Reading Your Mind

In Annie Hall, Woody Allen relates that he was thrown out of school for cheating on his metaphysics exam. "I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me," he remembers.

A better way to get a good look would have been the Myers-Briggs personality test, with which I've developed a slightly unhealthy obsession because I think it's super-revealing. (Though I doubt it's officially called a "test" which would suggest some people could outright fail, as in: "You've got no personality. We just couldn't detect one. We've been over the results twice already!)

You're probably familiar with the basics: there are four overall preferences measuring whether somebody tends introvert/extrovert, thinker/feeler, etc. For example, I'm an INFP, Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving, which is named the Idealist Healer. (Other types among the 16 possibilities: the Diva. The Mastermind. The Field Marshall.)

After taking the test (the legitimate version has dozens and dozens of questions) you can read all about yourself in the accompanying book called What's Happening To Me? Please Understand Me. Here's an excerpt from my profile:

Healers have a profound sense of idealism derived from a strong personal morality, and they conceive of the world as an ethical, honorable place. Indeed, to understand Healers, we must understand their idealism as almost boundless and selfless, inspiring them to make extraordinary sacrifices for someone or something they believe in. The Healer is the Prince or Princess of fairytale, the King's Champion or Defender of the Faith, like Sir Galahad or Joan of Arc. Healers are found in only 1 percent of the general population, although, at times, their idealism leaves them feeling even more isolated from the rest of humanity . . .

They are patient with complicated situations, but impatient with routine details. They can make errors of fact, but seldom of values. Their career choices may be toward the ministry, missionary work, college teaching, psychiatry, architecture, psychology-and away from business.

Away from (presumably, private) business, fine, no news there. Lots to learn from the private sector, but probably not my career path. But the ministry? Missionary work? That came as a bit of a surprise.