Quiet by Susan Cain

[Fiction_Fanatic]

Do you prefer one-on-one conversations to group activities? Do you enjoy solitude? Does the word “networking” send a frisson of fear down your spine? Or, my personal favorite: Do you often let phone calls go to voicemail instead of answering? If your answer to these questions was "yes" you can (now) proudly call yourself an introvert.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain, provides a delightful synopsis of scientific studies and historical references which expose the benefits of introversion.

Cain reviews longitudinal studies by psychologists who try to answer the question: Is introversion a learned behavior or something you’re born with? After decades of study, there is no definitive answer, although significant contributions have been made. One such study recorded the reaction of infants to new stimuli, then used that data to classify the infants as high sensitivity or low sensitivity. Not shockingly, the high sensitivity babies grew into introverts and the low sensitivity babies became extroverts. If you ever feel overwhelmed entering a party or large event, you were probably a high sensitivity youngster.

For historical context, Cain explains how and when introversion became blasphemy and why extroversion is a personality trait coveted in Western society. Half the population in the United States qualify as introverts; their experiences are validated by a thorough review of the merits of introversion.

Reading this book as a self-identified introvert, I felt relief. I remembered teachers’ criticism of my participation (or lack-of thereof) in class, the constant badgering to become more outgoing, the pressure to go out when all I really wanted to do was read. Quiet gave me the liberty to accept my introverted nature. Now, I have a context with which I can nurture my inner quiet.

In the final chapters, Cain provides advice for people teaching, parenting, or dating introverted people. Introverts have special gifts of concentration, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness. Those gifts need to be fostered by allowing the introvert time alone, the opportunity to figure out problems on their own, and calm environments to manage conflicts. Cain also informs readers how introverts can act like extroverts if the need arises. Quiet does not read like fiction; so don’t expect a scintillating story. Also, the book is targeted to introverts, except for the advice section at the end. Altogether, I found it to be an informative and engaging book, especially for those interested in the inner workings of the mind.

If you ever felt like something is wrong with you because you’re not typically effusive and gregarious, READ THIS BOOK!

[LivreAmour217]

Oh, this book sounds wonderful! I'm an introvert, and I am often frustrated by society's negative view of silence and solitude. I recently received some unfair treatment due to my temperament (long story) and I really need some validation, so I am definitely putting this one on my reading list. Thanks for the review

[Mariesg]

I love this book and I love how it helped me better understand my nature and why I am the way I am. I feel like it helped me to accept better who I am and to try to find things that work for me. This book is something everyone should read, especially because people confuse shy and introverted a lot. Introverts can be shy but so can extroverts. We just prefer internal stimuli rather than external.