I have found books an important resource in developing my understanding of personality type.
The books below are some of those I have personally found helpful. (These links all work as of Jan 2026, and I’ve added author and ISBN numbers so you can find them if the links break.)
Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type
(Isabel Briggs Myers, Peter B. Myers, ISBN 089106074X) –
The original book by Isabel Briggs Myers who developed the MBTI. Clear and readable, focusing mainly on the strengths of each Personality Type. Also describes how the system was developed.
What Type am I?
(Renee Baron, ISBN 014026941X) –
A really clear and simple explanation of the basics of type. Well laid out with cartoons and bullet points, making it easy to dip into. A recommended ‘first’ book, especially if you don’t like the idea of masses of dense text.
Type Talk
(Otto Kroeger, Janet M. Thuesen, ISBN 0440507049) –
A lively and observant look at the different Personality Types, and how to see the differences in people around you. Includes more of the weaknesses of each type, rather than just the strengths. Also uses Temperament as a way of grouping types for ease of recognition.
Do What You Are
(Paul Tieger, Barbara Barron-Tieger, ISBN 0316880655) –
A great book to investigate possible career choices in relation to Personality Type, with worksheets to help you think through your own situation.
Nurture by Nature
(Barbara Barron, Paul Tieger, ISBN 0316845132) –
Applying the understanding of Personality Type to parenting. A fascinating look at how Type develops through maturity, and very practical.
Just your Type
(Paul Tieger, ISBN 0316845698) –
Understanding the joys and stresses of couple relationships between the different Personality Types.
Neuroscience of Personality
(Dario Nardi, ISBN 0979868475) –
Ground-breaking look inside the brain, more evidence that the 16 types really are different in fundamental ways. Dario’s style is witty, open and easy to read – amazing with such a technical subject! It helps to have a print or screen with the diagrams on, to reference while reading the text.
Was that really me?
(Naomi Quenk, ISBN 0891061703) –
Sometimes when we’re under particular pressure, we find ourselves behaving differently, or ‘out of character’. This book looks at how these behaviours may be linked to our basic Personality Type, and are an expression of of our 3rd and 4th functions. It is a deeper look into the dynamics of Type.
Personality Type: An Owner’s Manual
(Lenore Thomson, ISBN 0877739870) –
Read this book if you want to get a thorough understanding of Type dynamics and the Jungian functions, and how they relate to each of the 16 MBTI Personality Types. Very clear descriptions of what it all means, but not light-weight.
Survival Games Personalities Play
(Eve Delunas, ISBN 1450513468) –
An advanced book for practitioners and clinicians, looking at the 4 temperaments, their core needs, what might trigger them to become dysfunctional, and how that is evidenced. Intervention strategies for clinicians included.
Pray Your Way
(Bruce Duncan, ISBN 0232520194) –
An interesting look at how differences in Personality Type preferences lead to different approaches to prayer and spirituality. Logical, when you think about it.
Growing Spiritually with the Myers-Briggs model
(Julia McGuinness, ISBN 0274689073) –
Looking at type from a spiritual perspective, this book also describes the core functions of each type and offers exercises to develop areas we are weaker in. Also considers the role of type in Spiritual Direction.
Soul Types
(Sandra Krebs Hirsch, ISBN 0786882891) –
This book offers a deeper understanding of Personality Type and type dynamics, in the context of what supports or hinders our spiritual development. Very clear, grouped by dominant function and laid out in a way that makes it easy to compare between types. The recent edition has been re-written – my experience is of the older one and I’ve used that ISBN.