Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is how the book works: You buy a new copy with an unused access code. Take a 30-minute personality test on the books website and the website spits out a report about the top 5 themes that represent your "strengths" or what is basically different facets of your personality. The report is the virtually the same text that comes from the book. The personality test cannot be retaken. The rest of the book may or may not be useful to you as it just a very brief overview of the other 29 themes that may not apply to you. I took the test and agreed with 4 out of 5 of the themes it applied to me. The four that I agreed with resonated with me and the fifth was a little off (thought I felt that throughout the test I may have been a bit dishonest about this trait so I understand why it popped up). This is where the book may come in handy. My boyfriend and I skimmed through each of the themes. When we either recognized the theme in each other or ourselves, we'd examine the section a bit further to see if it was really a true fit with our individual strengths. Some might think that these types of books are similar to horoscopes and can be applied to anybody but the author did a really great job with distinguishing and describing the themes. With the themes that the test applied to me, I read them and felt that it could apply to anybody. However, after going through the rest of the themes and having a loved one review my themes, it's pretty clear that not all the themes apply to everyone. This descriptions are so well-written and well designed that we instantly recognized these traits in ourselves or in other people we know well. If we didn't recognize the theme, it would be like a completely foreign concept so if you don't recognize it, it must not be you. I felt that even though the test wasn't 100%, it was still pretty good. But if you don't agree with the results, reading the book allows you to identify what themes resonate with you or someone very familiar with you. Then you can read the descriptions and action list. If you do end up with a copy without an access code or want to use the book with a loved one, it only takes a bit of self-knowledge and effort to skim through the book and really examine the sections that may pertain to you or your loved one. It is a bit validating to see personality traits defined as strengths. Instead of seeing some aspects of my personality as a deficit, this books frames them as a potential strength and something that you should own and cultivate rather than try to stifle. I did feel that the book was a bit light and superficial. It is a small book and covers 34 different themes so it would be hard to expect that most people would want to in-depth treatise into all 34 themes. Each theme is covered by about 3 - 4 pages which includes anecdotal quotes by people who identify with the theme, a description of the theme and action list of how you can develop these themes into your strengths. In all, it is covers all the bases but don't expect nitty gritty individualized analysis. By reading the entire book rather than only the sections that pertain to you, you recognize themes in other people around you and perhaps interact with them more productively and amicably. It would have been great if it were possible to order the test without having to buy the book or to order additional tests for family members at a discount or at least without having to buy another book. We'd only need one book in a household. Buying another book just for an access code is a waste of trees as the book has now no resell or reading value. It's understandable that products need revenue but I felt that the author/publishers could take efforts to offer the book in an online format with packages for multiple test. Overall, I really liked the book as a learning tool about myself in others. I recommend it but don't expect a comprehensive analysis of your psyche but a cursory guide meant to get you at least pointed in the right directions.