The Enneagram is a time-honoured way of understanding personality types and human behavior. It is both ancient and modern. Developed over 1500 years by Sufi and Christian mystics, it was revised and extensively expanded in the 20th century by the disciplines and insights of Western psychology. It identifies nine types of personality, nine ways of being, describes how they interrelate and is widely used today as a perceptive guide to self-understanding. In this original and thought-provoking book 'Enneagram' unveils her insights in the form of letters to and from enquirers. These finely-drawn portraits of the nine faces of humanity will not only give you a deeper understanding of who you are, but will also guide you through the complex inner world of others.
The Enneagram
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'A very wise man has written a very wise book. You'd be stupid to miss it. There is no better guide to this fascinating subject than Simon Parke.'
-- Personal endorsement from Simon Mayo, Radio 5 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
-- Personal endorsement from Simon Mayo, Radio 5 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
About the Author
Simon Parke was a priest in the Church of England for 20 years and is now a freelance writer. His books include 'The Journey Home', One-Minute Mindfulness and Solitude: Recovering the power of alone.' Simon runs, leads retreats, meets with people looking for a new way in their life and follows the beautiful game with more passion than is helpful.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By G. Jackson
Format:Paperback
I was suprised by the negativity of some of these reviews. I am an Enneagram virgin so have nothing to compare but I liked this book and found it told me most of what I wanted to know. I then read Simon's follow up book 'The Beautiful Life' and then it all made sense. I found 'The Enneagram' to be keys to the toolbox and 'The Beautiful Life' to be the toolbox full of ways to help find what we're all looking for. I think it was John Lennon who said something like, 'Life is what happens to you while you are planning something else'. The same philosophy applies, Stop wasting time and wake up to the here and now. If you can better that, let me know.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I must admit I had reservations about this book - particularly the personification of the Enneagram (the literary device of 'E' writing the book). Having studied the Enneagram for some time and used it successfully with clients (as a way of helping them to understand better who they are) I didn't really expect to learn all that much that was new. I was dead wrong.
Firstly, the book has caused me to question my existing self knowledge to the point that I have actually changed my diagnosis of my number. There isn't really a way of expressing succinctly how profoundly liberating this has been - it's as if a huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders and, as a result, many other things have fallen into place. One of the most useful features of the book is the author presenting the 'three centres' towards the beginning of the book - it was this that alerted me to my mis-diagnosis.
If you know nothing about the Enneagram this is a good place to start - but peversely it is also a good place to reflect if you think (like me) that you know a little more (especially if, as in my case, you find yourself misguided!). It's certainly not a place to go if you simply want a quick 30 second diagnostic - this book is about a lifetime process and the author makes it clear that it is not always an easy journey. But it is a journey well worth making with rich rewards to the soul and Simon Parke's book is a wonderful place to start.
Firstly, the book has caused me to question my existing self knowledge to the point that I have actually changed my diagnosis of my number. There isn't really a way of expressing succinctly how profoundly liberating this has been - it's as if a huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders and, as a result, many other things have fallen into place. One of the most useful features of the book is the author presenting the 'three centres' towards the beginning of the book - it was this that alerted me to my mis-diagnosis.
If you know nothing about the Enneagram this is a good place to start - but peversely it is also a good place to reflect if you think (like me) that you know a little more (especially if, as in my case, you find yourself misguided!). It's certainly not a place to go if you simply want a quick 30 second diagnostic - this book is about a lifetime process and the author makes it clear that it is not always an easy journey. But it is a journey well worth making with rich rewards to the soul and Simon Parke's book is a wonderful place to start.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Four Violets
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Simon Parke writes a witty and amusing weekly column in the Mail on Saturday magazine about his experience working in a supermarket. Prior to that he was an Anglican priest for twenty years.
The Enneagram is a psychological and spiritual quest to find your identity in one of nine basic character types. Simon Parke, writing as if the Enneagram symbol itself is speaking, explains how the concept developed over the ages, apparently the 9 pointed symbol itself can be traced back to Pythagoras; and the ideas relate to teachings of Buddha, Socrates, and Plato, as well as Christianity - which he does not perceive as a conflict.
After identifying which of the nine types you believe you are, each of these is then entered into in greater depth. Unfortunately like many other self-help psychological books this is bigger on dissecting than putting together again, and the resulting advice can best be summed up by a return to Buddha: "the primary cause of our suffering is not our experience, but our response to it." We are advised to "respond, not react;" and "promote the pause."
This was an interesting book; with some briefly touched-on insights such as Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human need - yet I feel it ended just where it should have begun. Almost the last words are "you have everything you need to proceed" - but I did not feel this to be the case.
The Enneagram is a psychological and spiritual quest to find your identity in one of nine basic character types. Simon Parke, writing as if the Enneagram symbol itself is speaking, explains how the concept developed over the ages, apparently the 9 pointed symbol itself can be traced back to Pythagoras; and the ideas relate to teachings of Buddha, Socrates, and Plato, as well as Christianity - which he does not perceive as a conflict.
After identifying which of the nine types you believe you are, each of these is then entered into in greater depth. Unfortunately like many other self-help psychological books this is bigger on dissecting than putting together again, and the resulting advice can best be summed up by a return to Buddha: "the primary cause of our suffering is not our experience, but our response to it." We are advised to "respond, not react;" and "promote the pause."
This was an interesting book; with some briefly touched-on insights such as Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human need - yet I feel it ended just where it should have begun. Almost the last words are "you have everything you need to proceed" - but I did not feel this to be the case.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic approach to the Enneagram
Refreshing and moving. I wold highly recommend this to those wanting to know more about the Enneagram. Read more
Published 4 months ago by N. Brice
5.0 out of 5 stars
An accessible way to define personality traits
I had not heard of this way of analysing personality traits before I discovered this book, and find it most intriguing and not too abstruse. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2011 by E. M. Spradbery
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eye-watering
What I really like about this wonderful little book is that you don't just get the Enneagram creatively explained and explored - but you get to go behind the scenes of the human... Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2010 by Clean Eyes
1.0 out of 5 stars
irritating tone of voice
This book started irritating me from the first pages. The author personifies himself as the Enneagram which is supposedly the world's greatest psychologist. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by Polydoros
5.0 out of 5 stars
Now I understand my compulsions!
If you are looking for a book about the Enneagram I would highly recommend this one. I have a couple of other Enneagram books that other reviewers raved about but I didn't enjoy as... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2009 by Mrs. Helen Thomas
2.0 out of 5 stars
Deeply flawed
This is a deeply flawed book. I can't comment on how well it represents enneagram thinking, or whether as a result I have an accurate opinion. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2008 by M. G. Wilson
2.0 out of 5 stars
Clunky and Smug
I have been looking for a book about the Enneagram for a while, and I was delighted to discover this in the psychology section of my local bookshop. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2008 by G. S. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gift to be shared
Simon Parke introduces us to Enneagram (E), sharing Es beginnings, travels, evolution and symbols. E in return shares what E understands of us... Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2008 by Gayano
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