The Complete Enneagram

Description

Along with astrology, the enneagram theory is one of pseudo-science rather than an evidence-based psychological tool. It was developed from the theories of Gurdjieff (1866-1949). Gurdjieff based his beliefs on ancient Sufi and other mystical texts. This book was very difficult for this reader to understand. One would have to have a basic knowledge of these theories to follow what the author is writing about.

Generally, I got the impression that it was based on numerology around the number nine and other numbers comprising it. The law of three and the law of seven are part of this mystical belief system. Later renditions of enneagram theory based it less on dance and movement, but rather on defining personality types. In this current book, written by a PhD, she describes twenty-seven paths to greater knowledge. Personality types are broken into behavioral archetypes. Within these archetypes are further defined personalities; some of the descriptions sound quite defamatory. If one is good at math and has studied in this philosophy, one may have better luck at understanding these concepts.