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Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
1 review
crufts's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
Quiet discusses shy, quiet, and intellectual people in the United States, how the country's culture causes difficulties for such people, and how many have triumphed nonetheless.
I wanted to like the book (who doesn't like being told how great their personality type is?), but I couldn't due to two main flaws. I see these echoed in these other reviews:
(1) https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/f3af97d6-7d86-4f19-b86b-70e55de53fe1
The author uses the term "introvert" to describe a very specific character. It's not just someone who desires (and requires) less social interaction to be happy, instead deriving more gratification from their own inner mental life and solitary pursuits. Instead, this book's "introverts" are also shy, reticent, nervous in social settings, and highly intellectual.
This cluster of traits goes beyond simple introversion; it's more like the concept of the Highly Sensitive Person. After all, there are many introverted prime ministers and leaders who are not shy or socially anxious in the slightest. I'm not sure the word "introvert" is quite right for the author's thesis.
(2) https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/12d57ee1-2cf8-4e29-9936-6de2e28f5052
Just as the author asserts that introverts are shy, intellectual, clever, etc, so too she asserts the opposite about extroverts: apparently, they're big domineering bullies who never let you get a word in edgeways. This is utter tosh and a disservice to all the wonderful extroverted people in the world.
As a final call to action, the author proposes sweeping changes across American society to cater for introverts at the expense of extroverts. That sounds like a terrible idea! With the book holding this divisive us-and-them attitude, I can't recommend it.
I wanted to like the book (who doesn't like being told how great their personality type is?), but I couldn't due to two main flaws. I see these echoed in these other reviews:
(1) https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/f3af97d6-7d86-4f19-b86b-70e55de53fe1
The author uses the term "introvert" to describe a very specific character. It's not just someone who desires (and requires) less social interaction to be happy, instead deriving more gratification from their own inner mental life and solitary pursuits. Instead, this book's "introverts" are also shy, reticent, nervous in social settings, and highly intellectual.
This cluster of traits goes beyond simple introversion; it's more like the concept of the Highly Sensitive Person. After all, there are many introverted prime ministers and leaders who are not shy or socially anxious in the slightest. I'm not sure the word "introvert" is quite right for the author's thesis.
(2) https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/12d57ee1-2cf8-4e29-9936-6de2e28f5052
Just as the author asserts that introverts are shy, intellectual, clever, etc, so too she asserts the opposite about extroverts: apparently, they're big domineering bullies who never let you get a word in edgeways. This is utter tosh and a disservice to all the wonderful extroverted people in the world.
As a final call to action, the author proposes sweeping changes across American society to cater for introverts at the expense of extroverts. That sounds like a terrible idea! With the book holding this divisive us-and-them attitude, I can't recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia
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