Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

An amazing book that in a world that can't shut up affirms introverts as a creative, necessary force in the world. ( )

I loved this book, and wish everyone I know (certainly everyone I work with) would read it. The main thrust is that it's not only okay to be an introvert, but that introverts have their own strengths and skills that are just as necessary as those of extroverts. But the book covers a lot of ground, from the cultural values that emphasize extroversion, to the problems that can hurt businesses that rely too much on extroverts, to advice on how introverts and extroverts can get along better at work and at home. It's not just for introverts, though introverts may get the most out of it. But it's a multifaceted book that looks at all kinds of human interactions in ways that I've never thought about before. ( )

This is the book I wish I had read in grade school. Growing up, I always thought of the largest difference between introverts and extroverts to be quiet vs outgoing. The difference though is much more complex. The premise of this book is the idea that extroverts get energy from crowds, while it costs introverts energy to interact. The idea that some introverts even enjoy speaking because they value getting their message across more than their distake for public speaking hit close to home for me. ( )

The book about introverts. Those of us who are, might feel like we’re often surrounded by extroverts. Certainly they get a lot of the attention and American culture tends to adulate them. Yet Susan Cain says that a third up to half of the population are introverts, but many can mask it well, acting more extroverted when it’s expected or advantageous to do so. Interesting. The first thing she tackles in this book is relating some cultural history- how extroversion came to be seen as the ideal- it wasn’t always so. I’d never considered it before- but this was also rather dry to get through and it almost put me off reading the book. Glad I moved on, because there’s so much more- what makes people introverted or extroverted- it’s not simply nature/nurture but a complex combination of many factors and influences. How group work has become popular both in workplaces and schools, but why introverts tend to be more productive when working alone. Tips on how introverts can learn to be better at public speaking, navigating house parties, getting through a bustling school day, etc. Or for parents: how to encourage and guide a shy, quiet child without pushing too hard (which can be damaging). Much of the examples in the book are from the world of business- how investors, lawyers, etc ignored the good advice of quiet-spoken people and why extroverts get the spotlight and followers, sometimes to their detriment. The difference between introverted and extroverted leadership types. The strengths that quiet people can bring to all kinds of workplaces, and so on. There was actually so much of this it got tiresome for me- I related much better to the final section which was about the personality types in relationships- how introvert/extrovert friendships and marriages can work well (or not) for example. But that felt so briefly dealt with, compared to all the prior chapters. I did appreciate that so much material was drawn from real interviews- with students in different types of universities, for example. With people from different cultures and backgrounds, how they experienced and viewed types of social interactions. (Extroverts tend to find social interaction energizing, introverts may prefer their downtime alone). Lots of studies quoted and explained, many examples of famous people. I nodded my head in affirmation at many things, and was nicely surprised by other details. One of those books that can give you a better understanding of why you are the way you are (for either personality types, also those in between).

from the Dogear Diary ( )

A book for the introverts.. Has a number of attributes that those of us who enjoy the me time over being in a crowded room with a number of people.. Read it quite a while ago, so I can't remember specifics, sorry... but I know I enjoyed it and related to it! ( )