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kayexplores's review against another edition
5.0
This should be required reading for everyone searching for love, or wanting to “learn” their partner. This scientific approach to understanding how chemistry shapes our personalities was fascinating. It was incredibly accurate at describing my own motivations - some I consciously knew, many others that I hadn’t vocalized before. It also gave me new insight on why past relationships did, and didn’t, work. A book has never taught me more about myself and others - can’t recommend it enough.
poseymckeon's review against another edition
3.0
3.75/5 stars.
Perhaps if Dr. Helen Fisher was a professor at my university, and she taught a class called "The Anthropology of Love," I would have actually willingly taken a bio-anthro course during my undergrad, instead of avoiding them at all costs. (Call me a fake anthropologist if this makes me one, I accept.) Though it is her specific field of research, so she makes a pretty damn good argument for it, I understand there is a biological explanation for who we are and what we do, especially in regard to our ~natural~ dispositions (aka personalities) and our human quest in finding companionship and inclination to build relationships. However, this book is tackling the questions of: with whom? in what way? what is it about our individual selves (or group of like-minded people)? and, of course, why???
I don't intend to spoil Dr. Fisher's insightful discoveries and findings, but I do wish to applaud this book as it not only contributes to ongoing literature in bio-anthropology but also more specifically contributes to my ongoing research on personality and compatibility (relationships). Though Dr. Fisher's 'types' are based on different systems/chemicals in the brain while MBTI, Keirsey's work, and the Big Five are comparatively more psychologically-based, there are- as you can expect- interesting overlaps in their end conclusions. I found myself trying to decipher who the Explorers, Builders, Negotiators, and Directors of Dr. Fisher's research are within the context of MBTI's sixteen personalities by reflecting on my results from both systems' evaluations.
Personality is fascinating, but I like how this book really treats personality in a realistic way. Yes a person is an individual, but people are not isolated individuals. We inevitably build relationships, develop attachments, and seek some nature of companionship in other people- whether we realize it or not. While many people will enter this book with the thought that 'the perfect match' Dr. Fisher is addressing could only be a romantic relationship, I hope people come out of reading this book realizing that this could be a... guide- not an answer book nor a perfect map- to understanding any kind of relationship by way of understanding the effects that our chemistry has on how we perceive the world and make decisions based on those perceptions. But if you're interest is in romantic love, then this book definitely serves that purpose, too.
Perhaps if Dr. Helen Fisher was a professor at my university, and she taught a class called "The Anthropology of Love," I would have actually willingly taken a bio-anthro course during my undergrad, instead of avoiding them at all costs. (Call me a fake anthropologist if this makes me one, I accept.) Though it is her specific field of research, so she makes a pretty damn good argument for it, I understand there is a biological explanation for who we are and what we do, especially in regard to our ~natural~ dispositions (aka personalities) and our human quest in finding companionship and inclination to build relationships. However, this book is tackling the questions of: with whom? in what way? what is it about our individual selves (or group of like-minded people)? and, of course, why???
I don't intend to spoil Dr. Fisher's insightful discoveries and findings, but I do wish to applaud this book as it not only contributes to ongoing literature in bio-anthropology but also more specifically contributes to my ongoing research on personality and compatibility (relationships). Though Dr. Fisher's 'types' are based on different systems/chemicals in the brain while MBTI, Keirsey's work, and the Big Five are comparatively more psychologically-based, there are- as you can expect- interesting overlaps in their end conclusions. I found myself trying to decipher who the Explorers, Builders, Negotiators, and Directors of Dr. Fisher's research are within the context of MBTI's sixteen personalities by reflecting on my results from both systems' evaluations.
Personality is fascinating, but I like how this book really treats personality in a realistic way. Yes a person is an individual, but people are not isolated individuals. We inevitably build relationships, develop attachments, and seek some nature of companionship in other people- whether we realize it or not. While many people will enter this book with the thought that 'the perfect match' Dr. Fisher is addressing could only be a romantic relationship, I hope people come out of reading this book realizing that this could be a... guide- not an answer book nor a perfect map- to understanding any kind of relationship by way of understanding the effects that our chemistry has on how we perceive the world and make decisions based on those perceptions. But if you're interest is in romantic love, then this book definitely serves that purpose, too.
jrobles76's review against another edition
5.0
Seriously, take the test and learn why past relationships didn't work and why you're attracted to certain people. I even recommended it to my therapist last we talked. If you've taken a DISC profile or a Myers-Briggs test, you'll find the results similar and as useful. I like that she doesn't only suggest you find your perfect match, but allows that any match can work if you understand where the other person is coming from and where YOU are coming from. We had a lot of fun at work analyzing our past and current relationships. Go get your copy now.
yario's review against another edition
4.0
Such a fun book! Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, bases her analysis of personality matches based on hormonal profiles. And it all makes sense now... :-)
readingforfunsies's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
yungste's review against another edition
2.0
Some useful information in the first and last chapters but the rest is horoscope level pseudoscience.
kristenbeck's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book! Dr. Fisher's background in anthropology gives a unique look into personality types due to our chemical makeup and why we pick the people we do to date. She explains how we unconsciously pick "mates" based on natural selection. The theories and research in this book are fascinating and if I decided to Internet date I would be more inclined towards match.com or chemistry.com due to the way she has helped design the matching process.
dereadergal's review against another edition
I ditched this book after a few pages. I did not realize this book was going to be a plug for match.com. Maybe it gets better but it just annoyed me right from the beginning