This book is incredibly useful for introverts, but extroverts can benefit from this book as well. Our world encourages extroverted thought and behaviour when it is perfectly fine to be who we are no matter where we find ourselves on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Those of us who find ourselves to be more introverted find it harder to deal with the extroverted world, and this is precisely the book to show us how to deal with it and get the best out of it.

The Introvert Advantage shows how introverts can better manage one's lifestyle and take full advantage of one's little quirks. The described scenarios are easy to relate to while the quotes throughout the book are insightful. Extroverts reading this book can also understand what it is like to be introverted and learn how to better interact with them to get the best out of a relationship, whether that may be a romantic or professional relationship. Friends and family can definitely benefit too. Readers can also get a glimpse at how to interact with an introverted child.

I read The Introverted Advantage like a novel a while back, but you can read it from cover to cover or start reading it from a random page. Whether you're introverted or you must interact with one on a daily basis, this book is recommended to help build better relationships. This is a must-read for introverts and those living with them.
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There is a quiz in this book. I took it and found myself to be mildly introverted. My best friend on the other hand is very introverted and I'm glad I've read this book. I find I can treat it like a reference book where I can pick it up and read a section that is relevant to a given situation. ( )

I'm not quite sure what to think about this book or how to rate it. On one hand, I liked it even though I don't think it was written for me. I understand introversion, have accepted and love my introverted nature, and I've already figured out and have been applying a good portion of the author's recommendations for successfully navigating a world that favors extroverts for some time now.

On the other hand, I think it suffers terribly from generalizations. The author paints introverts with a very broad brush when, in fact, we are very diverse and complex beings. Because of that, I really think that this book would have benefited greatly from getting exploring the different types of introverts. In fact, I'm a little surprised it didn't now that I think about it. Another thing that bothered me, and I could very well be wrong about this or projecting, but it seems like there was more time than I was comfortable with spent instructing introverts on how to extrovert and cater to those who are extroverted. I also agree with a lot of other reviewers over at Amazon who felt she spent entirely too much time talking about how cope with being an introvert as opposed to discussing the actual advantages, because there are plenty!

The book is basically Introversion 101 and provides a very general overview of introversion for those who have no concept of it; are introverts yet don't realize it; and those who are introverted but are uncomfortable with it. For those folks I think this book would be decent, eye opening, comforting and reassuring. The author did do a great job at reinforcing the fact that introversion is a temperament, something that can not be changed, and something that is perfectly normal. There is nothing wrong with be introverted. Anyone else who understands introversion, possess this temperament and is comfortable with it should skip it. ( )

In the Introvert Advantage, Laney provides a kind of survival guide for those of us born into the introverted minority. In the first part of the book, Laney describes introversion and presents a neurological hypothesis to explain introverted and extroverted personality types. Personally, I found this section to contain some of the most interesting material in the book. Traits I had struggled with but never associated with introversion, such as a lack of energy compared to most people, turn out to be common among introverts.

The second and third parts of the book contain practical advice covering several major facets of life, including relationships, work, and even health. Most of the tips and methods Laney suggests are not original. Her contribution is in always keeping her advice tailored to the strengths, weaknesses, and needs of introverts. Most notably, even in her chapter on the importance of extroverting, Laney never treats introverted traits as character flaws to be cured or overcome. This book focuses on helping introverts create balanced lives while accepting themselves, not on trying to change their basic personality.

Like many self-help books, The Introvert Advantage is written in easy prose and broken into brief sections. It is recommended for anyone looking for an accessible and gentle guide to better understanding life as an introvert. ( )

I can give people this book as a manual for understanding me. I wish that I'd found it when I was a teen ager, but even after painfully figuring out mostly how to deal with extroverts without my going nuts, I still found lots of useful tips in here. The most valuable thing was learning that I don't need to feel guilty about saying that I don't have the energy to go to a party, or that I have to leave early. It's okay, that's what I need. Highly recommended for anyone with any level of introversion, and those who care for them. ( )

For those who are introverted, or love someone introverted, this book is an excellent resource for learning what introversion means, how it impacts a person's experience of life, and what it means for a variety of interpersonal relationships, with parents, partners, coworkers, employers, and friends. Laney teaches her readers how to deal with an extroverted world without losing their minds or resorting to becoming recluses. The writing is friendly, gentle and non-judgmental, and provides lots of good ideas and advice that the reader can choose how to use for herself.