[.ca] The Color Code: A New Way To See Yourself, Your ... (ISBN 0684848228)

From Amazon.com:
Taylor Hartman's The Color Code: A New Way to See Yourself, Your Relationships, and Life introduces a fresh method for analyzing your own personality and behavior--as well as those of people around you--and then utilizing that knowledge to improve workplace and personal relationships. The author, a psychologist and leadership coach, offers a remarkably astute system for grouping everyone into categories denoted by a color: red (power wielders), blue (do-gooders), white (peace keepers), and yellow (fun lovers). He then explains how to ensure that all possible alliances between them function at optimum effectiveness.

Very accurate, helpful book:
Being an almost pure White personality, I dislike being put in a category, ;) so I almost didn't finish the color test when a friend gave it to me. But after finishing, I had to buy the book to see what I could learn about myself and how to improve my relationships with others. Let me tell you from experience that everything Dr Hartman says about White personalities is true! I had never realized why I had trouble communicating, asserting myself, and making decisions, or why I have never felt any great personal ambition. It has also helped me understand my Red friend a lot better. I had to laugh when reading the Red/White section, because it perfectly describes our relationship! Now I know what to do better, and what not to do.

Personality types analysis based on a color metaphor:
"The Color Code: A New Way to See Yourself, Your Relationships, and Life" is a text on personality theory and motivation for each of four basic personality types. Dr. Hartman divides people into four basic personality types and describes the types using a colors metaphor. People who fall into the red category are motivated by power. They need to influence others and are totally dedicated to causes that they believe in. Reds are strongly opinionated and have no tolerance for stupidity. People who fall into the blue category are motivated by a desire for intimacy. Intensely loyal and always seeking a purpose in life, Blues are cautious with their emotions and tend to be neither happy nor sad but just existing from day to day. Whites are motivated by a desire for peace. Strongly empathetic and tolerant, Whites mix in well with any group and will tolerate just about anyone in order to avoid conflict. Yellows are focused on fun and pleasure. They are naturally happy people and relate well with others regardless of ages, social status or occupation. A defining trait for Yellows is that they always need a way out or a chance to escape and run free. They have a large number of people that they associate with but very few true, close friends. Dr. Hartman also discusses how to determine which personality type a person falls into. Once you know a person's color type you can understand why they act and react the way they do . Unlike many other texts on personality theory this one concentrates not only on what traits the person has but on what motivates them. Many books describe how a person in a particular category acts, but few focus on why they act that way. That is where this book differs. An interesting book with a useful system for understanding people, I found it much more valuable for understanding what motivates certain types of people than more complex systems with sixteen or more personality types. A recommended read.

Highly recommended:
Easy to read, fun, and very illuminating. It really helped me to view myself and others with much more clarity. This is one of my favorite books on the subject of personality type.

Finally a testing system that identifies myself correctly!:
There is an obvious method to Dr. Hartman's test...It is the Key difference to all other test, including the MMPI that leave so much room for textbook interpretations. The difference is you test at current aptitude and personality traits after a lifetime of learning and behavior modifications, but the missing elements are the true person inside you has been there since birth. Dr. Hartman's test has you answer 45 basic questions and 15 situations on a "when you were a child basis" this makes much sense seeing how we are basically who we are inside from birth. I found this to be uncannily who I am as to the textbook answers of other standard tests that I have previously taken in the past. I feel like this person has nailed the real me, not just projected onto me someone else's stereotypes of there creation!! A must "see to believe" outlook of who you really are inside yourself!!

Clarity:
Great book - very precise and clear about identifying your own motives and the motives of others. Well written, excellent examples, quick read and relevant to career and family relationships. Well worth the effort!!!