Books That Match Your Personality
- Sarnav
- Sep 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 15
We use all kinds of methods to choose what to read next. Sometimes we start with a friend's recommendation; sometimes we turn to the most well-known books in our favourite genre; sometimes we look for a short novel to finish quickly; and sometimes we just dive right into whatever book happens to be in our hands. Our book choices are as varied as our personalities. That's why, today, I want to recommend books to you based on your personality.
Have you ever taken a personality test? Those interested in psychology or academic approaches generally don't find these types of tests very reliable. Nevertheless, they have a certain appeal, and it's possible to recognise similar tendencies in ourselves based on the results. Of course, we don't have to accept the results entirely. It's better to interpret them as a fun exercise.
As I've mentioned a few times, the most well-known of these tests can be found on this site. I take it regularly every year, thinking that forgetting the questions might lead me to give different answers, but I always get the same result. I trust it to some extent, but I'm not completely captivated by its magic. I also wrote an article linking this topic to book characters. If you're interested, you can read it here.
This time, however, I will focus on the works themselves rather than literary characters. My goal was actually to write book recommendations from a different angle. I found the idea of recommending books based on personality traits interesting, so I decided to give it a try. Once again, I based the personality traits on the descriptions from the same website. If you're curious, you can take the short test here.
Let's quickly touch on these tests:
Energy-wise, introverted (I) or extraverted (E),
In terms of thinking style, intuitive (N) or observant (S),
In terms of temperament, acting with thinking (T) or feeling (F),
In terms of strategy, judging (J) or prospecting (P),
In terms of identity, assertive (-A) or turbulent (-T) individuals' tendencies, placing you into one of 16 personality types with percentages based on your answers.
In this article, I will share personality types, their dominant traits, and book recommendations in this context. Some may seem a bit simplistic and cliché, but matching them correctly took a lot of effort. Let's see if it catches your interest!
Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
INTJ: Strategic thinkers who see the big picture and enjoy solving complex systems
As people who enjoy analysing systems, I think they will love dystopian literature. Assuming they are familiar with the better-known examples, I would recommend one of the lesser-known ones: Karin Boye's “Kallocain”. Another recommendation would be “When the Sleeper Wakes” by H. G. Wells.
INTP: Those who adore abstract concepts, logic, and intellectual discovery
Given their preference for logical thinking, I believe they would enjoy popular science works. Stephen Hawking's “A Brief History of Time”.
ENTJ: Those who are bold, leaders, determined, and inclined to understand power dynamics
Due to their leadership structure, I think they can grasp the impact of motivational and success-oriented books. Although I am not as familiar with this topic as I used to be, the books of Anthony Robbins might be suitable.
ENTP: Those who are intellectual, innovative, witty, and enjoy playing with absurd situations
Given their innovative and argumentative nature, I find books containing sociological observations appealing. Malcolm Gladwell's books might be suitable. I recommend “What the Dog Saw”.
INFJ: Quiet, visionary, empathetic, and seekers of deep meaning
These introverted friends may also be on an inner quest. If you haven't read “The Alchemist”, one of Paulo Coelho's most famous works, take this as a sign to do so. Another good read is Ernest Hemingway's “The Old Man and the Sea”.
INFP: Selfless, emotional, dreamers, and value-oriented individuals
When dreamy personalities combine with selflessness, the most beautiful work that comes to mind is undoubtedly Tolkien's “The Lord of the Rings” series. However, to touch more on individuality and freedom, I'm also adding Richard Bach's “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.”
ENFJ: Charismatic, motivating, and relationship-oriented ones
Friends who demonstrate leadership skills in their professions could benefit from reading books on management, human relations and psychology to complement their existing knowledge. In this regard, I find Daniel Kahneman's work particularly relevant.
ENFP: Free-spirited, adventurous ones that open to new experiences
Their cheerful nature and the different perspectives that emerge from their enjoyment of life make it easy for me to recommend a few books from the humour category. Douglas Adams, known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, stands out here with his book “The Meaning of Liff”. Another recommendation could be Richard Feynman's “Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman!”
ISTJ: Reliable, organized, responsible, and practical individuals
Their organised and disciplined nature leads me to seek out realistic narratives in the form of classic literature. For a moral analysis, I recommend Fyodor Dostoyevsky's “Crime and Punishment”, Albert Camus' “The Stranger” and Franz Kafka's “The Trial”. Although these works may seem exhausting and challenging, they may resonate with readers.
ISFJ: Compassionate, protective, empathetic, and those who value serving society
For my friends who I believe have an emotional and family-oriented structure, I recommend Ferenc Molnar's “The Paul Street Boys,” which appears to be a children's novel but is anything but. In fact, I feel I need to read it again years later.
ESTJ: Organizers, managers, those who love leadership and maintaining order
When we combine community skills, practical management and philosophy, the classic example that comes to mind is Niccolo Machiavelli's “The Prince”. For those who want more philosophy, Plato's “The Republic” is an excellent choice.
ESFJ: Those who are caring, social, warm-hearted, and value relationships
Given their people-oriented nature, we can consider works that address this. Lucy Maud Montgomery's “Anne of Green Gables” is a delightful piece. I've also heard there's a popular series called “Anne with an E.” It's on my watchlist too.
ISTP: Those who love working with their hands, are practical, and enjoy philosophical depth
Their craftsmanship can bring out their adventurous side. Many of Jack London's works featuring post-apocalyptic scenarios can be attributed to this personality type. I would particularly mention “White Fang”.
ISFP: Those who love exploring new things, are emotional, creative, and connected to nature
The combination of these friends' artistic nature and emotionality may bring village novels and pastoral works to the fore. Many Turkish literary works that depict the geography of Anatolia could also be categorised as such. However, I would recommend “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau, one of the first environmentalists.
ESTP: Open-minded, action-oriented, spontaneous, and adrenaline-loving individuals
Action, adventure, mystery... When it comes to crime and detective fiction, the works of authors such as Dan Brown and, closer to home, Ahmet Ümit are definitely worth a read. If you're looking for horror or thriller elements, another well-known author is Jean Christophe Grange.
ESFP: Energetic, lively, fun-loving, and those who enjoy social settings
I suppose that Scott Fitzgerald's “The Great Gatsby”, with its colourful and wild yet satirical style, is a reasonable example.
Have you taken the test yet? What did you think of the recommendations based on your personality type? If you could recommend a book to someone with the same MBTI personality type as you, what would it be? Despite what I have written based on logic and research, your first-hand examples may be more convincing. You can contribute by sharing your insights and highlighting your own personality. Thank you.
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