This was definitely a fun read. And it is a unique book on the subject, but so specific in its tone and content that it may appeal to a less wide readership. It's irreverent in the best possible way, but don't expect something for either newcomers exclusively or experts. It is perfectly positioned for the audience of the author's instagram page, which is it broadens what can be contained there but doesn't break new theoretical ground.

I DEVOURED this book! It’s one that will live on my nightstand for quick reference again & again. It’s like a tell-all book, but about everyone, no holds barred. In today’s climate of divisiveness “The Unfiltered Enneagram” should be required reading on empathy & self-compassion. Orr masterfully uses her cut-throat humor as a tool to get right to the point to call you out, explain why you’re like this, call you out some more, help you forgive yourself, & then suggest actionable steps you can take so you don’t get back on your bulls***. I laughed out loud (many times), I cringed at my own hard truths, & I learned a helluva lot about myself & the rest of the enneagram types. But most of all I learned how to maintain self-compassion in the midst of self-discovery. I truly cannot recommend “The Unfiltered Enneagram” enough!

I have read a lot of books about the Enneagram in recent years, since I've found it helpful for personal growth and for better understanding some of my fictional characters. This book isn't the worst that I've read, but it's near the bottom of the barrel. I would only recommend this to fans of the author's popular Instagram account, and even then, I'm not sure how much of the material would actually be new to her existing following.

The first chapters cover some Enneagram basics and clear up some common myths and misconceptions, and the author explains her vision for the book. Basically, she recognizes how people often use the Enneagram typing system as a way to justify their bad behavior, and she wants people to recognize how self-knowledge and self-compassion can help them grow, instead of staying stuck in unhealthy patterns. I appreciate that, and I totally agree that the Enneagram gets misused as an ego-stroking, self-justifying exercise, when it's really a path to emotional and spiritual development.

However, her approach throughout the book is alternately harsh and patronizing, and even though the snarky tone is supposed to be humorous, I think I only laughed once. I didn't find this clever, and mostly just felt like the author was trying too hard. I don't have anything against snarky or dark humor, but this just felt harsh, and despite the publisher's claims that this book is "witty" and "hilarious," I rarely even found it amusing.

In the chapters about each of the nine Enneagram types, the author shares a lot of really basic information in a harsh, off-putting way, going back and forth between blasting people for their perceived failings and then saying things like, "Oh, my sweet [type]..." when sharing encouragements and advice. It felt really patronizing to me, and she makes lots of sweeping statements about what people are thinking, feeling, and doing, without accounting for differences in people's personalities or maturity levels, even within a single type.

She assumes that everyone is expressing the most dysfunctional and immature versions of their type, and she also suggests that if you balk at these descriptions, that's just because you see yourself in them and don't want to face your dark side. I can assure you that I balked at descriptions of every type, not just mine. I also don't think that the self-compassion side came through well.

I found this book much too harsh, without enough humor or good advice to offset the negativity. The author suggests different paradigm shifts and practices that the different types can adopt, but none of them stood out to me. The whole book is pretty basic. The author doesn't say anything new, and just says familiar things in a different way. If her tone appeals to and amuses someone, then it can be a good fit, but I didn't find anything fresh or helpful here for myself.

Also, even though this is from a Christian publisher, there is no faith-based content. The author is a university chaplain, but she explains at the beginning of the book that because of young people's suspicion against organized religion, she's just going to talk in general and pluralistic terms, without bringing her faith into it. That's her choice, and it's a fine approach, but the mismatch between her intent and the marketing is frustrating. If this hadn't been listed as Christian nonfiction on NetGalley, I wouldn't have requested this, and wouldn't have wasted my time on it.

As an unabashed Enneagram enthusiast, student, and reader, I heartily recommend Elizabeth Orr's THE UNFILTERED ENNEAGRAM. Her enthusiasm surges throughout this energizing, so-frank-it's-hysterical guide to what is often draped in pedantic, impenetrable drudge. This book is like no other guide I've ever read, so entrancing, so authoritative that I was washed over with insights about myself, others, life itself. I loved every moment of it, feeling like I was sitting with her over a cup of hot tea in my kitchen, late night conversations that transformed my ideas, shook them up and turned them inside out in all the very best of ways. A true masterwork and major contribution to the field. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I follow this author on Instagram and love her account. I enjoyed a different look at the Enneagram and the fact that there were useful steps that each number can take to get to the healthiest version of their personality, including baby steps. I think this is best for someone who has already read other Enneagram books and/or looked into it before, as it doesn't have a lot of info to help you type yourself.

This book discusses the 9 Enneagram types. I enjoy reading about the Enneagram, but this book just was not for me. I like the idea of employing humor to reflect on motivations and behaviors, but did not find this as humorous as I hoped it would be. I also did not love the tone, writing style, and sometimes even the content. I liked the general outline of the book though. I am sure some other folks will appreciate this perspective on the Enneagram more.

Thank you NetGalley and Convergent Books for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I, a Type Six (aka the Loyal Skeptic), got read to filth and I still came back for more. 10/10, no notes, absolutely read like I was being roasted in a comedy show.

Really enjoyed the writing style here! The chapter headings grabbed me first. (Feeling called out, lol). Witty and wise is right. Hopefully I know more Enneagram now. Thanks for the ARC!

Sadly, I DNFed this. I just couldn’t get into it. I’m sure others who are really into enneagrams will love this but it just wasn’t for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of an arc in return for an honest review.

This book was like getting read to filth by someone loves you a lot and knows you way too well! I’m not an enneagram newbie, so I didn’t learn much I didn’t already know.

I love the enneagram and I loved this book! As a 2w3, I felt very seen. The humor was also just perfect and really showed the authors personality!

This was such a refreshing take on the education of Enneagram! Loved that the author encouraged self reflection of the reader while using humor and sarcasm to fuel self improvement!

The Unfiltered Enneagram does a beautiful job of presenting content with levity and space for self introspection and interpretation. The author acknowledges the pain of how being a particular enneagram number may be translate to choosing to live and their desired state of living with tenderness. The challenge sections are quite helpful to unearth patterns and makes it easier to witness who we are as we read.

The Unfiltered Enneagram
A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion
by Elizabeth Orr

I found the book ok. It was pretty generalized by the types of people and their personalities. I felt some were almost hit the nail, while others were not as much. ALL IN all this is a starter,

I’ve read a silly amount of enneagram books, so wasn’t sure if I wanted to read another. I’m so glad I read this one as it approaches the enneagram with humor (I laughed out loud more than once) and focuses on loving yourself despite your flaws. I highly recommend this book whether you are well versed in the enneagram or you know nothing about it!

“The Unfiltered Enneagram” by Elizabeth Orr

I loved the information in this book. It made me want to read the entire thing front to back and not to skip to my enneagram alone. As a 6 I was worried that the information wouldn’t be useful in my life, but it has great ideas to help me on how to approach my life to enhance it. This book is a self-help guide with enneagram focus and is completely spot on. As I know my entire family’s enneagram numbers, I can also give better advice to them. I really liked this book and gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.

The enneagram is something that I’m familiar with but I always enjoy learning more. I enjoy gaining new information in order to glimpse more of how my brain works and Elizabeth did just that with this book. Her open honesty and humor made what could have felt like a textbook of everything I do wrong actually be enjoyable and relatable. I am so grateful for this read and would recommend to enneagram lovers new and old. Many thanks to the Publisher and Net- Galley for sending me an E-ARC of this book!

“The Unfiltered Enneagram” is a fresh resource on the topic of the enneagram. I have read several enneagram books, and I’m familiar with the system. This book was educational to me, demonstrating some new concepts I haven’t heard about before. Rather than focusing just on information, the author’s purpose is to encourage self-reflection and improvement with humor along the way. I really enjoyed this author’s voice, and the way she used humor to help the audience adjust to the unhealthy aspects of the enneagram types.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm often chatting about what number I am. Wondering what I mean? Check out this book and learn more. I think Orr's is a helpful tool to explain the enneagram, and I enjoyed the way the information was presented. Sometimes it can be a heavy and dense topic, but they did this in a lighter way. I thought it was really well done. I'll be telling my enneagram loving friends all about it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is not what I expected. The author addresses that it is not your typical enneagram book right from the start though. I felt like the author was very knowledgeable. I understand my enneagram number best so I mostly stuck to the information presented relations to it. It was very thought provoking.