The 10 Best Enneagram Books for Any Reader
I’m a bit of a book nerd, and when I learned about the Enneagram, I bought every book related to the topic.
This picture shows just a sampling of the many Enneagram books I own.
I’m not kidding when I say I could probably open a library of just Enneagram books.
Enneagram books are a great place to start once you’ve figured out your Enneagram type.
It’s also a great way to discover more about the Enneagram types of people in your life.
I’ve read some great Enneagram books and some that were just okay.
I’ve created this list based on the Enneagram books I found most informative and helpful when learning about the Enneagram.
The Best Book for Beginners:
The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron
The Road Back to You is the book that started me on my Enneagram journey. (Learn more about my personal journey here.) It’s also the book I refer people to the most. Cron does a great job of explaining the key factors of each Enneagram type, including the types in relationships, work, as children, and more. The narrative text makes it easy to read and doesn’t feel as dense with information as other Enneagram books I’ve come across. There’s also a numbered list at the beginning of each type’s chapter listing 20 statements on what it’s like to be that type. I love referring people to these lists when figuring out their type.
The Best Book for Enneagram Type Growth:
The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up by Beatrice Chestnut and Uranio Paes
Chestnut and Paes explain how our personality type makes us look like walking zombies. Their book takes readers through the growth path of each of the nine types and the subtypes to help us wake up from our zombie states. This book not only explains the common characteristics of each type, but Chesnut and Paes give us guidelines on developing better self-awareness and how each type can grow toward the true self. I highly recommend this book to those ready to start their self-discovery journey. Fun Fact: I'm currently enrolled in Chestnut and Paes' Professional Certification program and personally think they are the best Enneagram teachers out there.
The Best Book for Learning the Enneagram Subtypes:
The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge by Beatrice Chestnut
Want to take a deeper dive into the 27 subtypes? Then this is the right Enneagram book for you. This book is rich with information on the nine types and takes an even deeper look into the 27 subtypes. Knowing your subtype is crucial to learning more about your specific growth path, and Chestnut’s book is the best I have found on the subtypes. Take note – this is a thick book of almost 500 pages. I read this on audio, but I also have a physical copy covered in highlighter marks. Beatrice Chestnut is one of the best modern Enneagram teachers. Try not to let this book's size dissuade you from reading it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
The Best Book for Relationships and the Enneagram:
The Enneagram in Love and Work by Helen Palmer
This Enneagram book is an oldie, but it’s still a goodie. Helen Palmer is considered one of the leading teachers of the Enneagram in the United States. This accessible book is still popular almost 30 years after its initial publication. You’ll get a bit of a twofer with this one, as Palmer explains intimate and professional relationships using the Enneagram as a guide. A “directory” of types in relationships breaks down how specific types are likely to interact with another type in relationships and at work. The Enneagram in Love and Work is an excellent book if you’re interested in how your type gets along with others.
Runner Up:
The Path Between Us by Suzanne Stabile
The Path Between Us is a modern take on relationships using the Enneagram as a guide. Unlike Palmer’s book, Stabile (also the co-author of The Road Back to You) focuses solely on intimate relationships and how each type is likely to interact and behave with those they’re close to. This Enneagram book is smaller but still effective in teaching about relationships and the Enneagram.
The Best Enneagram Book for Career Development
Bringing Out the Best in Yourself at Work by Ginger Lapid-Bogda
I love this book because it explains how each of the nine types operates in a workplace environment. Lapid-Bogda describes how each type communicates, how they deal with conflicts, how each receives feedback, and more. She also advises how best to work with each type in those areas. Bringing Out the Best in Yourself at Work is filled with great information that is readable. Lapid-Bogda also provides activities and exercises each type can use to improve themselves in the workplace. This book is a must-have for leaders looking to incorporate the Enneagram into the workplace to manage their teams effectively.
The 9 Types of Leadership is great for those more advanced in the Enneagram. Chestnut not only explains the nine types in the workplace, but she also breaks it down by providing characteristics of the subtypes at work. If you’re a fan of Beatrice Chestnut’s The Complete Enneagram(mentioned above as the best book on subtypes), you’ll want to add this book to your arsenal.
The Best Spiritual Enneagram Book:
The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher L. Heuertz
For those interested in using the Enneagram for spiritual growth, The Sacred Enneagram is a great place to start. This book gives beginners an overview of the Enneagram (including the types, centers of intelligence, stress and strength points, etc.) using spiritual and Christian observations. The book’s last third helps readers find their unique path to spiritual growth, including tips and spiritual practices on how to grow. If you enjoy the growth exercises, check out Heuertz’s accompanying workbook to The Sacred Enneagram. The workbook corresponds to each chapter giving you a deeper dive into yourself and how you operate.
The Best Psychological Enneagram Book:
Personality Types by Don Richard Riso
The Enneagram is being incorporated more and more into the psychology field. Many therapists have started using knowledge of the Enneagram’s nine types in their practices. To learn more about the intersections of psychology and the Enneagram, pick up Personality Types by revered Enneagram practitioner Don Richard Riso. Though this book came out in 1996, much of the information is still pertinent to the types. It’s an exciting take on the psyche of the personality that can be useful for those in social service professions. This book dives into the levels of development for each type. According to Riso, there are nine levels of development broken into three sections – healthy, average, and unhealthy. He breaks down each level further by providing common characteristics experienced by each type.
The Best Enneagram Book for Fun While Learning:
The Honest Enneagram by Sarahjane Case
There’s a Type BINGO at the beginning of each chapter to see how many characteristics you align with. There are also fun listicles throughout the book. Topics include “Grocery Store Habits by Enneagram Type” and “Self-Care Check-in by Enneagram Type.” Case also peppers in her “H.O.N.E.S.T.” method in which she calls on each type to honor their strengths while being aware of their blind spots and challenges. The Honest Enneagram is an excellent book if you’re looking for quick little nuggets about each type.Whatever area of interest you have in the Enneagram, I hope one of these books will be right for you. Don’t see your favorite Enneagram book on this list? Let me know in the comments what you would have included.
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