Book Review: Personality – A User's Guide
Who am I really? This question has preoccupied people for centuries. And personality psychology now provides well-founded answers - and this is exactly where Personality - A User's Guide by Georgi Yankov and Nikita Mikhailov comes in. This book offers an in-depth but easy-to-understand introduction to the nature of personality and its influence on our daily lives.
Date: 30. June 2025
Author: Dorothea Müller-Stassek
Categories: Personality, Personality Assessments, Insights, metaLecture
Personality – A User’s Guide (published by Robinson in 2024):
A scientific guide to personality
The structure of the book: science meets practice
The book begins with the basics of personality psychology and explains which genetic and environmental factors influence our thinking and behavior. The authors draw on established scientific theories to lay a solid foundation.
Various personality models are then presented – including the well-known five-factor model (“Big Five”) and the “Dark Triad”, which deals with manipulative and egocentric behavior.
The next part of the book is dedicated to self-reflection and practical application: readers are given tools to better understand their own personality and analyze its influence on interpersonal relationships and professional success.
Finally, the book ventures a look into the future: do animals have a personality? And could artificial intelligence one day develop a “real” personality? These speculative questions offer interesting food for thought.
Expert praise: An important work of personality research
The scientific quality of the book has not gone unnoticed. The renowned personality researcher Robert Hogan, founder of Hogan Assessment Systems, praises the work as “the best introduction to personality psychology I have ever read”.
With sound research, practical examples and a captivating style of writing, the authors succeed in presenting a book that provides valuable insights for both professionals and interested laypeople.
Conclusion: A must-read for anyone who wants to understand themselves better
Whether in management, for executives, HR specialists or simply curious readers – Personality – A User’s Guide offers in-depth knowledge in an accessible form. Anyone who wants to learn more about the mechanisms of human personality will find a competent and entertaining companion here.
All interested readers have the opportunity to combine personality assessments with the exciting topic of team development. The combination of personality traits and team success factors can provide valuable insights. Dorothea Müller-Stassek is looking forward to a direct exchange.
