type my brother

[phantom]

A couple years ago my younger (teenage) brother tested INTP, but I'm pretty sure he isn't, because I am a standard-issue INTP and he differs from me in a few obvious ways. I've been wondering about this ever since but I don't have the experience with MBTI to come up with an alternative type, so maybe you guys can help. Here are some differences I've noticed between us, in no particular order:

He is more routine-oriented. He is more upset by changes of plans. When he knows of a particular social convention he's more concerned that it be followed: he is sometimes embarrassed by my behavior in public. When we were kids he was likely to object if I proposed doing something that involved a gross tresspass of the rules.

Although we both love mastering complex systems, my brother seems to be more process- or detail- oriented. He is brilliant at math and likes to do all his calculations by hand, and come up with new ways to compute things. I am the sort who is content to let a computer do the calculating, as long as I know what is being computed and what it means. He likes to go through chess strategies move-by-move, whereas I tend to master a complex game by playing it until I get an intuitive feel for it. We both like arguments, but he seems to be less intensely concerned about his inner framework, or less likely to really question his metaphysical assumptions. With him I often discuss concrete problems like logical puzzles or debate strategies, but he doesn't get into discussions about metaethics or ontology.
The above might just be reducible to our different personal interests, but there does seem to me to be a difference in the way we approach subjects.

He is more modest and self-conscious than I am. He is embarrassed by attention or recognition, whereas I usually like being complemented if I respect the person who is complementing me. He's confessed to lying about test scores because he doesn't want to sound like he's bragging. We are both introverts, but I'm not opposed to entertaining people and cracking jokes when I'm with a small group of familiar people. My brother is more reserved in this way, even though he's somewhat less socially incapable than I am.

So, that's all I got for now. In most other ways we are very similar. Let me know if you have any guesses/thoughts/want any particular piece of info.

 

[Paladin-X]

With what information is provided, I surmise that your brother might be an ISTJ.

 

[redbaron]

Your brother is gay.

 

[scorpiomover]

Your brother is gay.

Just because you fancy him, eh?

 

[NTJ]

The conventions, rules, embarrassment says Si and/or Fe. Plus one for Si for the routine-oriented part. Upset by changes of plans, Te, perhaps? I get upset if someone doesn't do what he said he would, and I'm a Te-dom.

I get an ISTJ vibe, but mastering complex systems, self-consciousness, not accepting compliments is a bit different, may be a different Enneagram from the ISTJs I know.

May be an ISTJ Enneagram 4, 5 or whichever number means closer to INTP or N.

 

[NTJ]

On the other hand, an ESTJ that I know, another Te-dom, often fails to carry out plans unless they are really big plans. I prefer carrying out everything that was planned, and I hate it when he doesn't do something he said he would. I plan everything to the smallest detail, unconsciously of course.

Feel free to solve this puzzle, who's good in cognitive functions.

 

[scorpiomover]

On the other hand, an ESTJ that I know, another Te-dom, often fails to carry out plans unless they are really big plans. I prefer carrying out everything that was planned, and I hate it when he doesn't do something he said he would. I plan everything to the smallest detail, unconsciously of course.

Feel free to solve this puzzle, who's good in cognitive functions.

Your profile says you're an NTJ. Are you an INTJ or an ENTJ?

If you're an ENTJ, then it might be that the ESTJ isn't like you, because he's a Sensor and you're an Intuitive.

If you're an INTJ, then it might be that the ESTJ isn't like you, because he's an extrovert and you're an Introvert.

If you're an INTJ, then you would prefer to plan everything out to the smallest detail, and you would hate it when people don't do what they say they will.

If you're an ENTJ, then you're a natural delegator, so you try not to plan out every detail, preferring instead to allow others to get their tasks done in the way they know best, which is the most effcient and optimised for them, and thus for the tasks they do. In addition, if you're an ENTJ, you're likely to already have realised that people are human, and make mistakes, and so don't do everything they say they will, and often don't even attempt everything they say they will, and you can't afford to let that bother you, or you'd get annoyed at everyone so much, that no-one would want to work with you, and then you'd effectively be forced to live as an INTJ, and against your nature.

I'm inclined to think that you're an INTJ, and he's not worried about the small stuff, because he's an extrovert, and tries many things, with no expectation that they will all work, relying on the fact that as long as several will, he'll be very successful.

 

[NTJ]

Your profile says you're an NTJ. Are you an INTJ or an ENTJ?

If you're an ENTJ, then it might be that the ESTJ isn't like you, because he's a Sensor and you're an Intuitive.

If you're an INTJ, then it might be that the ESTJ isn't like you, because he's an extrovert and you're an Introvert.

If you're an INTJ, then you would prefer to plan everything out to the smallest detail, and you would hate it when people don't do what they say they will.

If you're an ENTJ, then you're a natural delegator, so you try not to plan out every detail, preferring instead to allow others to get their tasks done in the way they know best, which is the most effcient and optimised for them, and thus for the tasks they do. In addition, if you're an ENTJ, you're likely to already have realised that people are human, and make mistakes, and so don't do everything they say they will, and often don't even attempt everything they say they will, and you can't afford to let that bother you, or you'd get annoyed at everyone so much, that no-one would want to work with you, and then you'd effectively be forced to live as an INTJ, and against your nature.

I'm inclined to think that you're an INTJ, and he's not worried about the small stuff, because he's an extrovert, and tries many things, with no expectation that they will all work, relying on the fact that as long as several will, he'll be very successful.

Wow, that was an interesting post, appreciate the effort.

I am an ENTJ forced into being an INTJ with a plan to emerge into being ENTJ. Is more complicated than it sounds. LOL

As an ENTJ, I prefer to let people go their way about doing things for me as long as they do it, hence I get the result. And yes SFJs, I do want HIGH QUALITY result, and not YOUR high quality, MY high quality! If they fail to do so, I either indulge them to change their way of doing it or don't trust them with anything I need to get done. I do not plan every detail for others, if they ask, or if I see that they need guidance, I provide them with a plan, "do that, then that, then that, then that," and if they need more detail, I can do that too. I prefer to not go into minuscule detail, and they can ignore my plan as long as I get the result in high quality.

When I said that I plan out every detail I should have said that I plan my schedule (even if I don't have anything else to do afterwards). So if someone says that we're gonna go to the bank at 1:10PM tomorrow, that's what I expect him to do - do not call me telling me that you forgot that you have an appointment, don't call me telling me that you've decided to go to school that day after all, don't tell me that you were invited to smoke some weed. You should have thought about that before making the promise. Moving onto the ESTJ, he often puts others before me and therefore abandons or shifts his plans regarding me as of the least importance. Other times, he's simply elusive with time - "we will meet tomorrow" or even "we may..." and that doesn't allow me to plan my schedule. There's been more than a few occasions where he promised to drive me somewhere and bailed half hour before the time, or called to tell me that he'll only be able to do it in 2 hours.

Basically I'm okay with you not doing what you said you would if you have a valid explanation, like "a friend I haven't seen in a year came into town for a few hours," "Unexpected call from boss for extra work and pay," "Have to drive dad to a hospital," etc.. But if you have to smoke weed or decided to go to school today, that ain't gonna cut it for me, that'll only piss me off and you'll lose my respect, if you have that in the first place.

 

[phantom]

ISTJ does fit him in a lot of ways, but it seems too strong. He's not very organized and not much for making plans. He's not punctual. He's scatterbrained. He can pick up new abstract concepts very quickly. His managerial capabilities are on par with mine, which is to say, they are nonexistent.

I suspect that my mother might be an ISTJ. She's all about lists, organization, getting the job done first and promptly, doing things as per the instructions, concrete and disinterested in abstract trivia, etc. etc. She's a wonderful mother but sometimes I find her difficult to be around because we think so differently.

My brother is sort of in between me and our mom, come to think of it. My dad and I are both N's, so I wonder if he has to some extent suppressed his S in order to associate better with us, or if he is just a weak S/N.

 

[NTJ]

I may guess that he's a stressed out ISTJ, but the fact that he gets abstract concepts quickly - no Si who I know does that, some even fail to do so if explained step-by-step.

 

[phantom]

Yeah, it's like he's got part of both worlds. He's like me and my dad in the way he conducts discourse but more like my mom in terms of the way he conducts himself socially. Anyone else?

 

[axemblack]

I would say the most likely type for your brother would be ISTP. They are by far the most 'N' of any of the 'S' types. The key difference is that they enjoy abstraction which they believe holds some relevance towards life (self-improvement) or will lead to a solution to some concrete problem. They are not interested in abstraction just for how interesting and fun it is, which many INTPs seem to enjoy. I've noticed ISTPs tend to have a firm grasp on their own abilities (which they tend to excel at) while at the same time trying very hard to avoid any public situation in which they could be perceived as braggarts.

Any change in schedule or routine does seem to greatly upset the ISTPs I've known, and the not-questioning metaphysical assumptions goes hand-in-hand with the practical approach ISTPs take towards philosophy: once they've found a firm base that yields results for them they don't see much need to go back.

 

[scorpiomover]

Wow, that was an interesting post, appreciate the effort.

I am an ENTJ forced into being an INTJ with a plan to emerge into being ENTJ. Is more complicated than it sounds. LOL

Not so much. Jung pointed out that some childhood environments can pressure people to act as another type for awhile. But this causes neurosis, and the only way forward, is to recognise one's true typology. Normally, people's neuroses emerge in their early 20s, and then people work on them to solve them. So it's common for people to start out being a type, be moulded by childhood experiences to be untrue to themselves, and then revert back afterwards. Another option is to change type. But, IME, that's much rarer, as it requires a LOT more effort than just acknowledging who one really is.

As an ENTJ, I prefer to let people go their way about doing things for me as long as they do it, hence I get the result. And yes SFJs, I do want HIGH QUALITY result, and not YOUR high quality, MY high quality! If they fail to do so, I either indulge them to change their way of doing it or don't trust them with anything I need to get done. I do not plan every detail for others, if they ask, or if I see that they need guidance, I provide them with a plan, "do that, then that, then that, then that," and if they need more detail, I can do that too. I prefer to not go into minuscule detail, and they can ignore my plan as long as I get the result in high quality.

When I said that I plan out every detail I should have said that I plan my schedule (even if I don't have anything else to do afterwards). So if someone says that we're gonna go to the bank at 1:10PM tomorrow, that's what I expect him to do - do not call me telling me that you forgot that you have an appointment, don't call me telling me that you've decided to go to school that day after all, don't tell me that you were invited to smoke some weed. You should have thought about that before making the promise.

You sound fairly similar to an ExFJ friend of mine.

Moving onto the ESTJ, he often puts others before me and therefore abandons or shifts his plans regarding me as of the least importance. Other times, he's simply elusive with time - "we will meet tomorrow" or even "we may..." and that doesn't allow me to plan my schedule. There's been more than a few occasions where he promised to drive me somewhere and bailed half hour before the time, or called to tell me that he'll only be able to do it in 2 hours.

Basically I'm okay with you not doing what you said you would if you have a valid explanation, like "a friend I haven't seen in a year came into town for a few hours," "Unexpected call from boss for extra work and pay," "Have to drive dad to a hospital," etc.. But if you have to smoke weed or decided to go to school today, that ain't gonna cut it for me, that'll only piss me off and you'll lose my respect, if you have that in the first place.

Doesn't sound like an ExxJ to me. An xxxP would make excuses, because we like to be undecided, even at the best of times. Since he uses the word "we" so often, I'm guessing ExxP.

On the other hand, an ESTJ that I know, another Te-dom, often fails to carry out plans unless they are really big plans. I prefer carrying out everything that was planned, and I hate it when he doesn't do something he said he would. I plan everything to the smallest detail, unconsciously of course.

P-doms tend to be very into bigger plans, and the lack of J-dominance normally results in things being missed, with the presumption that they can be filled in later.

I'd need more details to pin down if he is S/N, and T/F.

From what I've garnered, Sensors tend to learn to do things, such as a ballet move, by repeating the details of the actions, and then figuring out the concept, in this case, "elegance", later. Intuitives prefer to focus on the concept, and then figure out the details of the movements that come from being elegant, as time passes.

Thinkers tend to decide what to do and how to instruct others by looking at the details, and then figure out how it all fits together later. Feelers tend to do the reverse. An example is their approach to eating in a restaurant. Thinkers who love meat, who are offered the special by the waiter, will want to know if it contains meat. If it does, then they'll have it. If it doesn't, they don't want it. Feelers go by the overall taste. They only want to know if it "tastes good".

 

[scorpiomover]

I would say the most likely type for your brother would be ISTP. They are by far the most 'N' of any of the 'S' types. The key difference is that they enjoy abstraction which they believe holds some relevance towards life (self-improvement) or will lead to a solution to some concrete problem. They are not interested in abstraction just for how interesting and fun it is, which many INTPs seem to enjoy. I've noticed ISTPs tend to have a firm grasp on their own abilities (which they tend to excel at) while at the same time trying very hard to avoid any public situation in which they could be perceived as braggarts.

Any change in schedule or routine does seem to greatly upset the ISTPs I've known, and the not-questioning metaphysical assumptions goes hand-in-hand with the practical approach ISTPs take towards philosophy: once they've found a firm base that yields results for them they don't see much need to go back.

ISTP sounds reasonable. They're incredibly smart, but don't like to show it.

They tend to like to work out like a machine, and have a really good body, or, they sometimes veg out, and get really fat really quickly. But they don't care too much when they do, because they know that when they get back to exercising, they'll get back in shape extremely quick.

They also prefer discrete mathematics, like complex algebra, to continuous mathematics, like calculus.

 

[Montresor]

I am obviously very new to this but I want to try to help.

Any feedback from those more experienced with typing would be quite beneficial.

I'm pretty sure he isn't, because I am a standard-issue INTP and he differs from me in a few obvious ways.

He is more routine-oriented.
He is more upset by changes of plans.
When he knows of a particular social convention he's more concerned that it be followed: he is sometimes embarrassed by my behavior in public.
When we were kids he was likely to object if I proposed doing something that involved a gross trespass of the rules.
Every one of these says "J" if I am not mistaken.

Although we both love mastering complex systems, my brother seems to be more process- or detail- oriented. He is brilliant at math and likes to do all his calculations by hand, and come up with new ways to compute things.
Si - does he lead with this function?

He likes to go through chess strategies move-by-move
Sensory

We both like arguments, but he seems to be less intensely concerned about his inner framework, or less likely to really question his metaphysical assumptions.
With him I often discuss concrete problems like logical puzzles or debate strategies, but he doesn't get into discussions about metaethics or ontology.
The above might just be reducible to our different personal interests, but there does seem to me to be a difference in the way we approach subjects.
Can't really tell if you're describing Ni or Si.

He is more modest and self-conscious than I am. He is embarrassed by attention or recognition, whereas I usually like being complemented if I respect the person who is complementing me.
Sounds like Fi. Need to know more about how he projects his feelings.

He's confessed to lying about test scores because he doesn't want to sound like he's bragging. We are both introverts, but I'm not opposed to entertaining people and cracking jokes when I'm with a small group of familiar people. My brother is more reserved in this way, even though he's somewhat less socially incapable than I am.
So his lead function will be introverted at any rate. The "less socially incapable" thought leads me towards Si-Fi because he is still "reserved" about it. Meaning his inferior function is not Fi.

So, that's all I got for now. In most other ways we are very similar.
Overall preference for thinking over feeling?

Let me know if you have any guesses/thoughts/want any particular piece of info.

So my strategy is to break this all down and try to figure out his functions. Tell me if I am wrong at any point.

First off, if he really is a J type, then he extraverts his J function, which we're going to call Te.

Next, let's identify his dominant function. It's going to be his perceiving function since he is IxxJ. We have Si based on the evidence.

At this point we can try to type him as an ISTJ but to be fair, let's continue on.

ISTJ: Si Te Fi Ne

Si dominant. This should be obvious I think.
Te plays a supporting role to his Si.

Think about how he likes to actually "see" the chess moves on the board, while thinking outwardly about what these moves do for his strategy.

Re: ISTP (I could, in fact, be confusing the Si-Te for Ti-Se and not know it).

Tertiary would then be F because auxiliary is S.

In the case of ISTP his tertiary would be N.

Last, let's look at his inferior function - polar opposite of dominant.
So if his dominant function is Si then his inferior function is Ne. Perhaps this is why you two are "same but different" - while you support your Ti with Ne, he is more extraverted with his thinking and doesn't have much capacity for Ne, being introverted overall.



This post went on much longer than it should have, considering I am completely new to this.

My guess: ISTJ.

 

[phantom]

Montresor - I'm newer than you are, so I haven't the foggiest what all the Si's and Te's really mean. I'll have to do some reading one of these days...

Based on comparing the wikipedia section on cognitive functions for INTP vs ISTP and ISTJ I definitely find ISTP more plausible. Seems like we're both Ti dominant, but I'm more about exploring abstract systems (Ne) whereas my brother's more interested in the relevant details of a system for some end (Se). That would explain why he's better at mastering chess move-by-move whereas I'm better at solving crossword puzzles where the answers come to me intuitively. It would also explain why he's more interested in the computational process of math, whereas I would rather ponder the ontological status of numbers.

He's not at all mechanical in a physical way, but I could see him as a mechanic of abstract systems.

 

[Montresor]

I'll have to do some reading one of these days...

Quite right.

my brother's more interested in the relevant details of a system for some end (Se).

He's not at all mechanical in a physical way, but I could see him as a mechanic of abstract systems.

I'm not sure this is extraverted sensing. I could call it Ni if anything. Coupled with Ti could make him INFJ. INFJs use Se as their inferior (weakest) function. INTJs also use Se as their inferior function.

Would you reconsider INFJ or INTJ? The difference in these types is Ne/Ni and Te/Ti.

That being said, the whole is larger than the sum of its parts. Honestly if you feel the ISTP profile fits him then there's a pretty good chance he's ISTP. To be honest, there are days that I still think I am ISTP.

I really want to reiterate at this point that I am completely new to typing so if anybody else is going to post here please offer up constructive criticism.

 

[axemblack]

Montresor - I'm newer than you are, so I haven't the foggiest what all the Si's and Te's really mean. I'll have to do some reading one of these days...

Based on comparing the wikipedia section on cognitive functions for INTP vs ISTP and ISTJ I definitely find ISTP more plausible. Seems like we're both Ti dominant, but I'm more about exploring abstract systems (Ne) whereas my brother's more interested in the relevant details of a system for some end (Se). That would explain why he's better at mastering chess move-by-move whereas I'm better at solving crossword puzzles where the answers come to me intuitively. It would also explain why he's more interested in the computational process of math, whereas I would rather ponder the ontological status of numbers.

He's not at all mechanical in a physical way, but I could see him as a mechanic of abstract systems.

After reading this I definitely think that INTJ is the most likely answer. I was caught up on your idea of him being similar to you and equating that with the same functions in a different order, completely forgetting how similar INTJs and INTPs appear on first glance. "A mechanic of abstract systems" is a perfect way to describe INTJs, and being "not at all mechanical in a physical way" is a clear sign that he is not ISTP. Te would explain the affinity for chess, and is the function responsible for evaluating chess move by move; my brother is ENTJ and does the exact same thing, describing himself as a tactician and not so much a strategist when playing chess. The following of social conventions in public is very much INTJ, as is the upset with a change in the routine (Te supporting Ni), and the reserved behavior in public.

I would ask him to read a few profiles of INTJ / ISTP / xxxx, whatever you think fits, and see if he identifies strongly with any of those types. Ni is a very hard dominant function to pinpoint, as it's very difficult to highlight some concrete thought or action and say "that's Ni"; the secondary function tends to be what people notice first, as it what is being manifested outwardly.

 

[phantom]

Would you reconsider INFJ or INTJ? The difference in these types is Ne/Ni and Te/Ti.

After reading this I definitely think that INTJ is the most likely answer. I was caught up on your idea of him being similar to you and equating that with the same functions in a different order, completely forgetting how similar INTJs and INTPs appear on first glance. "A mechanic of abstract systems" is a perfect way to describe INTJs, and being "not at all mechanical in a physical way" is a clear sign that he is not ISTP.

He is certainly not INFJ, based on reading a profile.

If I am correct about my dad being INTJ (he has tested that way and seems to fit descriptions) then my brother definitely isn't one. He is not strategic or managerial like my dad is. I call up my dad when I want to discuss literature or theology or when I want advice on what classes to take or something. I call up my brother if I have encountered an equation or proof that I don't follow, or if I want to discuss a logical puzzle or an interesting argument. My dad wants to impose order on systems (he has taken jobs that involved reorganizing the staff of failing nonprofit orgs) whereas my brother just wants to figure out how systems work in order to implement them (mathematics). My brother is more concerned with details and procedures, whereas my dad tends to prefer subjects with more room for personal judgment and creativity. My dad and I both feel very suffocated by excessive rules and do poorly with memorization, whereas my brother is much better with these things.

That being said, the whole is larger than the sum of its parts. Honestly if you feel the ISTP profile fits him then there's a pretty good chance he's ISTP. To be honest, there are days that I still think I am ISTP.

We also need consider why my brother would have tested as INTP, given that he is not one. It seems to me to be plausible that an ISTP whose primary interests happen to involve intangible rather than tangible systems would erroneously test as INTP. Thoughts on this?

I can't remember if I said this before, but people overhearing conversations between us have sometimes told me that my brother is "just like me." It's only from living with him that I am aware of our differences, like his being more procedure oriented and less flexible. I may have overstated our differences in my original post - for example he's not at all one of those people who is super anal about rule following, he's just more aware of conventions than I am and occasionally becomes upset if I grossly violate a certain norm of reasonable behavior. Some types that have been suggested (like INFJ) are just way too different from me to be right.

One other thing that makes me think ISTP: when I read ISTP profiles, my reaction was that it sounds like a person I could like and respect. A lot of other type profiles describe people who sound like they would annoy me a lot. I get along with my brother remarkably well, despite the fact that we are siblings and I have a poor track record of getting along with family members.

 

[Montresor]

We also need consider why my brother would have tested as INTP, given that he is not one. It seems to me to be plausible that an ISTP whose primary interests happen to involve intangible rather than tangible systems would erroneously test as INTP. Thoughts on this?

Yeah I test INTP every time, when I do the self-report free test online. But the reality is that my "preference" for intuition over sensing is not very strong, if it exists at all. What I can say for sure is I am usually very tuned to my physical environment, except for when I am lost in thought, when I completely tune out.
Completely.

As far as the chess goes, I did learn how to play by practicing, and I would stage many games against myself, especially to rehearse openings. Later on there were books involved.

As much as I enjoy reading on a wide variety of subjects, gathering the fundamentals and then making concepts, I enjoy engaging in a wide variety of activity as well. A workbench stuffed with tools pleases me more than a computer desk with the best computer, even though I spend more time (quadruple, easy) at the desk, and my computer is total shit. I love being smug about distinguishing "homeowner shit" from professional grade tools, while usually buying mid-grade.

When I'm through with wasting time and need a hobby, I'll dive head-first into anything, not really emerging (mentally) until the project is finished, where I enter a period of rest and reflection. The more I get to build, the more fun I have. I guess I sort-of have a knack for mechanics too but that requires many hours of reading first.

When building for leisure as I discuss above, the cycle is reflect --> build --> reflect, meaning I spend just as much time staring quietly at the unfinished project, just staring at it, as I spend building.

But then, the exact same goes for my writing.

I know that this was a lot about me and not really about your brother, but I do have a point ... is your brother more like me than he is you?

Also, even though I possess the above listed sensory characteristics, I do not willfully declare at this time that I am not INTP.

 

[phantom]

I'm not sure how to answer, since I actually identify with a lot of what you said. Last time I took a test N came out my weakest trait, if I remember correctly. I am definitely INTP but I also like athletics and fixing stuff with tools (although I mostly use vice grips, screwdrivers and duct tape, not fancy tools ). Like I said before, my brother is not at all mechanical with physical things.

Upon further thought, ISTP doesn't seem quite right, because I can't really come up with a lot of ways my brother is more S than me. He's definitely the typical "nerd" who doesn't eat much and spends a lot of time hunched over books, although he's also athletic. Maybe he is just a better-adjusted INTP. He's for sure less introverted than I am (I tested 100% last time). Perhaps some of his functions are weaker than mine and/or expressed differently. I dunno. I'm not experienced with typing so I'm not sure which details are salient and which details are just incidental variations within types.

One thing I did notice was that you said you learned chess by practicing it. I always learn to do things by interacting with them, through trial and error (I'm thinking of both physical and abstract systems here). I'm good at discovering certain kinds of patterns or mechanisms myself, but I have a very hard time following another person's stepwise instructions. My brother can learn things straight out of books, by reading and then implementing the instructions/examples/information.

 

[Montresor]

I'm not sure how to answer, since I actually identify with a lot of what you said.

This is what I had hoped you would say.

Upon further thought, ISTP doesn't seem quite right, because I can't really come up with a lot of ways my brother is more S than me. He's definitely the typical "nerd" who doesn't eat much and spends a lot of time hunched over books, although he's also athletic.

One thing I did notice was that you said you learned chess by practicing it. I always learn to do things by interacting with them, through trial and error (I'm thinking of both physical and abstract systems here). I'm good at discovering certain kinds of patterns or mechanisms myself, but I have a very hard time following another person's stepwise instructions. My brother can learn things straight out of books, by reading and then implementing the instructions/examples/information.

So you're that much closer to typing him.