Quiet

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

Paperback, 352 pages

English language

Published Jan. 18, 2013 by Broadway Books.

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4 stars (1 review)

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

Lengthy Anecdotes for each Point

4 stars

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.