The Personality Brokers: Summary Review

This is a summary review of The Personality Brokers containing key details about The Personality Brokers.

What is The Personality Brokers About?

"The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing" is a book by Merve Emre, an associate professor of English at Oxford University. The book explores the history of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), one of the most widely used personality assessments in the world.

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The Personality Brokers examines nothing less than the definition of the self--our attempts to grasp, categorize, and quantify our personalities. Surprising and absorbing, the book, like the test at its heart, considers the timeless question: What makes you you? This book is drawn from original reporting and never-before-published documents.

Summary Points & Takeaways from The Personality Brokers

Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:

* The origins of the MBTI: Emre traces the origins of the MBTI back to the early 20th century, and explores the lives and work of its creators, Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers.

* The development and popularization of the MBTI: Emre examines the factors that led to the development of the MBTI, and discusses the various ways in which it became one of the most widely used personality assessments in the world.

* The controversy surrounding the MBTI: Emre discusses the various criticisms and controversies that have surrounded the MBTI over the years, including concerns about its validity and reliability as a psychological tool.

* The role of personality testing in modern society: Emre reflects on the broader implications of personality testing and its role in shaping our understanding of human nature and individual differences.

* The limitations of the MBTI: Emre argues that the MBTI has significant limitations as a tool for understanding human personality, and that it should be used with caution and with an understanding of its limitations.

* The book is a thought-provoking and insightful examination of the history and impact of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and it offers valuable insights into the complex and often controversial world of personality testing.

Who is the author of The Personality Brokers?

Merve Emre is a Turkish-American author, academic, and literary critic. She is the author of nonfiction books The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality.

Book details

  • Print length: 307 pages
  • Genre: Nonfiction, Psychology, History

What are the chapters in The Personality Brokers?

Chapter 1. The cosmic laboratory of baby training
Chapter 2. Women's work
Chapter 3. Meet yourself
Chapter 4. An unbroken series of successful gestures
Chapter 5. Desperate amateurs
Chapter 6. The science of man
Chapter 7. The personality is political
Chapter 8. Sheep and buck
Chapter 9. A perfect spy
Chapter 10. People's capitalism
Chapter 11. The house party approach to testing
Chapter 12. That horrible woman
Chapter 13. The synchronicity of life and death
Chapter 14. One in a million

What is a good quote from The Personality Brokers?

Top Quote: “The lower orders of men are far closer to the higher orders of animals than to the higher orders of men, and we ought to recognize that fact" (Meaning) - The Personality Brokers Quotes, Merve Emre

What do critics say?

Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: “A unique meld of a hidden history of two admirably prickly women and an examination of why their ideas were simultaneously damaging and popular.” — The Ringer

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* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you want to enhance your personal growth, I recommend checking out my list of favorite personal growth books. These books have played a significant role in my life, and each one includes a summary and takeaways to help you apply the concepts.

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Chief Editor

Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.

 
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