Susan Cain’s Quiet is a fresh breeze in a noisy, stereotyped world. Cain, formerly a Wall Street lawyer, thought being an introvert a disadvantage, something to overcome. The problem was, she liked being quiet, reading, thinking or studying in tranquil, quiet surroundings.
In her well-researched study of introverts, Cain introduces well-known personalities, such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Ghandi, who became powerful leaders and who are recognized by their deep-thinking contributions to the world.
The world needs a balance of introverts and extroverts, of Bill Gates and Bill Clintons. I think most people would be surprised to find that their hero is at heart an introvert who has managed to rise above his comfort zone in order to make a presentation, speak up in a debate, or otherwise call attention to himself.
Cain points out that it’s a mistake to force people into situations which may inhibit quiet contemplation. Offices with wide-open work space may be the best atmosphere for some, but many people do their best work when left alone to think or solve problems without distractions. Cain praises schools that recognize the quiet, shy child who would rather read than be in a noisy crowd at recess. Whether the work place or in school, introverts should be given a chance to share their knowledge in their own way. It takes a skilled leader or teacher to bring this about, but the world would be a richer place if we heard more than loud voices.
To rise above introversion, to entertain huge audiences (Barbara Streisand), to display extraordinary courage (Rosa Parks), or to stick with a problem beyond what many would consider common sense (Albert Einstein), takes persistence and belief in oneself, and dedication to a worthy cause. Cain provides many examples of well-known personalities, introverts who have given the world valuable knowledge, good deeds, or perceptions.
The world needs different personality types in order to survive. Susan Cain emphasizes the importance of recognizing the differences and concentrating on how each contributes to the richness of life. There is no right or wrong in being either an introvert or an extrovert. Each can be celebrated and recognized for their own talents. Quiet is an extraordinary study of personality types and traits.
In the midst of reading this, I watched a video featuring Susan Cain on “TED” talks and was even more impressed that a self-proclaimed introvert could make such an impressive presentation. If you’re interested in seeing this, go to http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts?language=en
To learn more about the author, visit http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-author/
No matter your personality type, Quiet is a worthy read. I learned so much about myself and about human nature in this extraordinary book.
I loved your review, Mary; and I loved this book, too. Believe it or not, I’m an introvert at least that’s where I gain my strength from, by those quiet contemplative moments, by sitting back and listening and processing internally before speaking. I’ve had executive level positions and can be “out there” and once or twice I’ve said something out loud I didn’t know I meant until I said it. But usually, I find myself writing a sentence I didn’t know I’d write, which to me is a much more introverted, “quiet” kind of experience. Thanks for introducing even more people to this fine work.
I’m not surprised that many successful people are introverts, but somehow they gather the courage to communicate with others.
This was a nice review, Mary. And thanks for sharing Susan Cain’s TED talk url. I turned off my TV so I could concentrate on what she had to say…Really interesting!
Boy, Mary, do I relate to this! I totally get this. 🙂 Thanks for sharing. And I agree, schools should recognize the child introvert and let them be. It is nothing to be ashamed about. The difference between introverts and extroverts is this: introverts recharge their batteries in quiet solitude while extroverts recharge for the buzz of a crowd. Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
This sounds like a book a lot of us should read. Thank you for the tip.