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

If you've already done some reading and research on introversion and extroversion, this book won't give you much that you haven't heard. As an introvert, I began reading with hopes of finding some deep, thought provoking literature on introversion and our society. But, it never really gets that deep. I feel that towards the end, there may have been a little too much focus on child introversion. It almost felt like filler. It's a decent read, nothing profound. Wouldn't call it a "must read."

Introversion/Extroversion is the coarsest way to sift human beings into discrete groups. You don't have to be a psychologist to tell that A is reserved and quiet, while B is loud, spontaneous and outgoing. Really, I feel this is a piece of pop-psychology, focusing as it does on the most basic of personality dimensions. If you want to understand yourself, and your 'power', do some deep soul-searching; and see a real shrink. And, no, I did not read the book, so I can't really comment on its content. I just wanted to make myself heard. It seems to be yet another in a long line of books and blogs, etc. that trifle with the profundities of the human mind and spirit. I knew I was an introvert since I was...eight, if not earlier. And my question still is, 'what next?'. There's more to me than the fact that I like reading, come across as 'modest', and prize moments of solitude. I am not Bill Gates, or Van Gogh, nor is anyone, for that matter. The quest to self knowledge is long, and hard, and even though I'm years at it, has hardly begun. It just angers me that someone feels that they can offer a wholesale answer to life's mysteries based on the broadest divide possible: introversion/extroversion.

Susan Cain has received a lot of attention over her new book, “Quiet.” She has even been featured on TED as a guest presenter/lecturer. After receiving this book I was excited. It contains a lot of material on being an introvert that could potentially be very helpful. It was an encouraging book to read about the introverts throughout history, but I was expecting it to be different. This isn’t something to blame on the author, but because of receiving it from WaterBrook, I was under the assumption that it would contain a very Christian worldview on the topic. That was not the case. It does offer a lot of beneficial insights into the lives of famed introverts though! If you are an introvert and have wondered either about yourself or whether something was wrong, perhaps this would be a great read. Cain takes the readers on a tour through some of the most influential persons in history, stating her case that the world is really missing out on some great leaders who are not given the light of day. My favorite story was about her childhood though. She mentioned all the time she spent in books, how she was ridiculed for wanting to read at summer camp, and how she really enjoyed spending time at her grandfather’s house. He was a rabbi and used nearly every piece of furniture in his home as a book shelf. That’s my kind of atmosphere (minus the mess). Cain is certainly an interesting author and the book is an okay read too. It’s not necessarily something I will “recommend” friends to read, but it is definitely something I would recommend to anyone interested in introverts or struggling with their own personality. Just don’t let it create excuses. I received this book free from the publisher and was not required to give positive feedback.