Best MBTI Books to Learn More About Yourself and Others
So you know your MBTI type. You read about your type profile online. You know your strengths and weaknesses.
But what’s next?
MBTI is more than the four letters you get at the end of the test. Online profiles don’t always explain why you behave a certain way.
So you know your MBTI type. You read about your type profile online. You know your strengths and weaknesses.
But what’s next?
MBTI is more than the four letters you get at the end of the test. Online profiles don’t always explain why you behave a certain way.
- Why are INFJs sometimes warm and sometimes cold?
- Are INTJs really insensitive?
- How come no one seems to understand INFPs?
- Why do INTPs overthink every situation?
Reading these MBTI books will give you a better understanding of your personality and what to do about it.
10 Best MBTI Books
Disclosure: Please note that the links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, but it will be at no additional cost to you.
1. Gifts Differing by Isabel Myers and Peter Myers
Who knows MBTI better than its creators?
Written by the creator of MBTI, this book should be the first book on your reading list. It lays the groundwork for all the other MBTI books. An easy book to read. This book is neither too technical nor like pop psychology.
If you are a fan of MBTI, get this book to understand how MBTI actually works.
2. Please Understand Me by David Keirsey & Marilyn Bates
Do you know why people don’t understand you? Read this book.
Not only does it help you to understand your personality type, the aha moment comes when you learn about other personality types. You’ll understand why people do what they do:
- Why are they so different from you?
- Why some people drive you nuts?
- Why you get along with others?
This book is also extremely helpful for parents who want to understand their children better. If you have problems relating to someone, instead of changing them, read this book. You’ll gain a lot of insights about others.
Amazon: Print
3. Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey
This is NOT a newer edition of the first book.
After 20 more years of understanding personality differences, David Keirsey wrote this book to share his new insights and refine his theory.
Unlike most MBTI books, Keirsey takes one step further and groups the 16 different profile types into four meaningful temperaments — SP, SJ, NF, and NT. Understanding these temperaments will give you a better knowledge of yourself, your significant others and people you work with.
Bookshop: Print
4. My True Type by Dr. A.J. Drenth
You did the Myer Briggs test but every time you did it, you were given a different MBTI type! If this sounds like you, read this book.
Answering the MBTI questionnaires may be a good start to knowing your MBTI type. However, for some, it might just add more confusion and lead to “mistyping”.
This book provides you another way to clarify your MBTI type. It also answers common questions such as “Can my personality type change over time?”. Definitely a book worth checking out if you are lost about your MBTI type.
Amazon: eBook
5. The 16 Personality Types by Dr. A.J. Drenth
You know your MBTI profile, so what’s next?
Most online MBTI profiles give you a general description of your MBTI type, but they don’t teach you what to do with it.
This book not only explains the 16 personality types in depth, it gives you fresh perspectives on developing your type. Each MBTI type has its own functional stack and this book teaches you how to integrate your different functions.
Read this book if you want to take a step further in understanding your MBTI type.
Amazon: eBook
6. Was That Really Me? by Naomi L. Quenk
Have you ever wondered why sometimes you behave so differently from your MBTI type?
When we are under stress, our hidden personality takes over. Suddenly:
- INFJs become so obsessive with insignificant details.
- INTPs blow up emotionally and lose touch with logic.
- ISFJs become so caught up in negative possibilities.
Unlike the other MBTI books, this book tells you how each MBTI type reacts to stress, especially work-related stress. Definitely an interesting book to read!
Bookshop: Print
7. Type Talk by Otto Kroeger
Each personality type can make a great contribution to our society.
This book is about celebrating our unique strengths and differences. It’s about self-acceptance. Learning the MBTI types isn’t a means to judge other types. There is no one type which is the best. There are no good or bad types. We are just different.
This book also contains practical examples to help you understand how different types react to different situations.
Bookshop: Print
8. What Type Am I? by Renee Baron
This is a fun book for beginners. It’s easy to read and includes comic strips.
If you are unsure of your MBTI type, there’s also self-assessment quizzes in the first few chapters. This book provides insights on each MBTI types at work, in relationships and leisure. It suggests ways in which each type can communicate better with others.
Overall, it’s a simple yet informative book. Great for anyone who is new to MBTI.
Bookshop: Print
9. I’m Not Crazy, I’m Just Not You by Roger Pearman & Sarah Albritton
Knowing your MBTI type is good for self-awareness, but it doesn’t help you understand your behaviors and habits in life. This book does.
If you want to understand the motivation behind the thoughts and actions of your family, friends, and colleagues, this book is for you. It helps you to be more effective in communicating with others.
Bookshop: Print
10. Neuroscience of Personality by Dario Nardi
This book is great for advanced studies. It’s suitable for those who already have the basic knowledge of the 4 temperaments and Jung’s 8 cognitive functions.
In the book, Dr. Nardi shares his research and go in-depth into the 16 distinct regions of the neocortex (part of the mammalian brain).
As this book is more scientific than most, not all MBTI type would find this book interesting or easy to read. However, NT temperament (such as INTJ) would probably enjoy this book.
Amazon: Print
Hey there, I’m Yong Kang, best known as Nerdy Creator. I’m an author of seven books. I write about spirituality, self-compassion, and mindfulness. I love reading books, especially non-fiction. The list above is a combination of what I have read and my research. Each year, I create a Top 10 list of my favorite books.
