SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: The Enneagram 2020

Happy Independence Day to my US readers! It’s the first Saturday in July which means my annual Enneagram resource post. You can read my post from last year here and all of my Enneagram-related posts here.

As the Enneagram has grown in popularity, there are a lot of books and podcasts and Instagram accounts where folks can learn about this ancient tool. Here are some of the resources I have checked out in the last year:

The Road Back to You – Yep, I read this again. This is my go to recommendation for beginners, and I wanted to read it again. It’s a good thing I did, because when I picked it up it was obvious I read this back before I had fully drilled down to my Enneagram number, so there were lots of fresh insights here. This is still my foundational resource and recommendation, although I have started recommending Millenneagram to younger readers who don’t mind the profanity in that one. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

Becoming Us – When I wrote my post last July, this was the book I was most looking forward to reading. Sadly, it did not live up to my expectations. It’s definitely a book for beginners, so there was always going to be an element of disappointment for me because I want to go deeper, further, and I am struggling to find resources that do that. But this was also disappointing for me because it felt more like a marriage book than an Enneagram book. Again, that could just be a matter of my expectations. Also, though, I found the faith pieces of the book felt heavy handed. In one review I likened it to petting a cat the wrong way. It should be soothing, but it grated against me instead. Other readers have found this to be a delightful and inspiring read, so be sure to read other reviews before you decide on this one. It might have just not been a great fit for me. I still follow their posts on IG, but not as avidly as I did before. Rating: ♥♥♥

The Enneagram Collection – These are journals from the author of Becoming Us and the Instagram account Your Enneagram Coach. There is one book for each Enneagram type. There are 21 days of material (a few pages) and journalling questions (3-5) over stress and security numbers, wings, childhood messages, core longings, etc. Again, for me, this was pretty basic. Two or three years ago, I would have loved this. By the time this released, I didn’t find it as useful as I might have awhile back. Beginners who are trying to get a handle on their type, or professionals who might be learning about all the types, might find this a good tool.

 

Enneagram Journal for Self-Growth – I stumbled across this on Amazon, and since it is free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers (at least at the time I read it and at the time of this writing), I checked it out. It’s literally a list of journalling prompts by type. I loved it. Since I already know my type, I love the idea of digging into these questions for personal growth and insight. I don’t think this would be a good resource for beginners – or non-writers for that matter. If you don’t want to journal, I’m not sure this would be a fruitful resource. Apparently the physical copy actually has space to write your responses. I’m happy to use the questions in my personal writing spaces instead.  Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

The Honest Enneagram – You can read my full review here. I liked the H.O.N.E.S.T growth system described in the book. It was a great, practical resource because the author explains the system and then applies it to each type in turn so the reader doesn’t have to guess. I felt this was another beginning level resource, but it would be great for beginners who are pursuing the Enneagram specifically for personal growth. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

The Enneagram and You – You can read my full review here. My favorite part of this resource is that it digs into various triads involved with the Enneagram – stances, Harmonic triads, Object Relations triads, etc. This is exactly the sort of second or third level Enneagram information I am looking for. The rest didn’t wow me, though. There’s a quiz, and quizzes are notoriously bad for the Enneagram. They are wrong more often than they are right, and they can send people down the wrong path for a long time. This might be a good resource for folks who want to dig into the triads, or for those who are solid in their Enneagram knowledge but want to explore the relationship pieces which is another area of emphasis in this book. Rating: ♥♥♥½

 

Coming Soon!


What’s Your Enneatype? – This book will release in early August, and it’s fantastic! I’ll be posting a full review when it releases, but for now I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed this resource. The writing is conversational, and the visuals and graphics, including a rationale for the color scheme for every number, are excellent. I believe this has something for both beginners and those who have been digging into the Enneagram for awhile. I am adding this book to my core books to recommend for newcomers. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

The Gospel for Achievers – I was approached by the author of this book to give a full review of this 40-day devotional for Enneagram 3s. I am just barely getting started in my read-through, but I have been impressed so far with the introductory information as well as the author’s resource on his website for Christians who have questions about using the Enneagram. I’ll post a full review once I have gotten through the whole book. I don’t even have a rating yet, it’s just too new to me – but if you identify as an Enneagram 3, you should look for this devotional this August. My only complaint so far is having to wait for the release of the book for my number.

 

Forty Days on Being a Two – This resource won’t release until October, 2020, along with Forty Days on Being a Three. And I have not seen a review copy or any sample pages, yet. But if you identify as an Enneagram 2 or 3, you might want to keep these on your radar for fall.

 

 

 

Non-Book resources


Other resources I have enjoyed this year:

Jen Hatmaker’s podcast For the Love has been exploring the Enneagram this spring/summer. There’s an introductory episode with Suzanne Stabile, my absolute favorite Enneagram instructor. Then each episode after that explores one type. It’s similar to the format Annie F. Downs used last year except she brought in both a male and a female of the number.

During our quarantine at home I discovered a local Enneagram teacher at Enneagram Insight. You can check out their website here. I have participated in several of the Monday evening Facebook live sessions as well as completing a couple webinars, online versions of the in-person sessions they usually do. It was a blessing in disguise because I likely would not have driven to the in-person sessions, and the in-person ones were also more expensive. I was able to participate in some live training for the first time, and I have gained so much from it.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Spiritual Growth Resources from 2018

Last December I posted a list of spiritual growth resources I enjoyed using during 2017. You can see that list here. Today I’m going to highlight similar resources from 2018. Also check my post on Enneagram resources here. Those have been a big part of my spiritual work this year, too.

A Mile Wide: Trading Shallow Religion for a Deeper Faith – This is one of the books my husband challenged me to read this summer. And one I actually read! (I am STILL behind on the summer challenge!) I enjoy Jen Hatmaker’s books so much, but this is the first book I have read from her husband. I enjoyed this one. I think I underlined something on almost every page. This really lined up well with things we have been talking about at church this year.  I’ll be reviewing this one in January.
Draw the Circle Study Guide – I talked about Draw the Circle in last year’s post, (and posted a full review earlier this year ) but then I did the study again for Lent with this study guide and a free video series I found. I enjoyed the study guide, but I don’t think it is essential to using the original resource. Either alone or with this extra resource, Draw the Circle would be a great annual experience for spiritual growth.
The Dream of You: Let Go of Broken Identities and Live the Life You Were Made For –  I adore Jo Saxton! The only thing better than reading her thoughts on identity (one of my favorite themes in spiritual growth books as well as novels) would have been an audio book version so I could hear it in her own delightful accent! I will listen to and/or read anything she puts out there. She’s one of my favorite speakers.
Heir to the Crown – I have become an Alisa Keeton fan over the last year. I support her fitness/health/wholeness ministry, Revelation Wellness, and I thoroughly enjoyed her 2017 book The Wellness Revelation. She, like Jo Saxton, is someone I want to hear from regularly. I am slowly working through her new devotional for teens and women about our identity as daughters of the King. Each entry includes a brief meditation thought (which I rarely do – I know I would get more out of this if I would take the time), the devotional, a couple questions related to the day’s material and space to answer some wellness/wholeness questions that are part of each day’s page.
Isaiah (Life Change Series) – While I am familiar with several stand alone verses from Isaiah, it wasn’t a book I had ever read from start to finish. And the parts I had read seemed hard to follow. This particular study was a treat for me! In fact, Isaiah has become one of my favorite books of the Bible because of this study. The book is set up so you can use it for individual or group study. I usually work through each section over the course of a week, answering 2-3 questions (often with multiple parts) every day. I feel like going slowly really helps me dig into the material rather than just check it off a list that I did some reading, but not letting the material really sink in. I love the format of this so much, I have asked for several more for Christmas!
Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done – This was the sort of book I felt was written just for me at just this moment. So much of what I read here tied into the work I was doing in my Enneagram reading, too. You can read my review here.
Romans (Life Change Series) – I am working my way through Romans right now in the same study series as the Isaiah study. The language of Romans at times seems to circle in on itself, and I have found this study is helping me piece through it so I get more out of my reading and study.
The Quest: An Excursion Toward Intimacy with God – Lifeway offered a free study with videos this fall, and since I already had the book, I jumped at the chance. The first and last video are around an hour long and were really rich experiences. The rest were fine, but I didn’t find them essential to the whole. The book, though, was fantastic. It’s a detailed and in-depth study. I highly recommend this one – even if you can’t get to the videos. The study stands on its own.
Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God – I am a huge Mark Batterson fan (Draw the Circle), and I enjoyed this exploration of listening to the voice of God. I enjoy Batterson’s writing style and the stories he tells. But most of all I enjoyed the topic of this one!

REVIEW: For the Love by Jen Hatmaker

Summary


A series of essays for Christian women. Some are designed to get readers to think about their lives and consider making changes – finding balance, dealing with difficult people, and taking a look at how we do short term missions.

Some essays are about accepting and embracing the life you have.  That includes the rowdiness of your family, the changes that come from getting older, and the quirks in your personality.

Some essays are just for laughs – like Thank You Notes à la Jimmy Fallon.

There’s something for everyone in this collection of thoughts on Christian living. The central message is be who you are and love who you are. Good words for all of us.

Review


I am a huge Jen Hatmaker fan. I enjoy her honesty, transparency and self-deprecating humor. If you enjoy her on social media, she has much the same tone in her essays.

I’ve read this twice, once on my own and once for a discussion group with a few friends. The book works for both purposes. Early on with the group I tried to come up with discussion questions. It worked just as well, though, to ask what stood out to the other readers. We let the conversation go from there.

As with any author, Hatmaker’s personal biases drive the essays. She’s big on relationships, loves cooking for her family, and has strong opinions on how Christians should engage in the world. I might not agree with her on everything – especially the cooking parts – but I had plenty to think about and plenty to chuckle at as I read this.

Her new book, Of Mess and Moxie, will release later this summer.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: 8 Authors I Buy Automatically

 

I do an incredible amount of “book work.” I read magazines about books, I read web posts about books. I read book reviews. I track book release days. I do a lot of reading.

There are a few authors that I will buy almost without even bothering to read a blurb about the book. These are my “go-to” folks. These are the ones who have written new series and I have followed them merrily along without hesitation. Here they are:

Jen Hatmaker Jen Hatmaker

I will read anything Jen Hatmaker wants to write – books, Facebook posts, Instagram posts, emails. You name it! She makes me laugh while “telling it like it is.” She is an encourager and an affirmer. If you’ve never read her stuff before, I’d recommend starting with For the Love.

 

 

Jennifer Lynn Barnes Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The book, The Fixer was my favorite book of 2015 – and I read over 300 books in 2015! The sequel, The Long Game: A Fixer Novel is shaping up to be my favorite for 2016. I tried her series, The Naturals, from the library after eyeing the covers in bookstores over and over. I fell in love with that series, too. There’s a smart, sassy quality to both series that I adore. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is my go-to recommendation when I am talking to people about books for teens.

 

Kate Messner Kate Messner

Capture the Flag was probably my first encounter with Kate Messner’s work and it remains my favorite book of hers to this day (although there is stiff competition!). I’ve also loved The Seventh Wish, All the Answers, and the Ranger in Time series (Rescue on the Oregon Trail – think Magic Tree House with a dog). She writes books – and characters – that connect with readers’ hearts. When she puts out a new book, I pay attention!

 

Jenn McKinlay Jenn McKinlay

The Library Lovers series (Books Can Be Deceiving) is the only one of hers I have read from start to the latest installment. But I like her writing style so much, I’ve picked up and started her cupcake bakery series and her hat shop series. I haven’t had time to really dig into those series, but I love her writing style. Her books click for me no matter what series she is writing.

 

Mo Willems Mo Willems

Knuffle Bunny. The Pigeon. Piggie and Gerald. Diva and Flea. Leonardo. Edwina. Amanda and her alligator. If you’ve read these, you know what I am talking about. Funny, clever writing. Endearing characters. If you don’t know what these books are, get to a bookstore immediately! I recommend starting with I Will Surprise My Friend! or I Am Invited to a Party! . I’ll say “you’re welcome” now. I know you’ll love them!

 

Donalyn Miller Donalyn Miller

Donalyn Miller is known in teacher and literacy circles as “The Book Whisperer” (also the title of her first book). When Donalyn talks – about how to conference with readers, about what real readers do, about great books you should read – people listen. The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child and Reading in the Wild: The Book Whisperer’s Keys to Cultivating Lifelong Reading Habits were my two favorite books when I was a teacher/ librarian. I love the practical advice given in them for teachers who want to build a classroom that celebrates reading. I recommended these to every teacher who talked to me about ways to improve the reading culture in their rooms. I attend any and every presentation she gives at a conference. I follow her recommendations on GoodReads and Twitter. She is the real deal for teacher resources. Even if I am not teaching when her next book comes out, I would buy it without hesitation.

Jarrett Krosoczka Jarrett Krosoczka

We were first introduced to Jarrett Krosoczka’s work with the Lunch Lady graphic novel series (Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute). Then we checked out his picture books. When he released the first Platypus Police Squad middle grade novel, I hesitated, wondering if he could handle a longer form like this. I should not have hesitated! I remember being delighted at the intricate mystery in book one (Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked). We loved the whole series. When Jarrett said he was picking up the Jedi Academy series (started by Jeffrey Brown), I was completely on board. I have seen Jarrett present at conferences, and I will forever be a fan after the way he interacted with my son several years ago when we met him in person.

Rick Riordan Rick Riordan

I don’t remember how we discovered the Percy Jackson series (The Lightning Thief ). I just remember our whole household fell hard for this series about a kid with ADHD who finds out he is the son of the god Poseidon. We have read them multiple times and have the books in multiple formats – physical, audio, graphic novel. We have read Riordan’s Egyptian series (starting with The Red Pyramid ), his crossover books between Percy, Annabeth, Carter and Sadie. We have started the Trials of Apollo series and are currently reading book 2 in his Magnus Chase series,Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2 The Hammer of Thor . The books are funny and completely engaging. The characters are kids you love spending time with. As long as Rick Riordan keeps writing them, our family will keep reading them.

 

So, what do you think of my list? Who would be on your “Must Buy” list of authors? Leave a comment below.