Star Trek. In a society of extraverts (75% of the American population), this book helps to clarify the strengths of a society which values the diversity of personality type rather than one which values conformity.