As mentioned - I have read the book, and I'm not opposed to the some of the ideas in the book. However, the endorsement of MBTI is just really damn hard for me to swallow.
> MBTI has the predictive value of horoscopes, more or less
My understanding of MBTI is that it's not supposed to be predictive, but it helps you understand a different person's preferences or view-point. Preferences don't necessarily predict behavior.
Understanding the J vs P preference difference was revolutionary early in my marriage. I'm P and my wife is J, and our different preferences on that dimension helped explain much of our conflict. And understanding her preference helped me be more considerate and loving to her. MBTI helped me understand her (not predict her).
When I read a description of an MBTI type for someone I know really well, about half of it rings true -- but then reading and talking through it together sparks a great conversation where we learn a lot about each other.
The book does recommend using a qualified MBTI coach/trainer, so that it's not mis-used.
I'm assuming the predictive power is in relation to fact the MBTI has been shown to have low repeatability in the test results, which undermines its ability to predict the actual personality of the individual in question.
