This Week’s Book = Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking (by S. Cain)
I’m an in
troverted person…a fact that often surprises people. I spent many confused years not understanding why people thought I was so extroverted and how they couldn’t see the quiet side of me. Like many other people, I often tried to push myself and that led to extreme anxiety. Then I read this wonderful book and it all made sense. I felt like I was reading a book written solely about me.
Quiet explores the trials and tribulations experienced by introverts in a world that seems tailor made for extroverts. The differences between introverts and extroverts are discussed throughout the book and the author identifies a subset of introverts who are very skilled at acting as pseudo-extroverts. The author investigates how introverts can thrive (or even just survive) in the workplace, during social interactions, and in school settings. A key point that is reiterated several times throughout the book is that introverts are not weird, wrong, or socially inept – they just require less social time and more private time in order to recharge.
I love this book…I can’t even say that enough. I get really enthusiastic whenever someone brings it up and I feel like I could talk about it forever. I’m so impressed with how readable this book is – the author masterfully integrates a ton of research with lots of super relevant real-life examples. This book is fabulous for all those people who felt like I did – knowing they are introverts, but always having to convince others of that fact. I believe that this book could provide hope and potential strategies for the introverts of the world, while helping the extroverts to develop understanding and empathy. Introverts will feel their value being affirmed as they read this book. To borrow a quote of praise from the back cover of the book, this is “a must-read book!”
Interested in this book? Click here!
