For those not familiar with the Enneagram, I don’t really want to take up a ton of space with that explanation here. Basically, it is an ancient system of categorizing folks into 9 types. It’s more than a personality test; it focuses on internal motivations, wounds, and passions. It recognizes that the ‘type’ that you are is really a self-preservation mechanism that you learned as a child in order to protect the real you. There is a TON of info out there about this, so if you’re into self-discovery (especially in how it helps you understand and relate to those around you), I’d recommend checking it out. (I’ve been a bit of an enneagram nerd for 20 years or so, and am a Type 4)
While the enneagram has roots in different parts of ancient mysticism, it’s recent rise in popularity has seen it become influential in many circles, including those of religion. Not all books about the enneagram are faith-based, but this one is. I picked it up because I was attending a weekend retreat in January where Heuertz was to be the main speaker, so I wanted to familiarize myself with his work before hand.
As enneagram books go, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this as a first step to learning the basics. It’s pretty intellectual stuff, with lots of details about origin and history, as well as going in depth about some of the more complicated connections between the types. To be honest, I found the book a bit tough to get through. Then I went to the retreat and found that much of the content was repeated and I absorbed it better in person. Heuertz is a genius (and hilarious and compassionate and someone I’d just love to sit with and pick his brain for hours). So now, I’m looking forward to re-reading this book, alongside my notes from his sessions, and revisiting this content.