The 10 Best Books for INFJs to Read in 2019

It is probably no surprise that as an INFJ personality type and introvert, I love to read. Nothing is better than spending the weekend curled up on the couch with a good book and a warm cup of tea.

I thought it would be fun to share a few of the books that have helped me in my personal development journey. Here are some of the best books for INFJs to read in 2019 and beyond.

Best Books for INFJs to Read in 2019

1. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
2. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
3. Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence by David Keirsey
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
5. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
6. The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz
7. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
8. The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt
9. The Complete Guide to Understanding the INFJ Personality Type by Megan Malone
10. The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne Stable

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1. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

“Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.”

— Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic, by the brilliant Elizabeth Gilbert, is one of the most inspirational books I’ve ever read. It makes you want to let go of everything you fear and jump into whatever pond your heart is leading you into, no matter how murky the water looks.

Every page feels like getting a supportive pep talk from your best friend. In my opinion, it’s very NF-friendly in it’s idealistic and encouraging tone.

The book is written for creative types — if you’re a writer it will be right up your alley — but the message is one that everyone needs to hear, again and again.

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2. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown

“Many think vulnerability is weakness, but it is not. Those who refuse to be vulnerable lose the ability to understand others who are, and their fear and discomfort quickly turn into judgment and criticism.”

— Brene Brown

You may have heard of Brene Brown. Thousands have seen her popular TED talks on shame and vulnerability. Brown, a self-described introvert, dives into what it means to be vulnerable and shares stories from her personal life as well as information she’s gathered from years of researching the topic.

Personally, I recommend the audiobook because Brown is one of those people whose words truly come alive when you listen to her speak.

Being vulnerable as an INFJ is difficult since I’ve spent years building up walls and haven’t always made it easy for others to take them down.

This book is a great starting point for anyone willing to begin the journey to greater vulnerability.

Buy it here: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

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3. Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence by David Keirsey

“If you do not want what I want, please try not to tell me that my want is wrong. Or if my beliefs are different from yours, at least pause before you set out to correct them. Or if my emotion seems less or more intense than yours, given the same circumstances, try not to ask me to feel other than I do. Or if I act, or fail to act, in the manner of your design for action, please let me be.

I do not, for the moment at least, ask you to understand me. That will come only when you are willing to give up trying to change me into a copy of you.”

— David Keirsey

This was the first book that I ever read about personality type. For the longest time, I jokingly referred to it as my Bible because it felt like this book held the secrets of the universe.

It was my primary resource for understanding personality type. I read it word-for-word to friends and embarrassingly enough, even quoted it on a few dates.

I’ve since read many other great books on typology (check out the INFJ resources page for more). However, many good things came into my life as a result of the insights I gained from this book.

If you have an interest in deepening your understanding of personality type and a novice understanding of typology, this is a great book to start with. 

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4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.”

— Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age fiction piece about a quiet high school kid dealing with friends, love, and childhood trauma.

As an introvert, it’s impossible not to relate to Charlie’s awkward experiences trying to make friends and find love during his freshman year. You will root for the endearing lead character and his eccentric band of friends until the very end.

It’s a short and easy read full of quotes that you’ll want to add to your Pinterest board. I recommend watching the film by the same name after you read the book.

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5. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

— Paulo Coelho

As an INFJ, discovering meaning and purpose in my life is essential. So, I quickly fell in love with the story of a young man searching for exactly that in The Alchemist.

The boy’s journey is all too familiar to personalities that are constantly in search of something greater.

The Alchemist is deep, inspiring and a good reminder of the power of perseverance and keeping yourself focused on the big picture.

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6. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

“If I love myself I will express that love in my interactions with you, and then I am being impeccable with the word, because that action will produce a like reaction. If I love you, then you will love me. If I insult you, you will insult me. If I have gratitude for you, you will have gratitude for me.  If I’m selfish with you, you will be selfish with me.”

— Don Miguel Ruiz

Be impeccable with your word. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best.

These are The Four Agreements according to author Don Miguel Ruiz. In a world that feels as if it’s getting more and more divisive each day, these agreements remind us to prioritize our most essential values.

Ever since reading this book, I’m often reminded of the agreements during periods of stress or uncertainty. It’s a relatively short read, but one that will stick with you for years to come.

Buy it here: The Four Agreements

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7. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

“The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it’s a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk. Use your natural powers — of persistence, concentration, and insight — to do work you love and work that matters. Solve problems. make art, think deeply.”

Susan Cain

It’s nearly impossible to write a list of the best books for INFJs without mentioning the queen of introversion, Susan Cain.

If you haven’t yet read Quiet, I recommending clicking the “Add to Cart” button on Amazon immediately. This book has transformed the lives of introverts around the world.

In it, Cain discusses the challenges and joys that introverts experience in their careers, as students, as parents and more. Backed with personal anecdotes, research, and interviews, it’s the most comprehensive book on introversion currently out there.

Buy it here: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

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8. The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt

“Happiness is not something that you can find, acquire, or achieve directly. You have to get the conditions right and then wait. Some of those conditions are within you, such as coherence among the parts and levels of your personality. Other conditions require relationships to things beyond you: Just as plants need sun, water, and good soil to thrive, people need love, work, and a connection to something larger.”

Jonathan Haidt

Where does happiness come from? As an INFJ, you may find yourself thinking questions of this sort pretty often.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has studied this question for years and shares his research and insights in The Happiness Hypothesis. According to Haidt, happiness doesn’t come from a single source.

Instead, it takes multiple factors to achieve true contentment with life. These factors include a strong internal self awareness, connection with others and a passion for something bigger than themselves.

If you’re interested in a psychology-based approach to understand what it takes for people to be happy, I highly recommend checking out this book.

Buy it here: The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Truth in Ancient Wisdom

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9. The Complete Guide to Understanding the INFJ Personality Type by Megan Malone

“Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is one of the first and most essential steps to developing a more solid understanding of yourself and how you fit in the world. When you know your natural gifts and blinds spots, you become aware of what areas to build upon—as well as where to allow yourself patience.”

Megan Malone

As an avid reader and writer about personality type, I struggled to find many books that truly got at the root of what it meant to be an INFJ personality type — and how to use that information to grow. So, I decided to write one!

Yep, this is my book! In it, I discuss some of the common themes INFJs experience when it comes to careers, parenting, relationships and more. I interviewed more than 20 INFJs and personality type experts to showcase a variety of experiences.

The journey to personal growth begins with a strong understanding of the self. I try to provide as much helpful information as possible on this blog for free, but if you’re looking to dive a little deeper into your personality type, then The Complete Guide to Understand the INFJ Personality Type is for you.

Buy it here: The Complete Guide to Understanding the INFJ Personality Type

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10. The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne Stable

“Perfection is like an ice sculpture: it lasts only as long as there’s no change in the atmosphere.”

Suzanne Stabile

The MBTI® is one way to understand our personality traits, but it’s not the only way. The Enneagram is another personality system that examines personality based on the inner fears that motivate how we move through the world.

The Path Between Us is an easy-to-follow look at each of the 9 enneagram types and their compatibility with each other.

If you’re interested in understanding yourself and others in a way beyond what’s available with the knowledge of the MBTI, you’ll enjoy this deep dive into enneagram wisdom.

Buy it here: The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships