Three Beatle Responses

I always enjoy little "snippets" like these, which highlight the various different Beatle Personality Types (covered in detail in the book Beatleology). The clips below are taken from Anthology, and capture the reactions of Paul, George, and Ringo on the subject of being awarded the MBE.

First, the Paul response, the "Ram," the personality type most likely to take the award - any award - seriously. Notice also that he takes it upon himself to make his opinion the group opinion, setting himself up as the spokesperson for the collective:



Next, the George response, the "Dark Horse," the one most likely to be a bit more "realistic" about the whole thing, and to come off as more-or-less cynical and jaded in the exchange:



Finally, the Ringo response, the "Octopus," the one most given to hedonism and fun and partying and soaking up the "good time" of it all:



Enough said?

A Hard Day's Night: Paul & George at Work

How does Beatleology play itself out in the workplace? Here are a few real-life scenarios that I have observed in the past year, interactions between a project manager who is a strong Paul (the Ram), and a software developer who is a strong George (the Dark Horse). Already some obvious traits can be pointed out: Rams are often the ones leading the projects, thinking "big," coordinating efforts and telling other people what to do; Dark Horses are usually the ones focused on the details, more comfortable working within clearly-established guidelines (don't ever put a Dark Horse on a project that lacks a strong blueprint and well-defined dates and deliverables - they'll go nuts).

The Ram checked the project plan and realized that a certain set of deliverables were due that day. Checking in with the Dark Horse on the status of those items, he was given a "realistic" update that those items were running a bit behind, and might not be finished until the next day. At the end of the day, the Dark Horse reported that they were indeed running behind; they were at "close to 60% completion instead of 100%"; the Ram reported back to the client that his team was "making significant progress and should have it wrapped up soon."

Dark Horses are always looking at the risks involved; that's why they aren't overly optimistic. They hope for the best, but they also see the things that might go wrong, and they try to plan for those eventualities. Rams, on the other hand, are rarely deterred by the warnings of the Dark Horse, because Rams keep their eyes fixed on the best possible outcome, and firmly believe that this is the outcome they will see. Where a Dark Horse will be somewhat discouraged that a deadline is being missed, a Ram will cheerfully report that "significant progress" is being made, because that is honestly how the Ram sees it.

The Dark Horse will see the Ram as dangerously un-tethered from reality, behaving recklessly, setting up unrealistic expectations and goals that won't likely be met; the Ram will see the Dark Horse as too pessimistic, lacking vision, too restricted, aiming lower than is necessary. This is why Rams and Dark Horses don't typically work well together; they're coming from opposite ends of the spectrum.

As the project continued along its way, the team came to a holiday weekend, which meant a solid four days out of the office and not working on the project. The Dark Horse left for the holiday and shut off the work cell phone for the duration; the Ram worked 10-hour days from home all through the weekend. Dark Horses are hard workers, but they draw clear boundaries between work and personal life; to burn up large chunks of holiday time working on office projects is to sell your soul for success. Rams, on the other hand, are energized by working on projects; they love the thrill of getting ahead, of making progress, of being able to cross major to-do items off the list. Putting in 10-hour days over a holiday weekend feels like a good weekend to a Ram; a Dark Horse, if forced to do the same thing, would quit his job on the spot.

The project finally came into its final week, and the Dark Horse was finally tying up all the last loose ends before the product would be released. With two days left to go, the Ram came in with a laundry list of "new features" that he wanted to be added, things that would make the product "really, really top-notch." When the Dark Horse strongly objected that now was not the time, two days before "live-launch," to start experimenting with new ideas, the Ram insisted that the changes were "not that difficult" and would "not take that long" to do. Besides, argued the Ram, these changes would take the product to "the next level" of excellence, would really push the product "over the top." The Dark Horse worked frantically to meet the new objectives, but it delayed the launch of the product by several days, and required several long nights of over-time work.

Again, Dark Horses hate risks. When a situation is stable, the risks have been eliminated, and assurance is high, the last thing a Dark Horse wants to do is to start tampering and changing things around, introducing a bunch of unknowns into the mix. For the Ram, however, optimism and professionalism rule the day: if a situation can be made better, then it should be, no matter how many little details need to be sorted out, because that's the professional thing to do; anyway, everything will work out just fine, because nothing is unattainable. Rams don't give as much weight to the risks, because their optimism tells them that risks are just "maybe's," and you can't sacrifice higher quality for a "maybe."

Rams also have a highly optimistic perception of how much effort will be required; in this scenario it was "no big deal" to add changes to the product, but it cost the Dark Horse a lot of extra over-time to make the Ram's vision become reality. In the Ram's mind, the tradeoff between the amount of extra work and the increase in the quality of the product makes the extra work seem insignificant. In other words, the extra work is well worth it, so in the end it's "no big deal."

The Ram and the Dark Horse almost certainly had different appraisals of the project once it was over. The Dark Horse, in all likelihood, will think of that project and have a bad aftertaste, remembering the difficulties, the lack of planning, the extra work required. The Ram, in all likelihood, will look back and happily remember what a great success the project was, because it ended well, the client was happy, and the product was high quality. He will take pride in his accomplishment, and quickly move on to the next big project.

It's a well-known fact that Paul and George had some trouble getting along within the Beatles. Paul was a kind of "project manager," writing his songs and overseeing their arrangements to the last detail; he had a vision of how it ought to sound, and he worked at it until he got it exactly right, and that meant telling everyone else how to play their instruments. George played a subservient role in these recordings, taking orders from Paul on what to play and not play, even if that meant working for hours and hours re-recording the takes until Paul was happy with it.

Much like the Ram and the Dark Horse in this scenario, when the Beatles went on vacation to India to get some rest and relaxation, Paul couldn't stop working - he kept writing songs and planning for the next album, much to George's extreme irritation:

"George actually once got quite annoyed and told me off because I was trying to think of the next album. He said, 'We're not fucking here to do the next album, we're here to meditate!' It was like, 'Ohh, excuse me for breathing!'" (Paul, quoted in Many Years from Now)

What George probably didn't realize was that planning for the next album was Paul's way of relaxing and meditating; what Paul probably didn't realize is that George saw The Beatles as a job, and needed some time to get away from all the work. Paul was muddying up George's vacation with work; George was expecting Paul to give up something in India (working on music) that truly helped him relax and feel good.

Rams and Dark Horses can work together, but it takes a lot of patience and trying to see the other person's point of view, because both are coming from such polar opposite viewpoints.

Beatleology: The "Ringo" Profile

I am Ringo ...

• I think life is whatever you make of it
• I'm a jack of all trades, master of none
• I make a lot of friends, and I like to keep up those friendships - my social life can get crazy sometimes
• I prefer to just get along and avoid conflict if I can
• I love to party and have a good time
• People find me easy to be around
• I'm fairly practical and down-to-earth
• I have a hard time saying "no"
• I enjoy the simple things, because I make them fun
• I have a natural charisma, and people find me very approachable
• I'm very appreciative and grateful - I'm lucky just to be here
• I think I'm just a "regular" person, and that's ok with me
• I do a steady and consistent job - which means I often get overlooked and don't get the credit I should
• I don't get stressed out very easily, because I don't take things too seriously
• People sometimes see me as flippant, but I don't think I am
• I'm a funny person, but my "safe" sense of humor doesn't offend people
• I appreciate the stability of family life
• In my romantic life, I often tend to choose good looks over substance
• I'm an affectionate person
• I can sometimes be a pushover, but I do have my limits
• I might cheat on my partner for a one-night "fling" to have a little fun, but never at the risk of hurting someone
• I'm very consistent in who I am and what I do
• I don't always take the initiative or go above and beyond the call of duty - I like moderation
• I enjoy the good life, but I don't live beyond my means - money can't buy me fun
• I thrive on communication and camaraderie
• I can't change the world, so I'd prefer to work on myself
• I like to see the results of my actions and choices
• I'm highly tolerant of other people, and I'm content to let them live how they want
• I am content with what I have, as long as I have the three F's: friends, family, and fun
• You can search for cosmic meaning if you want - I'll be at the bar, having a drink
• I like bad movies and greasy food
• I think I'm cute - not necessarily "hot," but I'm ok with that
• I don't mind being trendy, if I can afford it
• I can enjoy just about anything - any book, any movie, any music, I see the value in all of it
• I really do get by with a little help from my friends
• I can get into an expensive wine if that's what you're offering, but cheap beer is fine, too - let's go shoot some pool
• I might have a bit of an inferiority complex - I hope you won't stand up and walk out on me if I sing out of tune
• Sometimes the choices that we make will break our hearts, but there are no mistakes
• My philosophy of life is simple: get along with people, keep the peace, show lots of love
• You ask "why?", but I ask "why not?"

Which Beatle are you? Take the quiz and find out!

Beatleology: The "George" Profile

I am George ...

• I like to think before I speak
• I show different sides of my personality, depending on who I'm with
• I like having deep, intimate conversations
• I'd rather read a book than go to a movie
• I like to have a lot of control over my life
• You can do what you want, I don't mind - as long as it doesn't impact me negatively
• I am a hard worker, but I do have my limits
• I'm pretty easy-going, but I can assert myself if I need to (which isn't often)
• I'm very perceptive, and I can quickly see people for who they are at their core, underneath the masks they wear
• I like to have a plan and I like stay on schedule
• I need order and predictability in my life - spontaneity is fun once in a while, but shouldn't be the norm
• I don't like to take risks, I prefer a safe and sure thing
• I'm not always self-confident or secure - it takes time to get to know me
• People see me as the voice of reason and a good listener
• I am very analytical, and can easily break down complex things into their smaller, component parts
• I have a cynical and sarcastic sense of humor, but I keep a lot of it to myself (unless you know me well)
• I prefer to have things done my way, but I won't usually insist on it
• I am highly creative, but I might not show you my work if I'm not sure you'll like it
• I'm very insightful, but I'll probably keep my opinion quiet until I'm asked
• It's important to be diplomatic and not rock the boat
• The world is a strange place, and I see a lot of absurdity and irony in it
• I prefer good wine or "classy" liquor over cheap beer
• I would like to be recognized for my work, but I'd rather you point it out than draw attention to it myself
• I prefer to be indirect and passive-aggressive
• I like to project an image of independence and having things under control, and it's hard for me to ask for help or admit that I'm struggling
• I can easily step back from a situation and view it objectively
• I hate trends and the unoriginality of the "mainstream"
• I'm very dependable and stable in a romantic relationship
• I like to express my love in romantic ways (I said "romantic," not "over the top")
• I need stability in life, and I find that stability in my love life and my family life
• I often need a few moments alone to recollect and re-charge
• I like to work ahead of schedule if I can, so I don't have to worry and can just relax
• I can get dark and moody sometimes, and when I do, "leave me alone, don't bother me"
• I like to be efficient, but for some reason, I sometimes over-complicate things
• I like intelligent humor, especially if it gets a bit abstract and surreal
• I'm introspective and always on a self-improvement journey - it's all within yourself, no one else can make you change
• There are some people standing around who'll screw you in the ground
• Sometimes I feel hung up, and I don't know why - but I don't mind too much, because all things must pass
• With every mistake, we must surely be learning
• All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece - but not too much

Which Beatle are you? Take the quiz and find out!

Beatleology: The "Paul" Profile

I am Paul ...

• I am generally very optimistic about everything
• I enjoy being part of the next trend and fad
• I like to be fashionable
• I love being the center of attention
• It is important to me that I express myself
• I am aggressive, and I know how to assert myself
• I can sometimes be too critical of other people
• My professional/public image is not necessarily who I really am in private
• I am very vocal about things
• I have a lot of energy
• It really want to be successful and reach the top
• I am fairly competitive
• In general, I'm quite confident in myself
• How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people? It feels great!
• I have a highly developed sense of intuition
• I have perfectionist tendencies - I don't mind re-doing something over and over until it's right
• I'm sentimental
• What you think is "corny," I think is "cute"
• I know I'm looking good, and I don't mind using that to my advantage when I need to
• I like to repeat funny jokes I've heard
• I prefer to keep things light
• To lead a better life, I need my love to be here
• I feel incomplete in some ways if I'm not romantically involved with someone
• Believe in love at first sight? I'm certain that it happens all the time!
• "Happy ever after" is not only the ideal, it's entirely possible
• I believe in the traditional family and traditional roles
• I love consistency
• I need love and affirmation on a regular basis
• I need to show my partner love and sentimental feelings on a regular basis
• I might be a bit domineering once in a while, but I only have the best of intentions
• My work is important work, and I work hard at it - and I will remind you of that repeatedly
• I am enthusiastic about my job
• I have an opinion on just about everything, and I don't mind telling you what it is
• I feel best about myself when I'm accomplishing something
• Everything is going to be alright - it will all work out in the end
• There is such a thing as right and wrong, and right will win out eventually
• I've got to admit, it's getting better all the time
• I'm in love, and it's a sunny day!
• If you try to see it my way, I'm sure we can work it out

Which Beatle are you? Take the quiz and find out!

Beatleology: The "John" Profile

I am John ...

• I'm very creative
• I'm a deep thinker
• I like to push the boundaries
• I have a hard time being criticized
• I think the world is unfair and full of hypocrisy
• I think the world is going to hell in a handbasket, but I think (I hope) I can change that
• I like to be the center of attention
• I sometimes hide behind humor
• People find me very engaging
• I hate trends and fads
• I have a great capacity for empathy
• I feel misunderstood a lot
• I can be very tender and sensitive
• I can get angry quite easily
• I sometimes feel restless and have a hard time sleeping
• The very existence of stupid people offends me
• I love dark and cynical humor, but sometimes people find my humor is too biting
• I like to challenge people
• I love making people laugh
• I feel a bit insecure
• I like to be noticed
• I can sometimes be co-dependent
• When I fall in love, that relationship dominates my attention and nothing else matters
• If I don't care about something, I don't hesitate to show my apathy
• I am highly affectionate and I like physical contact
• I don't confide in my friends, I confide in my family
• I use my home as a sanctuary from the world, but sometimes my home and family can be too suffocating for me
• I hate feeling tied down
• I can sometimes be very inflexible
• I take my work very seriously and I work hard
• I can tend to be moody
• People think I have a superiority or Messiah complex
• I'm very intelligent (maybe even a genius)
• I want a romantic partner who will challenge me
• I don't like "traditional" roles in a relationship
• Love really is all you need
• Nothing is real, and certainly nothing to hung about
• Life was so much easier when I was young
• You might say I'm a pessimist - I say I'm just being realistic

Which Beatle are you? Take the quiz and find out!

Beatleology in Love

Based on the "I Am the Walrus" personality quiz found in Adam and Roger Jaquette's book, Beatleology, I wrote the following imaginary interview with the Fab Four. The questions all revolve around love and relationships - which of the lads do you find yourself most frequently in agreement with? This may give you a clue as to who your Inner Beatle is.

What are you looking for in a lover?

Paul: "Well, I think I'm always wanting to find that special girl who supports me, you know? You sort of want to have that in a mate, I think, someone who's going to think you're just great."

John: "Seems like that would get a boring, wouldn't it, Paul? I don't want a lover who's going to just be a f*cking 'yes'-person, I want to be challenged. I want to be stretched and made to think outside the box, you know, and if I'm full of sh*t about something, I want to be told that."

George: "Well, I don't know, I just want to keep things easy and calm. I want to have love, sure, but I don't want a lot of drama, and such. There's no sense rocking the boat."

Ringo: "I suppose I just want to have some fun being in love. Love is fun. Sex is fun. That's what I'm looking for."

How do you feel about dating?

Ringo: "Like I said, it's fun. Going out is fun, meeting people is fun, and you never know ... you might get laid."

George: "No, sod that, it's a pain. All that trouble, having to meet someone new. It can be nerve-wracking sometimes. I like familiarity, you know, it'd be nice if we could just skip right to the fifth date or something."

Paul: "It's alright, you know, dating is a good chance to throw on the charm, sort of 'full-throttle'. When she looks at you in that special way, and you can tell she adores you, that's a nice feeling."

John: "I'm with George - it's a waste of time. I just want to know if this girl is my soul-mate, the one I've been looking for all my life, and then I want to spend all of my time with her and her alone. You don't need dating for that."

What does a long-term relationship look like for you?

John: "Well, we need each other very much, and it can be somewhat co-dependent - and that's not always bad. My friends will probably stop hearing from me for a while, because I just want to be with her all the time."

George: "It looks very predictable and routine, which is good, that's stability. I really don't like drama."

Ringo: "I'll commit to the relationship, sure, no problem. I don't want to spend too much time over-thinking it, though."

Paul: "I tend to be the leader, I suppose, certainly the 'driving force.' I always have a lot of ideas about places we should be going, and things we should be doing, and she goes along with my ideas. So that's great."

Alright. You've just gone through a breakup after a long-term relationship. How do you react?

George: "That hurts, there's no question. I need some time alone to think things over and reflect on what happened, maybe try to learn a few things for next time. I definitely would make a clean break, though - get rid of the letters and pictures and all that."

Paul: "Yeah, it definitely hurts, it's a real blow to the self-esteem, y'know, and it doesn't make sense - I mean, who wouldn't want to be around me? Why would you want to leave this? I'm with George, though, I'd have to make a pretty clean break eventually, after I'd gotten the bad feelings out of my system, probably with a song or something."

John: "Oh, it's a crushing blow, Paul's right. It just destroys you inside, you know? I would be out drinking or doing drugs to forget the pain, and probably I'd end up on her front doorstep after midnight, begging to be let back in. I would obsess about it a bit, probably, and have a hard time letting go."

Ringo: "If it's over, it's over, you know? It probably wasn't meant to be. It might take a bit to feel better about it, but there's no sense in throwing a pity party. I'd still keep the mementos, though, because those are still a good time - old pictures or knick-knacks or whatever. I'd want to remember the good times."

What is your favorite sexual position?

Paul: "On top, in control, of course."

John: "On the bottom - I'm a big advocate of equality, and I like her to have a bit of control there."

George: "Well, you two can have that, I'm not going to limit myself at all. I'll be on top, on bottom, on the side, whatever."

Ringo: "I'm probably handcuffed."

What's your idea of a good first date?

John: "Short and to the point. If she's the one I've been looking for, I'll know right away, and I wouldn't mind catching the midnight plane to Holland or France so we can get married right then and there."

Paul: "Oh, I think it should be very romantic. You know, I might sing her a song I've been working on, or read her some poetry I've written, and just be very open about how I feel. I think, if she's the one, it'll be pretty obvious in short order."

Ringo: "I think I'd like to go to the pub and just have a good time, have some laughs."

George: "I don't like dating, it can get uncomfortable. I mean, I'll try to genuine with her and be myself, but I'm not going to show her all the dimensions of my personality until I'm a little more comfortable with her."

What's your idea of a good marriage proposal?

Ringo: "It'll be a public thing, very social, you know. In the middle of a restaurant, or at a big party with all of our friends. Something big like that."

Paul: "I'll propose because I just can't stand being away from her any more, and ... I don't know, I'd have to think about it, really. I'd want it to be really romantic, probably after a moonlit stroll and a dozen roses or something."

John: "It's a big deal. I'd probably have to be drunk to get enough nerve up."

George: "I'm only going to propose after I've really thought about all aspects of the thing and how life will change. I have to be sure I really want this before I say it."

What is sex to you?

George: "It's a very spiritual thing, I think, very intense, the kind of soul-union it gives me with my partner. It's another way for me to express myself and my love for her."

John: "Oh yeah, it's very intimate, and it's an expression of love - but it's also crass, you know, it's a way to get physical release. Even the animals do it, you know."

Paul: "It's a way to strengthen our love, I think, and it's also very affirming for me, too. It's good for the ego, I think."

Ringo: "It's a fun activity, it feels good, it's nice to add that in with other things like having a few drinks or going out to the movies."

Would you ever cheat on your lover?

Paul: "Absolutely not. I don't want anyone to think of me as being that kind of person, you know."

George: "You know, I keep saying, I don't like a lot of drama, really. So, no, cheating is complicated and messy and not really worth the trouble. Keep it simple, be faithful."

John: "Well, that depends, really, doesn't it? I mean, if it's a good relationship I'm in, I believe in it, I'll be true, but if things are falling apart, then ... you know, anything goes."

Ringo: "I wouldn't want to get caught or hurt anybody, but it's also important to be happy, so I think if the opportunity presented itself and it seemed like a good time - and nobody would get hurt - then, yeah."

Yeah, I Need Love

"Simply put, Pauls are lovers. They cannot function without love. Pauls are hopeless romantics - and they are annoyingly codependent girlfriends, boyfriends, and spouses." (Jaquette, Beatleology, p. 62)

Ah, the hopeless romantics. Where would the world be without them and their constant output of silly love songs, poetry, and sentimentalism? But the Inner Paul sign can truly be a double-edged sword, because romanticism itself can be a double-edged sword. There's nothing wrong with a good dose of sentimentalism, but when it begins to manifest itself in the form of codependency, it's time to step back and consider a few things.

There is a somewhat common theme in love songs, and it's a theme that presents an interesting paradox: the notion of possession. It's a recurring refrain in many Beatles lyrics: "I'm so proud to know that she is mine" (Good Day Sunshine), "Now you're mine" (Ask Me Why), "You'll be mine, girl" (Things We Said Today), "We'll have some fun when you're mine, oh, mine" (Little Child), "Let me know that you're mine" (Twist and Shout), "It's getting better since you've been mine" (Getting Better). I suppose, as a wind-swept romantic notion, it's alright - perhaps even expected. There is some element of exclusivity in the arena of real love: I'll be yours and yours alone, if you'll be mine and mine alone.

The potential difficulty here, however, is that possession doesn't work out very well in the real world of actual relationships. If I am in a relationship, the first and foundational truth is that I am in that relationship with another person, and the concept of possession does not apply. I can possess an object, but not a person. What becomes of the idea of exclusivity, then? This is the constant tension in any healthy relationship: if he belongs to her, and she belongs to him, it is only because both of them, as autonomous individuals, have voluntarily chosen to stay with the other person. The flip side is that either person can voluntarily choose to leave at any time, because neither person truly surrenders their autonomy. This on-going tension is precisely what highlights the truth of real love: it must be rooted in trust. He cannot truly possess her, even though in some ways that might put him more at ease. He can only trust that she will stay. As long as both of them remain where they are, they will always be together, but it will not be because one of them has claimed ownership of the other.

The manifestation of codependency in a relationship, which is rooted in an attempt to possess the other person, is really a revelation of insecurity at best, or outright distrust at worst. She does not fully trust that he will stay, and so she attempts to possess him more firmly, as a way to make up for the deficiency of trust. He lacks self-security, and worries that her interests in other things outside of their relationship indicate a lack of interest in him, and so he tries to cling harder to her in order to fill the internal void.

This is the gist of the Inner Paul's paradox. His frequent expressions of love and sentimentality are not bad things, in themselves, but he must make an effort to be aware of his motives. She may call him five times a day, but why is she doing it? Is it because she was thinking about him, and just wanted to tell him "I love you"? Or is it because she's nervous that they haven't talked in a few hours, and she needs to know where he is and what he's doing (which is a way of retaining control)?

There's a fine line between the chaos of possession and the creation of sentimentality. The Inner Pauls of the world are full-to-overflowing with love, which means that "they need to not only feel love but give love constantly." (Jaquette, Beatleology, p. 63) This can be a great strength in a relationship, because the relationship will never be lacking the spark of those first, heady days when love was new. But if this personality trait is not tempered and kept in check, it can smother and ultimately destroy the relationship.

If you are in a relationship with an Inner Paul, you should be aware of his or her need for frequent reassurance and gestures of love, and celebrate your partner's sentimental and romantic streak. If you are an Inner Paul, you need to be aware of your "smothering potential", and check your motives once in a while: are you sending him flowers because you love him and just wanted him to know that, or is it because you're afraid of losing him and you're trying to keep him tethered to you? Try to take a step back and remind yourself that your partner is a person and not an object to be possessed, knowing that if you treat her and honor her as a person, she will never have a reason to look elsewhere for the love that you so naturally are able to express.

The Beatle Within You (and Without You)

Over the years, my continued interest in psychology, temperaments, personality types, and generally whatever makes people "tick" has brought me into contact with the standard tests and quizzes: The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, the DISC profile assessment, the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, the Four Temperament theory, etc.

All of these paradigms operate more-or-less with a "quadrant" model; four temperaments, four profiles, four pairs of dichotomies.

I suppose it was only a matter of time, then, before someone hit upon the brilliant idea of sorting the personality types and temperaments, not merely into four categories, but into Fab Four categories. In their book Beatleology, the Jaquette brothers mix psychology and astrology to present a rather interesting theory: we all have a Beatle within us. We all have an Inner John, an Inner Paul, an Inner George, or an Inner Ringo at work in our personalities, dictating (or at least influencing) how we view the world, how we interact with people, how we experience love, how we work, how we play.

Because we human beings are not one-dimensional, Beatleology proposes further that, in addition to having a primary Inner Beatle Sign, most of us also have a Minor Beatle - a Beatle "Rising" - that further shapes and sharpens the way our primary Inner Beatle manifests itself.

Reading this book was great fun for me, and it was surprisingly accurate in pin-pointing both my Inner Beatle (George) and my Beatle Rising (Paul). Even more fun, I think, is how this material has further defined how I view and interact with others: friends, family, co-workers, etc. It really has helped me, in more than one situation, to know that I'm a George interacting with a Paul in this certain scenario, or interacting with a Ringo in this specific conversation. But it has also helped me keep a realistic perspective of myself, and become more fully who I am and who I was meant to be. Knowing that I have a George-like tendency to over-think and over-reflect keeps me from lapsing into long periods of dark brooding; knowing that I have a strong Paul Rising helps me tap into and access the optimism and positive energy that comes with that Minor Sign.

Absorbing the material in the book has also increased my enjoyment of The Beatles themselves. As I watch clips of interviews, or scenes from their movies, or read their biographies, I find myself repeatedly thinking, "That's very typical Inner John behavior," or, "Of course Paul would say something like that, he's the original Paul Sign!"

John, the introspective, highly creative, slightly impulsive, intelligent, productive, troubled one; Paul, the optimistic, practical, domineering, energetic, overbearing, romantic one; George, the brooding, reserved, pensive, creative, dependable one; and Ringo, the down-to-earth, get-along-with-everybody, unassuming, loyal, peacemaking, what's-for-lunch, fun-loving one.

I recently read an account of the lads' trip to India, and I had to laugh at how accurately their individual reactions to the spiritual quest reflected their Beatle Signs. John looked within himself, and had to wrestle with the inner demons surrounding his crumbling marriage and newly blossoming relationship with Yoko - he left India somewhat disillusioned; Paul used the time in a very practical way, comfortably marrying measured meditation with his creativity, writing lots of new songs, planning the next album; George, like John, became introspective, and quickly attached himself to the spirituality and search for inner meaning - unlike John, he processed things in a more optimistic way (and was furious at Paul for tainting spiritual reflection with commercial planning); and Ringo? Ringo left after two weeks because the food was bad and the weather was unbearable, and frankly, he was hoping India would have made a better "holiday" than it did. Ever the peacemaker, he left without making a splash, unlike John and George later did.

The authors of Beatleology have a web site here, which contains a shortened form of the I Am the Walrus Quiz. This shortened version of the personality test is probably enough to pin-point your primary Beatle Sign, but I would recommend buying the book and taking the full-blown exam (approx. 50 questions) to discover both your primary Beatle Sign and your Minor Beatle Sign.

Much more on the subject to come, eventually. Stay tuned.