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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Stereotypes exist for a reason. Usually, because there's an element of truth to them. With The Writer's Guide to Character Traits, psychologist and professor Linda Edelstein has created a basic guide for Writers. Her goal? "To create a friendly reference" for writers who want "to create believable characters and need accurate information about personality and behaviour." Sure, disparage it if you like. But wouldn't you like to know which of your protagonist's offspring is most predisposed to warming up to their new stepfather? What kind of criminal is likely to have a religious mother? The traits of people who commit suicide? Edelstein has included over 400 lists: of traits associated with child development, psychological disorders, criminal styles, sexual styles, love and marriage, life-changing events, physical problems, career, and the like. "Even when a writer's imagination soars to places more fascinating than reality," says Edelstein, "characters must possess an internal cohesiveness: they must make sense." And let's face it: "People," she adds, "are more consistent than not." (The book includes real-life character anecdotes from Edelstein's own work and a huge character-trait cross-referencing index at the end.) --Jane Steinberg
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
With over 40,000 copies sold, "The Writer's Guide to Character Traits" is a classic reference for writers who want to create realistic and distinct characters. Written by Dr. Linda Edelstein, a practicing psychologist who is an authority in her field, it includes: over 400 easy-to-reference character listings, detailing typical behaviours and thought processes as well as common reactions to different situations; and sidebars and statistics on a variety of personality types, not previously included. With a new "How to Use This Book" section and new material, this revised edition is a must-have for every writer's library.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
However, I don't feel it's as easy to reference as it could be and some of the listings seem a little terse. If you took this too seriously you'd be tempted to look up everyone you know, or worry yourself sick over the clothes you happen to wear. As a writer I feel you have to temper these traits with other aspects of life. If I choose to wear loose clothing it may be because I need ease of movement for some reason and not because I wish to appear invisible, so I think it's best to approach this from the other direction and think of the character you wish to portray - look up aspects pertaining to that type of person and decide what you wish to use to give your character more life, make him or her more plausible. I haven't seen a book like it elsewhere in the market though and like I say I'm sure if you feel the need for it, it will have its uses.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a big book crammed with a wide range of information about human nature and character traits. It's all based on recent psychological and psychiatric research, so is as trustworthy as any writing on human nature can ever be.
The fact that it's research-based is also its biggest problem. It contains heaps of information on the sort of things psychologists research, and nothing on what they don't. This makes the material biased towards extreme and unusual behaviour rather than what normal people do. (Of course, you probably know enough normal people to do your own research into what they do.)
As an editor, I also have a quibble with the standard of editing. The various sections are thrown together with no overall style, and even the layout and type style fall down in places. This is annoying to read, but doesn't damage the information itself.
All in all, I'm glad I have this book on my shelf. If I need a handy guide to (for instance) childhood development, the effects of divorce, stages of mourning, or types of personality disturbance, this is the first place I'd look. By all means follow it up by talking to real live people if you can, but this is a good place to start.
The fact that it's research-based is also its biggest problem. It contains heaps of information on the sort of things psychologists research, and nothing on what they don't. This makes the material biased towards extreme and unusual behaviour rather than what normal people do. (Of course, you probably know enough normal people to do your own research into what they do.)
As an editor, I also have a quibble with the standard of editing. The various sections are thrown together with no overall style, and even the layout and type style fall down in places. This is annoying to read, but doesn't damage the information itself.
All in all, I'm glad I have this book on my shelf. If I need a handy guide to (for instance) childhood development, the effects of divorce, stages of mourning, or types of personality disturbance, this is the first place I'd look. By all means follow it up by talking to real live people if you can, but this is a good place to start.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
E.g.:
The stutterer:
Speech not fluent
Begins early
Generally ends by 16
Worse with anxiety.
A book full of time-worn clichés. Which is actually its strength. You read it and you say, "Ok, if it's like that, my character starts stuttering at the age of 18. And it's only bad when she's really happy, otherwise when she's stressed, she's a poet. Na na na na na, nerrr. Ok! Let's go: who, what, where, when, why?" If characters are cocktails then this is a sort of recipe book. Only the best cocktails never follow the recipe but the barman's tush. (Some would say: if you need a recipe book you don't know how to cook. But then again it's reassuring to know which direction to head when looking for the market. Etc.)
I've enjoyed bouncing off this book. The intro is over-earnest self-important puff, chapter one is a disclaimer ("Good characters break out of stereotypes"), and the rest is essentially one big list of clichés, prejudices, and déjà-vues, all packed up in one book, to play with and have fun. The alcoholic Islamist alchemist. The narcissist, post-divorce, tennis-playing, insomniac child. Bring 'em on.
The stutterer:
Speech not fluent
Begins early
Generally ends by 16
Worse with anxiety.
A book full of time-worn clichés. Which is actually its strength. You read it and you say, "Ok, if it's like that, my character starts stuttering at the age of 18. And it's only bad when she's really happy, otherwise when she's stressed, she's a poet. Na na na na na, nerrr. Ok! Let's go: who, what, where, when, why?" If characters are cocktails then this is a sort of recipe book. Only the best cocktails never follow the recipe but the barman's tush. (Some would say: if you need a recipe book you don't know how to cook. But then again it's reassuring to know which direction to head when looking for the market. Etc.)
I've enjoyed bouncing off this book. The intro is over-earnest self-important puff, chapter one is a disclaimer ("Good characters break out of stereotypes"), and the rest is essentially one big list of clichés, prejudices, and déjà-vues, all packed up in one book, to play with and have fun. The alcoholic Islamist alchemist. The narcissist, post-divorce, tennis-playing, insomniac child. Bring 'em on.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Writer's Guide to Character Traits
An excellent insight into character traits which is enabling me to enhance my character profiles, thereby giving them more depth, interest and, ultimately, reality. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by M. Parker
A very useful tool
If you want a book on psychology look elsewhere. If you are a writer looking for a tool to help with character development this is ideal.
Published on 9 Feb 2010 by johnb
Excellent Writer's resource
This excellent writer's resource could also be used by non-writers looking for an overview of personality traits. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2009 by L. Pearce
Could be better
The book I recommend to my creative writing class is Catherine Coulter's Homeopathic Portraits. Odd? Certainly. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2008 by amantedofado
Completely pointless
This book is so awful I felt compelled to write a review. There is nothing of worth in here unless you are completely lacking in imagination and insight into even the slightest... Read more
Published on 1 April 2008 by M. Joannou
conceptually flawed?
The idea that people in certain roles have common charateristics is beyond doubt, the whole of business recruitment is based on that fact. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2003 by sam
Extremely helpful & interesting
I dont know why I am the first to review this book? Surely it cant be because it is not any use & no one is buying this book!! Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2000 by gnicol5498@aol.com
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