Enneagram Books
Suggested Reading
​
An internet search on "The Enneagram" brings up over 3,000 books and websites, making it hard to discern which are dependable, valid, and trustworthy. Here, as an initial guide, we present some personal preferences. We make no claim to this being an exhaustive list and have no commercial interest in promoting these or any other resources mentioned on this site.
General
​
The Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test & Self-Discovery Guide
David Daniels & Virginia Price (2009)
​
A slim paperback and one of the best places to start if you're keen to discover your type. Also contains very helpful development practices for each type.
The same material and approach is used in the Enneagram Studies in the Narrative Tradition: online test.
The Enneagram Made Easy - Discover the 9 Types
of People
Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele (2007)
​
A fun, entertaining, illustrated and easy read. Great for newcomers to the Enneagram.
​
The Enneagram in Love and Work
Helen Palmer (1995)
​
​
Further reading by Helen Palmer where she expands on the role the Enneagram plays in relationships - both personal and professional.
The ABC of the Enneagram: Identifying the Different Forces That Energise Us
​
​
Available in French as well as English, this book is accessible, humorous and compassionate, an ideal introduction to the Enneagram. As well as written descriptions of each type, cartoons are also used to great effect.
Principles of The Enneagram
Second Edition
Karen Webb (2013)
​
A slim, concise, yet comprehensive volume. Karen’s profound insight combines with succinct explanation of all the core concepts. Her many years of Enneagram teaching experience and spiritual searching shine through.
A great resource and often first recommended to clients and colleagues in the UK
​
The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others in Your Life
Helen Palmer (1988)
​
We recommend any and all of Helen Palmer’s books, as a founding and inspirational teacher in the Narrative Tradition.
You can return to them time and again to be struck by new insight and clarity.
The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge
Beatrice Chestnut (2013)
​
A clear, comprehensive and thoughtful work which in particular describes and expands on the roles of the 27 subtypes in Enneagram typology
​
Subtypes: The Key to the Enneagram
​
Eric Salmon (2016)
​
This specialist book on Enneagram Subtypes explains the three subdivisions of each of the nine Enneagram types. In this book the potentially complex subject is accessible to all and thus offers the reader increased awareness of what is driving everyday automatic behaviours and habits.
​
Business, Leadership & Organisations
​
Using the Enneagram System to identify and grow your leadership strengths....
​
Ginger Lapid-Bogda shows how to use the Enneagram personality typing system to reach your full potential as a leader and to pinpoint your core leadership style.
​Bringing out the Best in Everyone you Coach’
​
​
​
​
An excellent guide for corporate and business coaches on how to create powerful growth programs tailor-made for each employee.
​
HOT Leaders COOL Facilitators: Learning to Lead One Meeting at a Time
In many years of organisation consulting the quality of meetings (and conversation more generally) is a real litmus test for how well the organisation system and culture functions.
It's also a great place to start when keen to enable change.
The Enneagram Development Guide
Ginger had been a successful Organisation Development Consultant for 20+ years when she first discovered the Enneagram and became a passionate advocate.
Since then she has pioneered use of the Enneagram in organisational development, business, leadership, coaching and consulting work. See also Ginger's website The Enneagram in Business
Jeanette M.F. van Stijn MA (2021)
A true reference book and a practical manual for coaches, counsellors and spiritual directors who want to use the enneagram in their practice with clients and teams.
​
The 9 Types of Leadership: Mastering the Art of People in the 21st Century Workplace
​
​
​
This book provides an amazingly accurate descriptor of personality, to help people in the workplace create more effective relationships, so they can be more productive and happy at the office.
Spirituality and Self-Development
​
The Enneagram of Passions and Virtues:
​
​
This is a deep and profound book that goes beyond the typology descriptions of the Enneagram of Personality, into an explanation of the spiritual aspects of this ancient system.
​
Keys to the Enneagram: How to Unlock the Highest Potential of Every Personality Type
​
A H Almaas (2021)
​
More accessible than Facets of Unity this new book from AH Almaas helps the reader realise their deeper self, beneath the outer personality and fixations.
Facets of Unity: The Enneagram of Holy Ideas
​
A.H. Almaas (2002)
​
​
One of the foremost spiritual teachers of The Enneagram, AH Almaas endeavours
to awaken the seeker to their true nature and the higher spiritual realities of The Enneagram of Holy Ideas.
​
​
​
​
'Enneagram Spirituality’
Suzanne Zuercher (1992)
​
​
​
​
​
Concise, readable, insightful.
