Quiet

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

368 pages

English language

Published Jan. 29, 2013 by Crown.

ISBN:
978-0-307-35214-9
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(154 reviews)

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking is a 2012 non-fiction book written by Susan Cain. Cain argues that modern Western culture misunderstands and undervalues the traits and capabilities of introverted people, leading to "a colossal waste of talent, energy, and happiness".The book presents a history of how Western culture transformed from a culture of character to a culture of personality in which an "extrovert ideal" dominates and introversion is viewed as inferior or even pathological. Adopting scientific definitions of introversion and extroversion as preferences for different levels of stimulation, Quiet outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each temperament, emphasizing the myth of the extrovert ideal that has dominated in the West since the early twentieth century. Asserting that temperament is a core element of human identity, Cain cites research in biology, psychology, neuroscience and evolution to demonstrate that introversion is both common and normal, …

7 editions

Mixed Bag

This book was equal parts frustrating and insightful. I think really it is just showing its age a bit.

There's a very americentric (really, I mean corporate American) focus in both the content and the writing style. It felt a bit of an affirmation to encourage introverts, rather than heavily science or evidence based.

It's a bit sad in a way that schools focus on preparing people to be "successful" in modern work, with its open plan offices, brainstorming sessions, and tolerant communication styles. Some kids don't flourish in group learning environments, and while I didn't mind the odd group activity I think I would have struggled if group learning was the default at school.

There's so much to psychology and personality of which your position on the introvert-extravert spectrum is just one part. Like all words-which-conceal-complexity such as autistic, adhd, depressed, anxious, etc the concepts are misused and ill-defined …

Lengthy Anecdotes for each Point

I can imagine this book is more entertaining as an audio book or documentary. Though as a text book I struggled to motivate myself to read a five page anecdote to learn about a single point regarding extroverts or introverts. Anecdotes were more structured around stories than topics, which later on result in some repetition. Nevertheless it provides the reader with valid points to think about.

Review of 'Quiet' on 'Goodreads'

I wish I had this book 20 years ago. Susan paints a clear picture of the American Ideal and how it's pushed as the only path to success ignoring a large portion of the population that doesn't present as the gregarious social butterfly while highlighting the strengths of the introvert. Highly recommend this book for all personality types!

Review of "Quiet : the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking" on 'Goodreads'

Un excellent livre, très bien sourcé et documenté, sur l’introversion.

Susan Cain y explique comment l’idéal extraverti a été mis en valeur depuis le début du XXe siècle, au moins dans le monde occidental, et comment cette valorisation d’un idéal qui ne leur ressemble pas impacte la vie et la santé mentale des introvertis.

L’autrice mêle habilement des éléments tirés de recherches plus ou moins récentes en psychologie et des histoires de vie d’introverties qu’elle a rencontrés dans le cadre de ses recherches sur le sujet.

Susan Cain ne se contente pas de dresser un constat et de décrire les traits de personnalité et le fonctionnement des introvertis, elle propose également des clefs pour mieux vivre son introversion. Elle le fait avec des exemples concrets, ce qui est appréciable.

J’ai beaucoup aimé ce livre, parce que je me suis évidemment reconnu dans ce portrait de l’introverti minoritaire dans une société …

Review of 'Quiet' on 'Goodreads'

There are a lot of chapters to skip in this book, because they deal mainly with (1) raising introverted children or (2) how society celebrates extroverts, but the chapters on the differences between introverts and extroverts, and adaptive strategies, were very helpful in understanding some of my tendencies as a “social introvert” — I highly value spending time with friends and have a lot of them, but I prefer one-on-one or small group interactions, and need to recharge with “alone time” afterward. I think the book is worth reading for these portions alone.

Review of 'Quiet' on 'Goodreads'

It's as is extroverts are seeing "what is" while their introverted peers are asking "what if".

I know I'm an introvert. I understand how I handle situations and how I prefer to spend my free time. Still, Quiet proved incredibly insightful and allowed me to appreciate the nuances that come with introversion.

Must we learn to stage-manage our voices, gestures, and body language until we can tell - sell - any story we want?

The book is not a self help but more of a self reflection. There were techniques or theories mentioned in the book that I practiced only through trial and error. If I had this powerful insight to how I operated in my 20's I would have been better for it. Awkward encounters or stressful situations could have been mitigated once I knew why I felt that way.

I had similar experiences that Susan Cain described for …

Review of "Quiet : the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking" on 'Storygraph'

For a book about the virtues of those who don't feel the need to fill a quiet room with small talk, this book felt overly long and drawn out. With no shortage of anecdotes about how great introverts are, the thesis was quickly beat to death. Maybe this book is for extroverted people and the repetition is for their benefit, but found it a slog.

Review of 'Quiet' on 'Goodreads'

A relatable guide on the different strengths of introverts and extroverts. This is a comforting read and helps destigmatize and utilize introverts to their full potential.

While the focus is more on the quiet side, introverts and extroverts are both celebrated throughout. So many different personalities and characteristics are covered, so that you can learn to be more effective with whatever type of person you are. The book is full of relatable moments that will explain a lot about you, your personal preferences, and of those close to you.

I didn’t expect the chapters on raising introverted children or the differences between Eastern and Western culture, but they were great. I was also surprised at how many different events the author went to in order to see introverts and extroverts in their ideal environments. Negotiating, stimulation, study, group work, and small talk were some other good topics covered.

Review of "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" on 'Goodreads'

I'm guessing that avid readers tend even more toward introversion than other groups, yet I noticed that even my reading choices are influenced by our cultural bias toward extroversion. Susan Cain lifts the curtain and exposes this bias, and explores the alternatives. Some science is referenced, but I think Cain is wise to avoid being mired in psychological debates and keep a pragmatic focus. The real revelation has more to do with how I can behave naturally and still navigate my cultural environment, a valuable perspective.

Review of 'Quiet' on 'Goodreads'

I tend to think there are many misconceptions around introverts; we live in a world that seems to praise extroverts. Susan Cain tries to help people understand the importance of introverts and why we need a balance between the two personality traits. Susan is an introvert herself and found her job as a lawyer expected an extroverted personality. However embracing her introversion, she was able to prove herself a valuable employer and lawyer; so much so that she went on to become a negotiations consultant.

Quiet is a book that seeks out to explain the need for introverts, while also looking at the history between these two personality types. I myself am extremely introverted and my Myers–Briggs Type Indicator is INTJ (this can change over time but I will not go into that at the moment). I found it useful to understand the history in how society deals with introverts; …

Review of "Quiet : the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking" on 'Goodreads'

Lots and lots of aha moments and interesting science. The bits about high sensitivity especially resonated with me. Also thought it was very interesting to think about the ways in which our culture's values overlap with extraversion. I would recommend everyone read this, whether you identify as an introvert or no.

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