Abi Robins

If you are an Enneagram fan who is ready to move beyond Instagram memes and books that just rehash the same thoughts about the nine types in slightly different ways, this is the book for you. By combining a detailed knowledge of the Enneagram with a philosophy of transformative growth and illustrating it with examples from their life, Robins creates a roadmap that can be used by anyone interested in taking what they have learned about themselves through their understanding of their type and turn it into a positive change.

Robins' structures their approach to growth as a three-legged stool with a foundation of personal practice, lineage/mentorship, and community. Their thoughtful, practical descriptions of these themes and ideas for developing them include a discussion of roadblocks that each type may encounter, along with a little cheerleading to help get over our ingrained reactions. A well-developed appendix gives an introduction to the Enneagram, along with a run through of each of the nine types, for readers who don't have a lot of experience with the system, and nicely lays out Robin's approach to the system -- one which is refreshingly positive, spiritual, and free from gendered assumptions about the reader.

Robins has a clear and engaging writing style and does a good job of bringing the reader through some sometimes heady content. They come to the reader with an open, curious perspective that always gives credit to the folks who have influenced their thinking and never claims to have all the answers. Occasionally the memoir / personal experiences parts of the narrative got a little repetitive for me, but that is a small quibble. Overall I found this to be a really fresh look at the Enneagram with inspiring advice for cultivating a personal program of self-understanding and change.… (más)