Books by Function: eight reading recommendations to develop each of the 8 functions

In this post, it is my attempt to select books that are characteristic of each of the eight cognitive functions.  They should be books that embody the functions to the best of it's ability and therefore be good selections for any interested in developing that function in their stack.  Ever geared towards self-improvement, this post was a great joy to make and I hope that you find these recommendations helpful.  Enjoy

Si – Make Your Bed: little things that can change your life...and maybe the world

Ah, the little things in life.  The ordinary mundane details of existence.  Make your bed.  This is a great book for understanding how the little things in life really do matter and can even make all the difference.  Learn to never give up (Si steadfastness) and how to not let the unfair situations in life stop you.  To me, this is a very Si book worth the read.  So go ahead, make your bed and read this book.

Te – Getting Things Done: the art of stress-free productivity.

Te is all about getting things done.  This is a classic on how to organize yourself for productivity.  If Te is not your strong suite then this is a good book to get you going.  I as a Te trickster am glad for this book to help me organize.  It might be too simple for high Te users, but then again, this post is all about helping to gain in functions that one might not have.  So, if you need organization and productivity in your life then this is a good book to start with.  Get. It. Done. 

Fi – Discovering Your Authentic Core Values: a step by step guide

Some of us know what we value and some of us do not. There comes a time when we may feel out of alignment with our "true selves".  If you want to develop your Fi sense of values, are "stuck" in a situation/setting that you feel unaligned with and feel the need to change directions in life, then this might be a good time to step back and get in tune with your values.  Unlike logical decisions, Fi is about self alignment.  Here is the book for just that.

Ne – Trying to Not Try: ancient china, modern science, and the power of spontaneity

Ne is all about going with the flow.  If you are not an Ne user and find that you could use this trait to simplify your life and/or help you with the ebb and flows that life throws at you, then pick up this book.  We all like to have a plan, but even the best prepared plans can get side-tracked.  Having the ability and practice of spontaneity is like being picked up off the ground and, whilst in the air, allowing yourself to relax until you touch down again.  There are times to try hard and there are also times to relax and breath.  Trying not to try is a great book to balance that which is inevitable in life.  Learn to be comfortable with Ne spontaneity.

Se – Can’t Hurt Me: master your mind and defy the odds

Even though the title says to master your mind, this is a very Se book in that it will push you to DO!  "do not stop when you are tiered, stop when you are finished".  Si being comfort and Se being ruggedness, this book will show you how to "stay hard".  Or cognitively speaking, you could think of it as helping you to develop your Se.

Ti – Algorithms to Live By: the computer science of human decisions

This is Ti to the core.  Our brains are little computers after-all and this book lifts what we know about logical decision making and applies it to our personal lives.  If you want to up your Ti game and/or seek to make better logical decisions then this is the book for you.  

Fe – Captivate: the science of succeeding with people

This is a great book on navigating the social realm of life.  If you are not a high Fe user you will find this book helpful.  And if you are a high Fe user, you will likely enjoy this book as it can make you even better in social situations and with your social circle (although some parts may seem a little silly to you, like face recognition) it is still worth the read.  Overall it is a great book for developing Fe.  So read on and get captivating!

Ni – Revealing the Secrets of The Game: exposing the most heavily guarded system of self-empowerment ever designed

Ni can be a somewhat mysterious function.  Essentially, Ni is all about curiosity, and if curiosity killed the Si cat (comfort and safety) it was Ni the culprit of this curiosity.  Ni wants to gain insight into how the world works and seeks wisdom, understanding, vision, and goal accomplishment.  That is what you will find in this book if you are ready.  It will show you how to create and accomplish your goals by using wisdom such as not spreading yourself too thin and staying focused.  This is drive.  This is willpower.  This is...game.  If you need help with Ni willpower, focus and goals this is the book for you. So if you are ready to go deep then go ahead and dive right in!

And there you have it.  Eight functions.  Eight books.  I don't know if you noticed but I ordered this list  in the order of the ISTJ cognitive stack as they are the highest population among people.  I could have easily put it in the order of any of the introverted intuitives as they are the highest in the realm of Jungian cognition but I did not want to start with Ni and turn any Si users off.  Regardless, there it is.  A good idea to personalize this list might be to copy and past it into word in the order of your own personal cognition.  Step back and see how that might look to you and see you for you.  Kinda cool huh? 

Anyways, I am ever fascinated by the uses of the knowledge of cognition when navigating the world.  To be able to understand topics on the spectrum of cognitive functions and then be able to purposefully learn about a topic from that lens is just incredible to me.  Here is one more way I've found to use it.  Happy reading, learning, and developing to you my good people.  Until the next post.  Thanks for reading.  Over and out :P