What Does Your Personality Test Tell You About Books You Should Read?

Published in

publiclibrarysg

6 min readOct 19, 2023

Chances are, you would have taken a personality test before. From the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to The Big Five, such personality tests prompt introspection and gets us to ponder about who we really are.

Those four-letter acronyms you overheard in conversations or seen on social media? That’s not the latest Gen Z slang. That’s the MBTI and it’s actually pretty popular. In Singapore alone, over 650,000 people have taken the MBTI.

So what do the acronyms in the MBTI mean? Well, they signify different personality aspects. For example, ENFP personality is short for Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling and Perceiving. The MBTI also ascribes a corresponding title to each four-letter acronym. For the ENFP individual, they are also known as the Campaigner.

Besides giving us a glimpse into who we are and how we might see the world, personality tests like the MBTI also give us an idea of the types of books we might be most interested in.

Take the Entertainer (or ESFP) personality type. As social butterflies who are driven by spontaneity, the Entertainer would enjoy travel-themed books and fun reads that explore social and cultural intricacies.

On the flip side, the Logician (or INTP) personality type is analytical and looks to challenge conventional thinking. They would be intrigued by science fiction and fantasy novels that take them to imaginary spaces.

Found your personality type yet? If you haven’t done the MBTI test before, you can do it here.

We picked out recommended books for five distinct MBTI personality types, the Architect (or INTJ), Mediator (or INFP), Campaigner (or ENFP), Entertainer (or ESFP) and Logician (or INTP).

1. The Architect

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

British-Cypriot author Alex Michaelides’ debut novel, The Silent Patient, will have you on the edge of your seat. This psychological thriller begins when renowned artist Alicia Berenson gruesomely murders her husband in their London home.

Alicia takes a vow of silence when she is warded in “The Grove”, a psychiatric facility. Our narrator is Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist who becomes fascinated by Alicia’s case and her refusal to speak. The story features interviews with pivotal people in her life as Faber attempts to piece together the pieces of this story.

What drove Alicia to do what she did? For the Architects, this is the nail-biting mystery you are looking to solve!

Get the book here: Physical Book, eBook, Audiobook

2. The Mediator

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

While most of us may know Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore from the hit television show Gilmore Girls, the actress is also a New York Times best-selling author.

Among her books is Someday, Someday, Maybe, which chronicles the New York City adventures of aspiring actress Franny Banks.

Spurred on by her dream of becoming an acclaimed name on Broadway, Franny is focused on an upcoming acting class showcase that could prove life-changing. Along the way, she is forced to contend with a checked-out booking agent, a discouraging father, and a potential love interest.

Someday, Someday, Maybe is a breezy and lighthearted novel that covers identity, dreams, and human connections — perfect to captivate and engage an idealistic Mediator.

Get the book here: Physical Book, eBook

3. The Campaigner

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Characterised by their enthusiasm, creativity, and deep empathy, the Campaigner would likely be drawn to A Man Called Ove.

The dark comedy follows 59-year-old widower and resident curmudgeon, Ove, as he navigates the death of his wife, Sonja. Down on his luck and angry at the world, Ove becomes increasingly distrusting of those around him.

As a result, he tries to take his own life on numerous occasions, only for his plans to be constantly foiled by his new and friendly neighbours.

Touching on themes of death, love and morality, the story challenges Ove’s restrictive world view through a varied range of surprising characters. If you’re looking for a heartwarming yet contemplative take on the meaning of life, this is the book to dive into.

Get the book here: Physical Book

4. The Entertainer

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

Seven Days of Us has all the trappings of a deliciously dramatic holiday read.

The book stars the Birch family as they serve a seven-day quarantine upon the homecoming of their daughter, Olivia, a physician who was treating an Ebola-like disease in Liberia.

Apart from Olivia, the struggles of quarantine are intimately narrated by each member of the family as well — Parents Emma and Andrew, their second daughter Phoebe, and their adopted son Jesse.

The plot twist? Each character is harbouring a secret that is bound to be exposed in close proximity. The blend of family, wit, and unexpected turns in Seven Days of Us makes this book an absolute delight for the Entertainers.

Get the book here: Physical Book

5. The Logician

The Martian by Andy Weir

Andy Weir’s The Martian is the source material for the critically-acclaimed movie of the same name, starring Matt Damon.

Set on Mars in 2035, the novel depicts the journey of astronaut Mark Watney, who finds himself stranded on Mars after the impending threat of a dust storm forces his team to abort the mission and evacuate.

The story chronicles Watney’s calculated strategy to stay alive, from cultivating crops to modifying transport rovers.

The Martian is set apart by Weir’s extensive research and unwavering commitment to scientific accuracy in making the plot of the novel entirely plausible. Its combination of technical accuracy and rigorous logic would make an engrossing and thought-provoking read for a Logician.