By Reginald Johnson
Monarch
186 pages. £7.99
ISBN 1 85424 340 3
The front cover tells us 'understanding who you are can deepen your relationship to God'. The book begins with an exercise designed to identify which of 16 personality types we belong. These are reduced to eight pairs and each pair is given a summarising description of the people so classified, such as Energisers, Crusaders, Encouragers, Organisers, etc.
There then follows chapters addressed to each group of people. They spell out their characteristic approach to life, and suggest the strengths and weaknesses of their particular kind of personality. Advice is offered on how to advance towards greater wholeness by means of affirming our personality strengths and managing its vulnerabilities. Particular emphasis is given to prayer and the differing forms it may take, some of which I found highly dubious.
Personally, I have a deep distrust of the kind of exercise with which the book begins. I dutifully did it but when I read the appropriate chapter I scarcely recognised myself! I am even more sceptical of the whole approach to the spiritual life that this book represents; it is very subjective and very man-centred.
'Know yourself' has, for centuries, been a dictum of the Christian life. The emphasis has normally been on knowing one's weaknesses and one's liability to particular kinds of temptations.
While this element is present here, the emphasis falls on the positive and thankful acceptance of the kind of personality we have. This keys in well with the modern emphasis on the importance of self-love and self-esteem.
Those who do not find such a stress in the Bible and are impatient with psycho-babble will not be enthusiastic about this book. No doubt the author would say that has something to do with our personality type!
