The New Personality Self-Portrait: Why You Think, Work, Love and ACT the Way You Do

by John M. Oldham and Lois B. Morris

Book Overview

The New Personality Self -portrait is the only guide to personality types based on the American Psychiatric Association's just-published official diagnostic system -- the DSM -IV -- and written by one... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553373935
• ISBN13: 9780553373936
• Release Date: August 1995
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Amazing! Brilliant! Highly Useful!

WOW! At first I thought this would be a run-of-the-mill psych book, but it is actually outstanding! I've read about personality from some other sources, but this is by far the best I've seen. It is a goldmine of useful information. You will find out exactly what kind of person you really are. You will find the answers to the mysteries of your life. You will find out why you behaved the ways you did and why your life has turned out the way it has. You will find out how to get the best out of your particular set of personality traits. You will find out how to best deal with other people of different personalities. I found out why my parents were unnurturing - it's because that's just how the workaholic types are. This book describes 13 different personality styles which everyone has to varying degrees. This book shows you how they affect things like your work and love life. It shows you how to best cope with and minimize your weaknesses. This book enabled me to accept who I am and make the best of it. This book answered so many questions that have been a vexing mystery to me all my life. I think there are a few therapists here poo-pooing this book because it is very helpful and THEY are NOT! They're jealous! Truth is that most therapists and psychiatrists are incompetent and just waste your time. Many people like me know that from bitter experience. This book is VALID because it perfectly nailed down my personality traits and explained them like nothing else ever has and gave me tons of very helpful info and advice that I didn't even dream existed.

Definitely the best popular book on personality

When you really want to know what makes you and other people tick, find out motivation factors and have a compass for personal development and handling other people, that is based on solid current psychological insights; look no further buy this book. Its the biggest bang for your bucks.Because every character style can have many forms its necessary to get yourself familiar with it. Visit the forum on this book and the character types/styles as they appear in books and movies on the site of Personae Psychodiagnostics

Best Character Reference Book Ever!

Since reading the book, I am much more accepting and tolerant of myself and others and can readily understand why people do the things they do. I love to figure people out--this book has taken the guess work away and makes it simple to do. No one has ever defined my true nature like this book has done. In it, is a wealth of knowledge. I want to thank the author with all of my heart for helping me to understand myself and those around me like no other. I will use this book as a reference until the pages are pulp-free.

An excellent underrated psych. system

I found this book to be very accurate of my personality type. I am also quite familiar with the Myers-Briggs and Enneagram system, but in those they pretty much give you One type, and that leaves out a lot of information about yourself. This one however highlights the importance of your overall personality - your dominant personality style (also known as type), your leading styles, even the styles you are low on play an important role. I guess it is more so diagnosis than self-help, although it does give a good number of tips. Still, these two authors could possibly put out a book on this, except emphasizing helping yourself overcome your faults and weaknesses as presented in this book.All and all, I highly recommend this book if you are interested in and take an appreciation for personality psychology.

More Than a Good Read

I originally read the book for fun, sort of an advanced astrology chart, but ended up amazed at the wealth of insightful scientific information about how so much of the course of out lives and relationships has to do with the types of people we are. The book was well-written enough to be enjoyed as a novel, but on subsequent readings I was able to identify the character traits I've struggled with, and those of friends and lovers. Implicit in the book is the possibility of positive change than can come through awareness. This is a perfect gift book, and a subtle one for someone you care about whose consciousness you would like to raise.