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

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

Susan Cain

Start date: July 1, 2021

Finish date: July 31, 2021

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Mar 18, 2012 David Rubenstein rated it it was amazing

Shelves: psychology

Years ago, my division manager at work had everybody in the division take the Meyer Briggs personality test. Then we spent time in a workshop, to understand the implications of our personality types. One of the dimensions of the test is extroversion/introversion (E or I types). This book offers a very satisfying account of what it means to be an introvert. Generally Western cultures admire extroverts, while Asian cultures admire introverts. Both types of personalities offer value to society. Gro Years ago, my division manager at work had everybody in the division take the Meyer Briggs personality test. Then we spent time in a workshop, to understand the implications of our personality types. One of the dimensions of the test is extroversion/introversion (E or I types). This book offers a very satisfying account of what it means to be an introvert. Generally Western cultures admire extroverts, while Asian cultures admire introverts. Both types of personalities offer value to society. Groups of people who are introverts are best with an extroverted leader, while groups of extroverts are best with an introverted leader.

Many introverts find it difficult to live in a society that values extroversion more highly. As a result, many introverts pretend to be extroverts in certain social situations. But they cannot maintain this pretension indefinitely, and at some point in time they must "recharge" their internal batteries with quiet and solitude. The book makes a major point here: It's perfectly OK to pretend to be an extrovert for periods of time--as long as you do this while you are working at something that you truly love.

The book has useful practical advice for introverts. If you are an introvert and your husband or wife is an extrovert, there is much to be said about how to maintain or improve your relationship. If you are raising a child who is an introvert, it is important to understand how to encourage the child to follow his/her innate abilities.

Back in the 1940's and 1950's, Alex Osborn was plagued by the lack of creativity in his advertising agency. So, he wrote some books introducing the concept of "brainstorming". The idea is for people get together in groups and toss out ideas without fear of ridicule--the more ideas, the better. The problem is, in the 1960's, studies showed that brainstorming is not efficient; you can get more, good ideas if people simply think creatively in solitude. Committees simply are not as productive as the sum of individuals working alone. We are so inculcated with the idea that brainstorming is best--but this is really just a reflection of the dominance of extroversion in our society. ...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Casey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: knowledge-is-good, relevant-for-teachers, cognitive-scientists-do-it-in-lab

Although the United States is the most extroverted country in the world, one third to one half of people are introverts. Introverts are often quiet people, the ones who would rather stay in on a weekend than go out to a party, the ones that need to recharge with solitude after giving presentations. Introverts are often deep thinkings and intimate friends, although our society (incorrectly) views them as passive and anti-social. In Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking Although the United States is the most extroverted country in the world, one third to one half of people are introverts. Introverts are often quiet people, the ones who would rather stay in on a weekend than go out to a party, the ones that need to recharge with solitude after giving presentations. Introverts are often deep thinkings and intimate friends, although our society (incorrectly) views them as passive and anti-social. In Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, Susan Cain explains how Western society misunderstands the quiet among us.

I do not count myself as one of the quiet ones. Indeed, I'm one of the extroverts, and I'll go so far as to say that no one has ever called me quiet. I know I'm an extrovert, because I look forward to giving presentations (the bigger the audience, the better). I get antsy when I don't have a party to go to on Friday night, and I recharge after a long day of work by socializing. Plus, I'm going to spend a large portion of this review talking about myself.

Cain's book makes me realize that I also possess some traits that are more characteristic of introverts. I spend a fair amount of time with my nose buried in a book, and I'm hopelessly bad at multitasking. I'm not a fan of group work (unless I can be completely in control of the group), and I would certainly consider myself an intellectual. As Cain points out, no one is completely an extrovert, nor is anyone completely an introvert. Extroverts, however, flourish in American society, while introverts are often forced to pretend to be extroverts.

Particularly interesting is the chapter on raising introverted children. I don't have children, nor do I have plans to gestate a human being anytime soon, so I was surprised at how much I got from this section. After reading it, I realized how difficult school must have been for the shy ones, the ones that "never spoke up" in class. It's clear that I got undue praised for being bossy and talkative. Who knows how many kids my teachers ignored while I blabbed on endlessly about who knows what.

Throughout the book, Cain argues that introverts should be cultivated, that their unique abilities (such as the deep focus that so often eludes me) should be valued. I agree, and I think she should take her argument one step further: extroverts should try to bring out their introverted sides. Maybe, instead of telling introverts to be louder, we should all try to become more quiet. ...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Timothy Finucane rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Someone has finally written a book about me, or at least that's what reading this book made me feel. This is a well written exploration of those of us who have a more introverted personality and discusses how the current American culture has put an emphasis on those who are more extroverted; and I agree with that premise fully.

Throughout my career and life experience I have always come up against the push to be more outgoing, more like a salesman than the person I really am. Susan Cain describes

...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Margie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: personal-development

I really liked this book. It not only spoke to me, it spoke about me. It was thrilling to discover that introverted does not mean shy. Cain very clearly outlines differences between introversion and other character traits we often associate with it, such as shyness and sensitivity.

I like her writing. I appreciated the balance between research and anecdotes. I would have preferred footnotes to endnotes, but that's a common complaint for me. ...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Alissa Thorne rated it it was ok

Shelves: about-the-mind, about-understanding-humans

I was disappointed by this book. Perhaps because of hearing so many people rave about it, I had high hopes. But where I had hoped for a deeper understanding of introversions, this book was in essence one long tirade of, "No really, it's okay to be introverted! And being extroverted isn't all that."

Even the definition of introverts in this book was muddled. It conflated the idea of introverts with those who are shy, sensitive, and contemplative. While she readily admits that she is using a broade ...more

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Jul 24, 2014 Kathleen (itpdx) rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

Cain puts forth much information in support of introverts. She has some good points about the US being extrovert oriented. I read this during the midterm elections 2014. And although, particularly at the state level, there are some introverted policy wonks who manage to get elected, our politicians are almost by definition extroverts. And I agree with her that schools and businesses should make places that are comfortable for everyone especially if they wish to access the talents of all people. ...more

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