My True Type: Clarifying Your Personality Type, Preferences & Functions

Some people collect kitschy religious objects and use them to connect to a spiritual realm. Some people read self-help books and use them to convince themselves that they're going to turn their lives around. I read about personality type. What can I say: it's a sickness.But in all seriousness, for some of us the Jungian/MBTI concept of personality is a revelation that on some level explains pretty much all of human behavior. I used to puzzled by why I loved to spend hours walking or doing simple manual labor in order to daydream--I mean develop my ideas--or why I could read "literature" and understand or excel at college testing it but fall apart at the DMV (my personal idea of hell, right up there with filling out forms will sitting at the hospital). But no more! All has been revealed to me, and it could be to you if you would just accept the True Teachings.Funnily enough, those of us who feel that way seem to be of the same personality types as the people who created the idea, namely, INFPs, INFJs, and the occasional (but influential) INTP. Which suggests that the tests and the concepts behind them are describing something real, however skeptical those who are of the types who are predicted not to believe in the idea--and who often don't--might be.Anyway, "My True Type" is aimed at people who already have a basic concept of the MBTI types, and want to dig a little deeper into the functions. Like a lot of books of its type (haha), namely, the popular non-fiction/self-help genre, it's short and simple and easy to read. Jung was a thinker of astonishing depth and erudition who synthesized massive amounts of information to create a theory that is almost as impenetrable to the casual reader as it is enlightening to the determined reader who wishes to wade through it. Those who have followed in his footsteps in order to create and refine the MBTI have taken his complex theories and adapted them for popular consumption, and this book is no different. As an introduction and discussion to the functions it's simple yet comprehensive, although it may seem a little light for the reader hungering for meatier fare.However, it's a very enjoyable read (if you like that kind of thing), and it includes what for me were some genuinely fascinating insights. It focuses a lot on the dominant-inferior function struggle, something that interests me greatly and that once again I am using to gain a greater understanding of my authors and the inherent tensions in their works. Are they Fi types struggling to resolve the conflict between Fi (internal, personal morals and values) and Te (external, impersonal systems and rules), like, I would argue, Politkovskaya and Alexievich? Or are they Ni (symbolic vision and deep insights) types trying to embody their visions in an Se (physical reality) medium, like, I submit, Prilepin? "My True Type" goes into a fair amount of detail about those kinds of conflicts, which is helpful if you are struggling to grasp your real type. Because let's face it, the critics of the MBTI are absolutely in saying that a yes-no questionnaire is not an infallible instrument for capturing who YOU really are. But thinking about the central conflicts and tensions of your inner self probably is.The book also contains some interesting insights about the work processes and behaviors of some of the different basic divisions, dividing them into EJ and IP, who (much as they might hate to admit it) have much in common, and EP and IJ (ditto). There's a short but interesting discussion about how EJ/IP types, as dominant Judging types, tend to not have a problem starting projects, but then have to work in a diffuse, seemingly random style as they take their basic idea through their Perceiving functions, which can derail them, while EP and IJ types can have trouble sorting through all their dominant Perceiving options and getting started on projects (I know that's a problem for me), but then once they begin, they tend to finish their projects swiftly and decisively (also true for me). A very helpful thing to know when trying to do projects either on your own or with other people, and important to keep in mind when giving other people suggestions or directions on how to work. I know my IP colleagues, who are legion (universities are full of them) are always in a sweat to get started on projects and have badgered me in the past about my foot-dragging to get started, while I as an IJ struggle to keep from screaming, "JUST FINISH THE DANG THING! JUST FINISH IT!!!!! WHY DID YOU START IF YOU WEREN'T READY TO FINISH IT????? AGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!"Okay, venting session over :) But you see my point: a knowledge of type can be very useful for starting and completing projects. All the advice about working creatively that is obviously generated by and for NP and EF types (brainstorming, outlining, collaboration, reworking and revising, etc. etc.) seems anathema to me, while my IJ work process (think, think, think, worry, stress, feel like a failure, think some more, then JUST DO IT!!!!!) is apparently not as universally applicable as I used to think.So in short, if you're interested in personality type and especially in the functions, this is a nice, readable, interesting addition to the genre.

A VERY detailed book about personality type with regard to the Meyers/Briggs assessments ( hence the very significant word "Clarifying" in the title of the book) . I especially enjoyed his chapter about introverted intuition (Ni). He was so accurate in so many places in that chapter about that aspect of my personality type that I have the bulk of the chapter highlighted on my kindle version.I gave it 5 stars because it was what I needed at this point ( greater detail and clarity), having studied already fairly extensively on this subject. However, if one is new to this topic, this book would undoubtedly be overwhelming. I would check out the author's excellent website to get a general overview first. He does have other books that were written prior to this one, so maybe one of them has more of an introductory tone.One caveat to my 5 star rating however, is that I have noticed in various places in his writings ( on his website and a few places in this book) that he seems to be of the opinion ( and is not alone in it) that it's fairly impossible for a woman to be a "thinking" type.I have tested REPEATEDLY on many, many tests as an INTJ. To be honest, as a female, I would rather NOT be an INTJ. I have always gotten along much better with male friends than female, which can then be the impetus of some confusing, mixed feelings ( mostly on the part of the male). I have struggled since childhood to understand human emotion and I do not have Aspergers ( to my knowledge). Looking back on some of my friendships with females, I realize now, as a 45 year old female who has learned more about emotions simply through observation , that I must have seemed like such a non-feeling friend to them.One quick example was when I was in high school. My best female friend had finally been given permission by her father to drive his classic car to school. The man doted on that car and threatened her with lifetime grounding if she so much as scratched it. She insisted on picking me up for school in the car and we were both thrilled to drive it. However, after school, in front of the building, in the midst of the harried bustle of high schoolers being released for the day, my friend rear- ended the car in front of her, totaling her father's classic Mustang. As my friend sat in a heap on the driver's side seat, crying her eyes out, one would think that I would have thought to console her. However, in my typical INTJ manner, my default thinking pattern was "Why did we rear-end the car? Did the brakes fail? Why did this happen?" I wanted to figure out if there was some type of mechanical malfunction to account for the accident. I didn't ever actually console her. It never even occurred to me that she was feeling devastated about what her dad would say or how he would feel, until years later. I simply didn't take emotions into account. I have learned, mostly through observing "feeler" female friends how to relate to other women in an emotional way. My adult daughter is an INFJ and I had to learn as I was raising her how to actually empathize with her emotions instead of trying to always fix things. It's a struggle for me! But I do love deeply, and am devoted to my loved ones. However, I am definitely NOT a feeler simply because I am a female. I realize that the author is making generalizations based on the percentages being in the other direction from who I am, but I did find it to be mildly offensive. There are actually INTJ women in existence. And it's not necessarily pleasant for us.Having said that, I do appreciate the articles on his website and have very much enjoyed gleaning further insight from this book. I intend to purchase a copy for my daughter, who had also studied the subject extensively.

Good book. But pretty detailed. It gets it a bit complex when talking about functions of a type. Check out the authors website first I reckon. He also has a personality test that's free that you can do. I give it 4 stars- as you know this guy is an expert. That said it's hard to read if u are not into type theory. As above I would also recommend going to his website first.

Recomendo esse autor principalmente para quem tem o perfil tipologico INTP, para esses raros casos, o insight é poderoso.

Very very interesting

Been familiar with the MBTI and the cognitive functions for quite a while now, but you can never be too sure of your own type. This gives the best overview and tips for differentiating between different type preferences and functions. Highly recommended for any MBTI geek.

A wonderful look at the specifics of the Myers-Briggs personality types, and a useful tool in self discovery. The author presents information in a helpful and interesting manner, with an easy-to-read writing style. Certainly a worthy read for anyone with a craving to learn more about the 16 personality types and uncover their own traits, or to augment any knowledge they already have of MBTI.

It is that kind of book that clear your doubts about your true type. At least it helped me a lot. There are a lot of books on this subject in the market. Most of them only to confuse you more on your type. This one is a bit different. I think this book will help you too like me to reveal your true type.