First of all: I am still slightly embarrassed about it, but I just love the enneagram stuff. It may not be your thing, but for me, it gives so much clarity into motivations, relationships, and understanding how people see the world differently. When I use the enneagram as a lens to understand myself, it gives me a little space from my reactions and assumptions, but doesn't ask me to fight against who I am, just to try and become a healthier version of myself. It is also very easy for me to slide out of that mindset unless I refresh myself with a new enneagram read every once in awhile, so that is why I picked up this new entry into the enneagram canon.

Case has a very positive, nurturing, coaching-based approach to the enneagram. Her prose is very easy to read, and millennial in a good way (open and caring, cheerleading, instagramable, but with depth). This probably isn't a great choice for someone who hasn't read something more substantial about the enneagram first (The Wisdom of the Enneagram is still my favorite), but it is a good companion if you have already spent some time reading and thinking about this. Her HONEST method gives practical advice and ideas for reframing unhealthy behaviors and things to try to help with rough spots in each of the types, so this is a good second step if you want to know what the heck to do with what you've learned about yourself elsewhere. It is also just a very nicely printed book with a beautiful layout and a pleasing shape and cover. It makes you want to pick it up!

[This part is probably for fellow enneagram nerds / Kristy personality fans:]

Surprisingly, in everything else I read, I felt pretty strongly that I was a 2 with a 1 wing, but in reading Case's descriptions of the types and then digging back into other sources, I'm now identifying with 9 with a 1 wing (DEFINITELY still have that 1 wing as I am pretty sure that I know the right way to do everything and you are probably not doing it that way). Other things I've read have characterized 9's as being "lazy" and had a weird description of their personality as "merging" with other people. Neither of those things sounded very much like me. Case, on the other hand, pushes back on the "lazy" wording and talks about how 9s value preserving their own sense of peace and maintain that by sticking to routines, controlling their cozy environment, and guarding their time alone, and instead of calling it "merging" (which sounds like a science fiction movie) she walks the reader through 9s ability to reflect and take on the energy and interests of the people they are around (and subsequently to not always know what their own feelings and preferences are), which can make them easily mis-identify themselves as 2s (also because being a type that is described as overly caring and people pleasing sounds nicer than being a type that is lazy and afraid of conflict). 9s can also be stubborn and passive aggressive when faced with conflict or when their peace is disturbed. This all sounds like me to an uncomfortable degree!

Because she also accentuates the positive, I can hold onto the knowledge that I'm a person with an optimistic outlook who can quickly see multiple views, who is good at making other people feel comfortable, and who has empathy for how everyone is feeling, which makes me a good leader, a good person to talk to, and a generally nice person to be around. 9s are also the type that feels the most like every other type, which explains why there is a lot in type 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 that sounds like me too. I'm going to keep thinking on this, but looking at my fear of conflict and how it impacts my actions is really interesting to me right now and I'm glad to have this new perspective.

If you are an enneagram fan who is looking for a new angle and doesn't mind some instagramable phrasing, this is a good one to add to the collection. ( )

I enjoyed how the author utilizes the Enneagram for personal growth; this was the first time I understood its complexities. ( )