__________________

THE
BLACK BOOK
FOR
CONNOISSEURS
__________________
Copyright © 2012 Ervin Tan
A Brief Understanding of Connoisseurs

I sit in an air-conditioned room. A young lady is seated facing me. She engages in a
conversation with me. We talk about politics, the latest bombings and the latest natural
disasters.

10 minutes into our conversation, I proceed to pop the question.

“Are you a Connoisseur?”

A frown appears on her face. It would be surprising if it didn’t. I was probably one of the
very few people on Earth who actually knew what I meant with that question. Slowly but
surely, she shakes her head and asks me what I mean.

“Well, let’s put it this way. Are you an NDR?”

The moment I see her head cock a little to one side, I know I have her attention. I stare
deep into her eyes. I can see the gears in her brain moving, fast. She is thinking. She is
analyzing me.

“Let’s see……you’re a person who places importance on equality. You believe in

mutualism; you believe that for a relationship to work out, be it with a friend, a spouse, or
anyone else for that matter, both parties have to contribute to each other’s lives. Am I
correct?”

She nods her head slowly, and then quickly shakes her head.

“You want to be respected. To you, one’s integrity is very important. You value trust and
want relationships where trust is present. To you, trust is very important. You also want
to be appreciated for the things you do. The fastest way for people to lose you as a friend
is to be dishonest and take you for granted. Am I correct?”

She thinks for a little bit. “Isn’t everyone like that?”

“No. Not everyone is like that. For one, you don’t like people who brag and shun people
who waste their lives away by gambling, smoking and the like. You stay away from night
clubs, casinos and dark alleys. You and I both know there are countless people who make
such places their haunt. You’d rather stay somewhere safe and quiet. That’s because you
value security. You tend to be the rational one among your friends. Am I correct?”

She laughs nervously.

“I’m not finished yet. If I’m not mistaken, you have a best friend or two. But that’s not
the point. The point is, I know that you have one male best friend, one and one only. The
strange thing is, he isn’t your boyfriend. Don’t you ever wonder why it is so?”
She looks at me, bewildered.

“You aren’t fooled by gifts and sweet talk. When you watch films, you often wonder why
the characters are so easily tricked. Do they even have brains? Also, you are not very
responsive to flattery or expensive gifts; although the fact remains that you are quite the
materialistic person. You don’t throw money away. Am I correct, or am I correct?”

She starts shaking her head again. After a while, she starts laughing nervously again.
Then she says those four words I’ve heard so many times, yet pleases me to no end.

“How did you know?”

Yes, those four words do please me to no end. It’s because I know that once again, I’ve
successfully identified a person’s type accurately. But it isn’t only because of that. I am
pleased because I know deep down that I now understand that very person even more
than she understands herself.

I have actually gained access to a person’s heart and thoughts in ten minutes……………
although it could have been just as easily done in five.

I could have even done it in less than a minute.

No, don’t get turned off because I’m not bragging. Really, I’m not. It’s not much of a
feat, once you’ve mastered it. You just need to know how to do it and put in the effort.
Now that’s a word Connoisseurs love, regardless of whether or not they are conscious of
it (that’s why I say I understand them more than they understand themselves). Effort.

If you read what was written above carefully, you should know at least a little by now
what a Connoisseur is. If you find that you are strikingly similar to the young lady
mentioned above in terms of behavior, attitude and personality, you are a Connoisseur.

If you find that lots of people around you are Connoisseurs, this book will be one of the
most useful books you’ll be holding for the rest of your lifetime.

If you find that everything in this book, from the words chosen, the stories written, all the
way to the font of the text does not suit you, don’t chuck this book to one corner.
Everything is carefully chosen to suit the taste of a Connoisseur, since this book is all
about them. Connoisseurs, don’t be offended. I am in no way disrespecting you. You are
a valuable asset to the world and people around you, especially children.

Anyway, I hope that you now understand better what you’re getting yourself into. This
book is meant for people wanting to understand Connoisseurs; the way they act, the way
they think, the way they speak, how they perceive others, how they perceive life……

If you’re the right person to read this book, look forward to a wonderful journey, because
this book will change your life.
I, on the other hand, look forward to working with you. Enjoy reading.

Sincerely,

________
(Ervin)

P.S. This book would have been better for Connoisseurs if it was written in point form,
where the theory is presented neatly and for all to see. However, through many years of
experience, I have learnt that ultimately, if you want to learn this stuff properly, it’ll have
to be embedded in your brain. You’ll have to read this book, and all the valuable
knowledge it contains, like a story. There’s no other better way. Trust me. It’s for your
benefit. It’s also the only thing not suited for Connoisseurs found in this book.

P.P.S. The knowledge which you are about to learn is not easy to understand. Perhaps I
am the fault, for never have I been good at explaining things. I hereby apologize in
advance.

P.P.P.S If you do not understand the two side notes above, ignorance is bliss.
CONTENTS
 CHAPTER 1:

IDENTIFYING A CONNOISSEUR

If I was asked to explain what a Connoisseur is, I’d say something like this......

“A Connoisseur is……

 an iNvestor-Denier-Realist.
 the seventh prototype listed in the Prototyping System.
 a Social Butterfly’s enemy and love.
 commonly a parent.

Thank you for asking me.”

Of course, I only say that if I’m ready to explain to the person asking what I
mean, or if I want to arouse the asker’s curiosity, or if I want to exude an
aura of mystery. Often, it’s the former that comes into play. I’m going to do
the same by explaining to you exactly what I mean.

It’ll be quite intriguing to learn, quite hard to remember and incredibly

useful to use. Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby present to you,
The Protyping System

Everyone is different.

That’s because everyone has different personalities.

Every single person is different. However, for centuries, psychologists everywhere have
tried categorizing people so that they could be both identified and studied easily.

The Prototyping System is one such categorization system. Of course, there is no perfect
system, and this system doesn’t try to be one. However, what makes the Prototyping
System stands out is that:

a) it teaches you to identify a person’s type in less than a minute,

b) it teaches you to understand anyone with incredible depth in less than a minute,
c) it teaches you to effectively communicate with different types of people.

The three factors stated above are usually left out when it comes to coming up with
personality categorizing systems. Think the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI),
Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS), DISC, OCEAN……what you get is how to
categorize people into different types based on their personalities. That’s good. That’s
cool. It also teaches you more about yourself, your love life, your passions in life, what
careers suit you, etc. That’s good. That’s cool. However, it’s not enough.

It’s simply not enough.

It’s not good enough to categorize people into different types based on their personalities.
It’s not good enough to explain the career paths a particular type of person should take.

You know the system you’re using is really applicable system when you can

a) identify a person’s type merely through observation and not tests or what not,
b) understand a person’s thought patterns, feelings, beliefs, priorities and
personality.

The Prototyping System places lots of emphasis on both factors. It’s so amazingly
accurate that you’ll scare yourself at times. You’ll never ask why anyone behaves the
way they behave ever again. Instead, you’ll predict exactly how he or she is going to
behave. Now that, my friend, is a real, applicable system.

The catch?

It’s one of the hardest systems to learn.

That’s because it’s very accurate. Way too accurate.

In fact, where other systems have only 4 types, or 8 types, or even 16 types, the
Prototyping System contains 64 types (8 prototypes and 56 subtypes). I believe that it can
be broken down even further to 216 types (8 prototypes and 208 subtypes). But for now,
let’s just stick to 64 types, shall we?
First of all, let me explain how personalities are categorized using this system. This
system categorizing people based on their “core values”. There are three of them. You
will learn more about core values later.
Right now, you should memorize the eight prototypes.

 The Playette
 The Social Butterfly

 The Hopeful Romantic

 Cinderella

 Private Dancer

 The Seductress

 The Connoisseur

 The Modern Woman

The following is the male version of the eight prototypes.

 The Player
 The Social Butterfly

 The Hopeful Romantic

 Prince Charming

 Private Dancer

 The Seducer

 The Connoisseur

 The Modern Man

Memorize both versions of the eight prototypes. The original version was the female
version.

There are three core values. They are a person’s

 Time line
 Sex line

 Relationship line
That wasn’t that hard, was it? Now, you’ll have to know that when it comes to the

 Time Line, he or she can either be a Tester or an iNvestor.

 Sex line, he or she can either be a Denier or Justifier.

 Relationship line, he or she can be an Idealist or Realist.

Tester : T iNvestor : N

Denier : D Justifier : J

Idealist: I Realist : R

So a person can be a TDI, a TJI, a NDI, a NJI, a TDR, a TJR, a NDR or a NJR. There are
eight combinations, so there are eight prototypes. That simple!

Time line Sex line Relationship line Type

Tester Denier Idealist The Playette

Tester Justifier Idealist The Social Butterfly

iNvestor Denier Idealist The Hopeful Romantic

iNvestor Justifier Idealist Cinderella

Tester Denier Realist Your Private Dancer

Tester Justifier Realist The Seductress

iNvestor Denier Realist The Connoisseur

iNvestor Justifier Realist The Modern Woman

Tester : T iNvestor : N

Denier : D Justifier : J

Idealist: I Realist : R
Now, let’s go back to the beginning of this chapter. Remember the question I was asked
(In case you forgot, I was asked to explain what a Connoisseur was)? Well, remember
when I said that a Connoisseur was an iNvestor-Denier-Realist? You should probably
understand after reading the table above. Yes, a Connoisseur is a NDR. You should also
understand by now why I said it was the seventh prototype in the Prototyping System.
That’s because it is!

Often is the case when a person is found to be a cross between a Tester and iNvestor (and
the like). That’s where subtypes come into the picture.

The subtypes of a Connoisseur are listed as follows:

N/TDR
ND/JR
NDR/I
N/TD/JR
ND/JR/I
N/TDR/I
N/TD/JR/I
Core Values

So, what are core values? It’s extremely hard to pinpoint exactly what a Tester is defined
as, or a Justifier (and the like) for that matter. The thing is, as you master this system, you
will gain a deeper understanding of the real meaning behind these core values. For now, I
can only try to explain the core values as clearly as possible.

Time line

Testers are people who look around for the right kind of partner to be with. They almost
never improve their partner; instead, they focus on getting the right partner. To do this,
they often surround themselves with people of the opposite sex, although they may do
this unconsciously. They are social beings, extroverts and often seek to have fun.

iNvestors are people who invest heavily on one partner and will change their partner by
improving him. They enjoy having peace of mind and are sometimes labeled introverts.
They are the ones who motivate themselves. They enjoy the company of a few close
friends and generally love their families in a way Testers generally cannot.

Sex line

Deniers are people who are naturally cautious in life and do not often express their
feelings openly. They view sex as a big deal, and do not give it away easily. It does not
mean that they are not good at it. They are just conservative and being rational.

Justifiers are carefree people who view freedom as an important aspect of life. They are
people who are not afraid to express their deepest desires. They are open-minded and not
afraid to try new and risky things. For example, sex.
Relationship line

Idealists are people who generally need to be taken care of. These are the kind of men
and women who will stay at home and devote themselves to bringing up the children, if
there are any, while the partner becomes the sole breadwinner of the family. They will
not chase their own dreams to the point of divorcing a partner just to realize his or her
own ambitions. They want to be cherished.

Realists are people who are generally serious, practical and independent. Many of them
are career-driven and will chase aggressively to achieve their goals. Realists can take care
of themselves and often feel the need to take care of others. They want to be respected.

Do you understand everything mentioned above? It is vital that you do so; it is, after all,
the foundation of the Prototyping System. Once you have memorized what needs to be
memorized and tested out what needs to be tested out (do you know which type you
are?),
You know it’s time to move on.

So do so and go on to the next page.

The Three Questions

To determine someone’s type, ask yourself the following questions about that someone.
You might just be able to determine that someone’s type in less than one minute!

Question One

Tester or iNvestor?

Is she an extrovert?
Does she have more friends of the opposite sex?
Is she playful and flirtatious?

Yes: Tester
No: Investor

Question Two

Denier or Justifier?

Is she conservative about her love life?

Does she abide to moral values?
Is she careful about risks to her health and safety?

Yes: Denier
No: Justifier
Question Three

Idealist or Realist?

Does she believe that men and women have different roles?
Does she need people to take care of her?
Does she often experience strong feelings?

Yes: Idealist
No: Realist

This is the female version. For the male version, simply substitute “she” for “he” and
“her” for “him” or “his” wherever appropriate.

Now, let’s discuss the questions one by one.

------------------------
Question One

Tester or iNvestor?
-----------------------

The first question will help determine whether or not the person is a Tester or an
iNvestor.

-----------------------
Is she an extrovert?
-----------------------

An extrovert is outgoing, lively, social, has no problem befriending strangers, is

motivated by others, has many friends, etc. If he or she is more of an introvert than an
extrovert, then he or she is an introvert and vice versa.

----------------------------------------------------------
Does she have more friends of the opposite sex?
----------------------------------------------------------

Almost everyone has friends, so this shouldn’t be too difficult. Just remember that having
more friends of the opposite sex, having more close friends of the opposite sex and
prioritizing friends of the opposite sex are all different. It’s the first one that counts.

-----------------------------------
Is she playful and flirtatious?
-----------------------------------

She has to be both playful and flirtatious. Do not answer “yes” to this question for a
person who’s playful yet disgusted at the thought of flirting around.

---------------
Yes: Tester
No: Investor
---------------

The rule goes like this: if the answer for two questions is “yes” and “no” for one question,
the person is a Tester, though not a pure Tester. To be more precise, the person’s a T/N.
However, in the process of identifying a person’s type, at times, it’s easier to work out
the person’s prototype first before moving on to categorizing him or her as one of the 64
types. Of course, the person’s an iNvestor if it’s two no’s against one yes.

------------------------
Question Two

Denier or Justifier?
-----------------------

The second question will help determine whether or not the person is a Denier or a
Justifier.

-----------------------------------------------
Is she conservative about her love life?
-----------------------------------------------

Answer “yes to this question if she often has a crush on somebody, have had lots of
boyfriends, likes talking about dating, kissing and the like, loves gossiping about the
relationships of others or, to put it simply, has her life revolving around love, romance,
sex and the like.

---------------------------------------
Does she abide to moral values?
---------------------------------------

Most religious people are law-abiding and don’t lie much, steal much, hate much, you
know the drill. It’s safe to say these people abide to moral values. However, there are also
religious people who still sin frequently, although they genuinely do not want to do so.
So sharpen your observation skills and be careful when answering this question on
someone. Of course, you are careful with every question.
------------------------------------------------------------
Is she careful about risks to her health and safety?
------------------------------------------------------------

She goes on roller coasters like nobody’s business. She has a tattoo. She smokes. She
likes getting down and dirty. She’s not afraid to walk through dark alleys late at night. Is
she careful about risks to her health and safety? You know she isn’t. But what if she
smokes but doesn’t have a tattoo? That’s where experience comes in. You’ll know it’s a
yes or no after months of using this system. However, the answer is often a yes if she
smokes, or drinks alcohol often, or even practices boxing.

---------------
Yes: Denier
No: Justifier
---------------

It’s the same rule. If it’s “yes” for two questions and “no” for one question, the person is
a Denier, though not a pure one. The person’s an iNvestor if it’s two no’s against one yes.
------------------------
Question Three

Idealist or Realist?
-----------------------

The third question will help determine whether or not the person is an Idealist or a
Realist.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does she believe that men and women have different roles?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This means that she thinks it is okay for a woman to go to work while the man’s at home
doing house chores. She believes in equality of gender. You know, stuff like that. It’s
important to know and remember that when the person you are identifying is a man, then
it’s “Yes: Realist” and “No: Idealist” for this particular sub-question.

--------------------------------------------------
Does she need people to take care of her?
--------------------------------------------------

It’s what normally happens to a woman when she gets married; she’s protected by her
husband. But times have changed and there are now women who would rather look after
the husband. Now that’s what they call a modern woman, although when it comes to the
Prototyping System, she’s not necessarily one just because the answer to this question is
a “yes”.
---------------------------------------------------
Does she often experience strong feelings?
---------------------------------------------------

Does she cry often? Is she often overwhelmed with joy? Does she often experience mood
swings? This question is easy to answer if you have known someone for quite some time
but hard to answer if you’re identifying a stranger who’s showing the blankest face
you’ve ever seen.

---------------
Yes: Idealist
No: Realist
---------------

If it’s “yes” for two questions and “no” for one question, the person is an Idealist, though
not a pure one. The person’s a Realist if it’s two no’s against one yes.

Other Questions

If I’m not trying to identify a person’s type without saying a word to the person, I often
engage in a conversation with him or her because it’s the logical thing to do. You want to
find out more about a person, you talk to him or her. I don’t think that rule’s going to
change anytime soon. Anyway, I try to ask him or her one or two of the following
questions, if not all of them.

1) Do you love your family more than you friends?

Most people say yes. Persist and press on: “Are you sure? Are you really, really sure?”
See him or her hesitate for more than a second and you know he or she has got a Tester
trait in him or her.
1) What are her three favourite colours?

Tester : Purple
iNvestor : Orange, Yellow, Pink

Denier : White, Blue

Justifier : Red

Idealist : Black
Realist : Green, Brown, Grey

* This test is 70% accurate. It is estimated that 15% of people deem certain colours as
favourites based on their mood, 10% of people are affected by the environment in which
they grew up in or are in now, as well as experiences they might have had with certain
colours and 5% of people have the wrong colour in mind or know only a few colours.

2) What are her three favourite wild animals?

Tester : Mammals that live on land

iNvestor : Animals other than mammals that live on land

Denier : Loyal domestic animals

Justifier : Fierce carnivorous animals
Idealist : Animals with a tail
Realist : Animals without a tail

*This test is 70% accurate. It is estimated that 15% of people do not have favourite
animals, 10% of people are affected by the environment in which they grew up in or are
in now, as well as experiences they might have had with certain animals and 5% of
people have the wrong animal in mind or know only a few animals.

**This question is preferably asked. The characteristics of the first animal she names are
characteristics she subconsciously thinks she possesses. The characteristics of the second
animal she names are characteristics she looks for in an ideal mate. The characteristics of
the third animal she names are characteristics she wants to possess. Also, remember that
her “core values” are opposed to the characteristics of the second animal she names (for
example, if the second animal she names is the eagle, she’s most probably a Tester,
probably an Idealist and possibly a Justifier). Take all three animals and their
characteristics into account.