Product Description

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 understanding yourself: a way to measure personal growth and change. But his ideas have been applied largely in the areas of career and marital counseling, so type has come to seem predictive: a way to determine your job skills and social abilities. This book reclaims type as a way to talk about people's inner potential and the choices they make in order to honor it. Using everyday examples from popular culture—films, "Star Trek," soap operas, comic strips—it describes the sixteen basic ways people come to terms with their gifts and values. In this book you will find tools to understand: How your personality takes shape How your type reflects not only your current priorities, but your hidden potential How unlived possibilities are trying to get your attention How relationships at home and at work can help you to tap your unrealized gifts Whether you're trying to figure out who you are and what you need to do in life, or recognizing that deeper meaning lies beyond what you've already accomplished, this book will help you to become aware of your greatest strengths, your opportunities to live them out, and your ability to make the most of your unique potential.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106653 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-27
• Released on: 1998-10-27
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 415 pages

Bulletin of Psychological Type, Summer 1999
Thomson's type descriptions are unusually full and can be mined for information and suggestion even by seasoned practitioners.

Myers-Briggs Personality Type on the Web, April 12, 1999
Lenore Thomson has written a book that includes the best descriptions of what the functions mean of any book I have read.

The Enneagram and the MBTI, November 1998
The theory is made clear by great stories that catch the reader's interest and imagination, and give a chuckle at the same time.

Customer Reviews

Could Have Been a Great Book ... without Star Trek
I think there were good intensions here, but the author got "lost in space."
This could have been a great book ... without the Star Trek Stories.
The author uses way too many examples from the Star Trek series and other
pop culture TV programs. I am not a Star Trek buff, so I was clueless
when she used examples from the TV programs.

A book of this nature should stand alone without some TV series as prerequisite.
Especially when it is referred to as "An Owner's Manual".
It was like being required to be familiar with the nature of my garbage disposal
in order to understand the owner's manual for my lawn mower.

A more appropriate title for this book is:
Personality Type Analysis of the Star Trek Crew Members.

I doubt that she will correct the problem, given the high marks from
other readers who were probably familiar with the Star Trek episodes that she mentions.

My suggestion to the author -- team up with an author who is more down to earth
and you will produce a classic in the field.

Good, but open to criticism.
I've read a number of books on typology and have been satisfied with all of them. This meant that Thompson's book had high expectations for which to live up to.

The book had an excellent couple of opening chapters but I couldn't help but find, as other reviewers have noted, that the description of the types part could have been shorter. (with the loss of content and impact being minimal)

I'm a little concerned about the lack of a proper references section in this book. Also I feel it should be emphasized that the author doesn't have a scientific background yet attempts to explain typological differences scientifically.

I'm also a little concerned that this book is ultimately describing a theory. The latter half of this book seems particularly untheoretical -for example, don't expect to find many (if any) references to jungian theory in the latter half of this book.

All in all, this book is a lightweight in the realm of typology. Still, many people prefer a lighter read than one heavy with theory and models.

The Most Informative MBTI Book of All
As an ENTP and avid type user (though I hate that term), I have yet to find a better book that describes the personality types with such depth and detail. Not only does the author give an incredibly detailed explanation of each of the eight traits (Introversion/Extraversion, iNtuition/Sensing, Thinking/Feeling, Perception/Judging) as well as the individual types, but she also explains how each person possesses four preferences rather than just lumping everything under a four letter acronym, and how those preferences work together.

Likewise, while this book focuses on bringing understanding of how different from us other people can be on a very fundamental level, it also focuses on bringing understanding of the individual self. Unlike many other books, which simply explain why we are the way we are in terms of our type, this book goes into great detail of explaining the strengths and weaknesses of each individual preference, the unique way in which those strengths and weaknesses are designed to push us to grow, and how we can follow that design to its full potential. That is, to become fully realized by embracing aspects of ourselves that do not feel familiar or comfortable but are nonetheless a part of us, bringing an inner balance and stability. It's been invaluable to me in my own personal journey to understand myself and become more fully realized.

As for the text itself, it can be a bit complex at times, though she uses many analogies and examples of familiar pop-culture icons to bring greater understanding. It's probably not a great beginner's book in the sense that you won't get everything out of it on the first read. But then again, I've read it about twelve times and I am STILL learning new information each time. There is a lot of important information here, and very little to no filler at all.

If you are looking for a guide to understanding the self and others, and/or looking for a light on the path to personal growth, I can't recommend a better book. It's my "Bible", and I can guarantee, if you're interested in Typology, you'll refer to this text again and again and again.