I have been a student of the enneagram for over a decade, and own both the original and "revised" editions of this book. I am generally a fan of Riso & Hudson's work, and this book certainly does a respectable job of introducing readers to the basic "nuts and bolts" of the enneagram. As such, I feel comfortable recommending it as a good introductory text. Some readers (myself included), however, might find themselves a bit distressed by the frequent cross-references to Don Riso's prior and exhaustive volume on the Enneagram, "Personality Types." Since I also own that book, a concept briefly introduced and then concluded with the reference "(PT, 31-32)" is not a problem for me, but would probably be confusing or annoying to a reader who has picked up "Understanding the Enneagram" as their first book on the subject.
That said, here's what this book offers: Section One covers an introduction to the enneagram as a personality typing and growth tool, followed by thumbnail descriptions of the nine enneagram types, and concludes by explaining Riso's concept of the "levels of development" that exist within each type.
Section Two helps readers identify their type through the use of questionnaires. Particularly useful is the fairly thorough coverage of "misidentifications," or common ways in which people tend to choose a type that isn't really a true representation of their personality. The section concludes with an "assessment guide," which is basically a "fill in the blanks" area where readers can pencil in their responses to a number of questions.
In Section Three-- which I found to be the most interesting-- the authors make connections between the enneagram types at different levels of emotional health, and an assortment of theories and psycho-pathologies of "conventional" psychology. The section continues with recommendations on how to practically apply the teachings of the enneagram to personal growth, including specific tips for each of the nine types. The book concludes with a somewhat brief discussion of the connection between "personality" and "essence," and how the enneagram is as much a spiritual tool as a psychological one.
Final thoughts: Definitely worthwhile (8.5 out of 10 possible bookmarks) as a good basic or introductory text on the enneagram-- as long as you're not put off by frequent "pointers" to more information (essentially requiring you to buy another book). The book is well-organized, well-explained and written in easy-to-understand language. For the more advanced student, a nice addition to "Personality Types" and "The Wisdom of the Ennagram" by the same authors.
Thanks for reading!
--Peter
