Enneagram Books
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Head versus Heart by Michael Hampson: the most important new work on the enneagram in thirty years – and the most accessible material ever produced on the enneagram. Buy the print edition here.

The Wisdom of the Enneagram is the latest complete handbook from Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson – a highly polished presentation in accessible ‘secular’ language.
High points: the ‘nine levels of development’ for each of the nine types are full of insight and make the system positive and uplifting; clear and well presented throughout.
Low points: too dogmatic at times – insisting that everyone has exactly one wing, and that the stress move is always bad and the security move is always good.
Overall: if you’re buying two or three make this one of them

Richard Rohr's Discovering the Enneagram is an excellent compendium of Christian resources on the nine types. One of the earlier books in print, it feels less ‘polished’ than the Riso-Hudson material - more ‘in the raw’ like a running narrative. No longer in print - though you might find a second hand copy.
High points: excellent compendium of resources
Low points: not as polished as some later work
Overall: one to own and read

Richard Rohr's The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective is a lightly revised reprint of ‘Discovering the Enneagram’.
High points: excellent compendium of resources
Low points: apologetic opening section attempting to answer criticisms
Overall: one to own and read

Enneagram Transformations is a book of spiritual exercises by Don Riso – also in accessible secular language – for those who know their enneagram type. It is a slim volume of powerful material. Examples from the general section (for everyone): ‘I now affirm that from now on I choose to live a better life. I now affirm that I learn from everyone and everything. I now affirm that I let go of the past and open up to the present.’
High points: powerful material for those who want to grow
Low points: quite short
Overall: unique and excellent

The Enneagram Made Easy by Renee Baron and Elizabeth Wagele is a wonderful cartoon book introducing the nine types – not the most thorough introduction to the system but great fun. You can laugh out loud at the illustrations and some of the observations and insights.
High points: upbeat easy-going positive and great fun
Low points: not the most thorough book on the shelf
Overall: definitely worth adding to the list

The Enneagram of Parenting is another wonderful cartoon book by Elizabeth Wagele – full of delightful insights into the world of your own children.
High points: upbeat easy-going positive and great fun
Low points: again not thorough - but very accessible
Overall: unique and excellent

The Enneagram: a journey of self-discovery by Maria Beesing, Robert Nogosek and Patrick O’Leary is the earliest book on the enneagram in print. It takes you back to the early days of an exciting new development.
High points: full of rich ideas and images
Low points: sometimes disorganised – certainly not schematised
Overall: historic interest and still worth a place on the bookshelf

All the books so far are derived from the Jesuit school of enneagram teaching with a catholic and Christian world view. Helen Palmer represents the psychodynamic school – heavily dependent on a Freudian world view. If you want to understand ‘what everyone else is talking about’ this is the key text. But it is a difficult read. Don’t start here unless you are comfortable with the complex culture and language of psychodynamics – and an unwarranted emphasis on mythical Sufi origins. This is ‘psychodynamic therapy’ rather than ‘spiritual direction’ – and hard work.
High points: lots of people have read it
Low points: complex and difficult
Overall: start with one of the others

The Intelligent Enneagram by Anthony Blake has nothing to do with ‘types of people’ at all. It is one of very few books in print on general enneagram theory - and is virtually impenetrable. If you want a readable introduction to general enneagram theory stick with the first appendix to Head versus Heart.
High points: an interesting phenomenon
Low points: virtually impenetrable
Overall: dare to impress