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Summary: Are you tired of trying to get along with everyone?
Review: Then read this great book by Taylor Hartman. Everyone is indeed an individual but we all fit pretty nicely into a personality type, which Dr. Hartman labels with four colors. Each personality type has different wants and needs and reacts in a very predictable manner if things do not go their way. Once you have the tools to recognize someone's personality color, you can more easily relate to them knowing their needs and wants. It is like a recipe book for how to deal with different people! Get along better with your wife, your kids, your co-workers and friends. And most of all, understand yourself a lot better. This book also helps you understand what it means to be a healthy "blue" or a "sick" blue and how to learn the positive traits you do not have from the other "colors." If you like this book, you must read the companion book about character called "The Character Code." Dr. Hartman shows you how to develop the good character Dr. Laura preaches about every day by teaching us to examine our motives for doing things and determine if they are "clean" or "dirty."
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Summary: Finally a testing system that identifies myself correctly!
Review: 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!!
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Summary: Helps you understand people & improve relationships
Review: Though it is always dangerous to try and "categorize" people, Dr. Hartman's theories are a fantastic tool to help you understand and relate to the people around you. I put the concepts to use on a daily basis in both my professional and personal life. After reading this book, suggesting it to several friends and family, and then discussing the ideas, I have had a number of revelations about both current and previous relationships. For example, I now have a much better understanding of my own family including my young "red" son. I now see that I need to give him "control" over more things in his life in order to be a `happy camper', and it has been an amazing thing to watch as we have done this with him. The unique thing about Dr. Hartman's theory is that he talks about a person's root motivation, and how that motivation translates into certain behavoral characteristics. As you can read from other reviews here, there are four primary colors, each with distinct characteristics. While this may seem overly simplistic, it is surprisingly well-suited to use by us "normal" people (non psychiatric professionals). It is also remarkably accurate; there have been numerous time since reading this book that I have turned to people I know and said "I'll bet you are ..." or "I'll bet you like..." or so on, and been SPOT ON. It is really fun, if nothing else. :-) Seriously, if you have a difficult boss, a tough relathionship with someone you are trying to work out, or just want to understand a better way to relate to people that you have historically struggled with, this is a great place to start, and really will get your wheels turning. The book itself is reasonably well-written, and does a good job of clearly explaining the theories in very common terms. Dr. Hartman uses a lot of examples from his own practice to illustrate points, and tells stories that anyone can relate to. The book is organized in the beginning to provide an introduction to the four colors, and their positive and negative qualities - there is also a test to take in order to determine your own color. Regarding the test, let me give you some advice: There are a lot of tough questions in the test - multiple choice questions where it will seem like more than one answer applies. I have taken the test several times, and achieved dramatically different results the last time I took the test. Why? Because the first time I took the test, I did it from the context of my life and experience TODAY (as an adult). The next time, I thought back to the way I was as a child, and when I could not decide on an answer, I asked my wife (who has known me for 15 years) or my mother. It was always surprising to me that the questions that I struggled with were easy for my wife or mother to answer - because they saw it from the context of the way I *really* am (and was as a child) rather than the way I *think* I am (or have become). The tricky thing is that we all adapt as adults, and if we are healthy, we adapt in ways that help us overcome the negative aspects of our "color" and accentuate the positive aspects of our "color". In some cases, we may even adopt characteristics of another "color". A great example of this might be a mother that is naturally a pretty strong "red" who after years of motherhood, has developed a very strong "blue" side in order to help her be more successful as a "mom" ("blues" are much more sensitive and nurturing, "reds" tend to be much more abrasive and intolerant) Bottom line, this book is a quick read, and EVERYONE I have recommended it to has come back to me with praise for the book. Dr. Hartman is a bit of a self-promoter, though, and you may be put off by his mentions of his other books in the opening chapter. (I know that the hairs went up on the back of my neck a bit, but by chapter two they had settled back down). I am always suspicious when someone says "This book is great, and will help you to understand X, but if you want to REALLY understand Y, then you should buy my other book...." Despite the self-promotion in the opening chapter, I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Trust This Man
Review: We have been using Color Code organizationally since 1995. All of our employees are trained in the Color Code concepts found in this book during New Employee Orientation. Color Code has earned our commitment! It has become a common language for understanding and enhanced working relationships, communication, leadership, and teamwork. It has helped us appreciate the gifts we each have to offer and the diversity that we bring to the workplace -- we truly see the world in colors. Thank you, Taylor!
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