10 Must-Read Books for ENFPs

Are you an ENFP looking for an enticing new book to add to your reading list? In today’s article, we’re exploring ten books that ENFPs mention time and time again as favorites! I surveyed my email list, Twitter followers, and friends to get their most highly recommended books and I think you’ll find some compelling choices here.

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This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend books I truly love and believe in.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Why Are ENFPs Drawn to These Specific Books?

ENFPs enjoy books that engage their imagination and sense of possibility. As Extraverted Intuitive types, they crave novel ideas that tickle their mind with wonder. Because of this, they’re often drawn to fantasy or science-fiction novels. As feeling types they also enjoy books that get them in touch with their inner emotions and inspire them to look deeper into their motivations and values. ENFPs love books that help them to see more possibilities as well as know and understand themselves (and others) better.

10 Favorite Books for ENFPs:

#1 – The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”

An Andalusian shepherd named Santiago keeps experiencing a troubling dream. During the dream, a child tells him to seek the treasure at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids. Believing the dream to be prophetic, he embarks on a journey that makes him face powerful emotions as well as interesting and profound characters. Along the way, he learns that he can change his destiny with his own actions and that he can maintain hope even when the odds seem stacked against him.

ENFPs love the magical realism of The Alchemist, as well as the inspiring way it compels the reader to believe in the power of their dreams. Find out more about the Alchemist

#2 – Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

“Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive–it’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There’d be no scope for imagination then, would there? But am I talking too much? People are always telling me I do. Would you rather I didn’t talk? If you say so I’ll stop. I can STOP when I make up my mind to do it, although it’s difficult.”

Eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley has arrived on the lush, romantic corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts – elderly Marilla and Matthew – wanted to adopt a boy, not a spirited redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne wins them over with her imagination, heart, and vulnerability. Over the years, her many quirky and sometimes heartbreaking encounters are captured in L.M. Montgomery’s famed novels.

INFPs and ENFPs often debate about the personality type of Anne Shirley. I strongly believe she’s an ENFP, but regardless, any xNFP will love this story. Anne Shirley’s imagination, passion, ambition, and idealism are all trademarks of the ENFP and they will find in her a literary “kindred spirit” unlike any other!

Find out more about Anne of Green Gables

#3 – Untamed by Glennon Doyle

“This life is mine alone. So I have stopped asking people for directions to places they’ve never been.” – Glennon Doyle

Glennon Doyle gives readers an intimate memoir of her transformation from self-sacrificing, unhappy mother to a fully alive, fully present, fully free woman. Untamed is often directed towards women, but many men I’ve known have also found healing and empowerment in her words. In many ways Untamed feels like a manifesto to Introverted Feeling, the auxiliary function of the ENFP personality type. Much of Doyle’s teaching focuses on being fully yourself in a world that demands conformity. She compels readers to seek love and truth in the heart rather than in the words and expectations of the masses. I’ve spoken to countless NFPs who found inspiration and freedom in this book, and I believe it’s likely that Doyle is an xNFP herself.

Find out more about Untamed.

#4 – The Sirens of the Titan by Kurt Vonnegut

“It took us that long to realize that a purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is to be loved.”

Vonnegut seems to be a favorite of ENFPs, and it’s not hard to see why. His random, creative, visionary style is often driven by a sense of ethical and philosophical musing. In The Sirens of the Titan, the richest, most depraved man on earth, Malachi Constant, is given the chance to take a space journey from Earth to Mars in preparation for an interplanetary war. Then he voyages to Mercury with a Martian survivor of that war, and back to earth to be pilloried as a sign of Man’s displeasure with his arrogance. Throughout his journey, he explores thought-provoking concepts like free will, fate, meaning, and the purpose of life itself.

Find out more about The Sirens of the Titan.

#5 – The Zamonia Book Series by Walter Moers

“Writers are there to write, not experience things. If you want to experience things, become a pirate or a Bookhunter. If you want to write, write. If you can’t find the makings of a story inside yourself, you won’t find them anywhere.”

The Zamonia series starts with the tale of Captain Bluebear, a character who spends his first thirteen-and-a-half lives in the mysterious continent of Zamonia, where intelligence is an infectious disease, water flows uphill, headless giants roam deserts made of sugar, and dangers lie in wait around every corner. Imaginative and hilarious, this series takes the reader to amazing worlds with all manner of weird and wonderful creatures. While the book is reminiscent of a children’s story, the complex ideas are interesting enough to entertain the adult reader as well. ENFPs love the quirkiness, imagination, and randomness of this series and especially seemed to mention the fourth book in the series, “The City of Dreaming Books,” as a favorite.

Find out more about the Zamonia series

#6 – The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

The Harry Potter novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc deals with Harry’s struggle against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who killed Harry’s parents and intends to overthrow the wizarding world and subjugate all wizards and non-magical people to his will. ENFPs will love the lush, imaginative world that fills the pages of J.K. Rowling’s books. They’ll also identify with Harry’s yearning to do what’s right even when it flies in the face of the rules or expectations of others.

Find out more about The Harry Potter series.

#7 – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

“You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go. It is the basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity. At some time, every creature which lives must do so. It is the ultimate shadow, the defeat of creation; this is the curse at work, the curse that feeds on all life. Everywhere in the universe.”

The inspiration for the Blade Runner films, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Is a Dystopian novel that starts in 2021. In this time frame, the World War has killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who survived crave the presence of any living creature, even android humans that are indistinguishable from real humans. This is where bounty hunter Rick Deckard comes in. His job is to find rogue Androids and “retire” them, but this is challenging since they not only appear just like real humans, but they can also fight back with lethal force. ENFPs love that this book makes them think and manages to stretch their already broad imaginations. They also appreciated that this book isn’t afraid to deal with terrifying and amazing possibilities that other books shy away from.

Find out more about Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

#8 – The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis

“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”

The Chronicles of Narnia stories follow four young children as they discover a magical country just beyond the door of a forgotten wardrobe in an old, English mansion. In this secret country named Narnia, everything and everyone is trapped in an eternal winter brought on by the evil enchantment of the White Witch. It’s up to the children, and the noble lion Aslan, to take arms and fight to free Narnia from the Witch’s sinister spell.

ENFPs love this fantasy escape not only because of the fantastic worlds and mythical creatures, but because the books explore concepts like good, evil, and courage in the face of temptation or oppression. They also enjoy the interesting, fully fleshed-out characters and the way each one grapples and comes to term with their own weaknesses in order to become the best versions of themselves in the long run.

Find out more about The Chronicles of Narnia.

#9 – The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

“Every problem, every dilemma, every dead end we find ourselves facing in life, only appears unsolvable inside a particular frame or point of view. Enlarge the box, or create another frame around the data, and problems vanish, while new opportunities appear.”

Written by Benjamin Zander, a conductor of the Boston philharmonic, and psychotherapist Rosamund Stone Zander, The Art of Possibility is an uplifting book that helps you to move past the world of measurements and comparisons to the world of possibility. Through stories and life lessons, the two authors help readers to challenge their perspectives and broaden their thinking in order to experience renewed joy and creativity. ENFPs who are known for generating possibilities and thinking outside the box will love this guide to thinking bigger, switching perspectives, and improving creativity and leadership capability!

Find out more about The Art of Possibility.

#10 – The Comprehensive ENFP Survival Guide by Heidi Priebe

“Don’t waste your time trying to live an average life. You aren’t average. And that is your greatest advantage.”

Typology expert Heidi Priebe takes readers on a journey through the mind of an ENFP in this fun, humorous, and insightful book. You’ll learn about how ENFPs manage stress, relationships, family life, and more! Priebe is an excellent communicator  who knows how to make you feel recognized and affirmed through her writing; she also knows how to explain complicated psychological dynamics in a way that’s easy to understand and even funny! Every ENFP I know who has read this book has come away feeling understood, motivated, and inspired.

Find out more about The Comprehensive ENFP Survival Guide

Other Books Frequently Recommended by ENFPs:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott-Card

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

The Xanth Series by Piers Anthony

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Other Articles You Might Enjoy:

12 Amazing Fictional ENFP Characters

24 Signs That You’re an ENFP, the “Visionary” Personality Type

Dealing with Emotional Overwhelm as an ENFP

A Look at the ENFP Leader

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you love or hate any of these books? Do you have any other suggestions that you think other ENFPs would enjoy? Share your thoughts with other readers in the comments!

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!