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alreadyemily's review against another edition
4.0
Good read. I used to think I was a retiring introvert, but now I'm not so sure. Given how many people are introverts of one ilk or another, this is probably a worthwhile read for most everyone!
BUT! I want to mention the disappointing mischaracterization of Rosa Parks at the beginning (Did she even fact check? Did anyone fact check?), and a long section about Ghandi that didn't acknowledge his side career as a sexual predator. Our moral leaders are complicated people and I think we can acknowledge their successes as well as their transgressions and vice versa without getting lost in the weeds. I think we owe it to their victims.
BUT! I want to mention the disappointing mischaracterization of Rosa Parks at the beginning (Did she even fact check? Did anyone fact check?), and a long section about Ghandi that didn't acknowledge his side career as a sexual predator. Our moral leaders are complicated people and I think we can acknowledge their successes as well as their transgressions and vice versa without getting lost in the weeds. I think we owe it to their victims.
liakeller's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book with insights into introverts. So much resonated with myself and for my son!
grb123's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Made me feel so much better about being introverted!
sophiepiczenik's review against another edition
5.0
Slow in places but the book have led me to understand things I have never understand. Very useful context and very organized and well put together. Often in books that combine many research, papers and interviews, the authors fails to put them in a very organized order which leads to confusion when the said source is brought up again in later in the book. Susan did an amazing job. The book is (in my opinion) non biased. As someone who identify as both introvert and extrovert, the book is a great guidance. Thank you for making me understand myself and the people around me a little bit better.
bobmcbobson's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book boring, repetitive, long-winded, repetitive, not particularly insightful, and repetitive.
The whole book can be summed up as:
-introverts aren't understood
-introverts are awesome
-here are some awesome introverts
-repeat for nearly 300 pages
There is barely enough interesting information in this book to fill a long form magazine article. Stretching it into a book required a considerable amount of filler.
The whole book can be summed up as:
-introverts aren't understood
-introverts are awesome
-here are some awesome introverts
-repeat for nearly 300 pages
There is barely enough interesting information in this book to fill a long form magazine article. Stretching it into a book required a considerable amount of filler.
akankshya107's review against another edition
5.0
This one is some of the best nonfiction I've read - probably because so much of it is about me. I am an introvert - tried, tested, and perfected. When I heard of this book, I had it bookmarked to read someday. However, this was marked as a psychology/self-help book, and I've not had good experiences with those. They tend to bore me, digress from their points into gratuitously dry case studies, and start repeating themselves around the quarter mark. So, I always planned to maybe read this someday, if the stars aligned.
I'm so happy that I did because I absolutely loved it. This book is now to be my top nonfiction audiobook recommendation to everyone. It helped me understand aspects of my behavior and life that I assumed were personal preferences, but are more probably introverted traits. It had me nodding along enthusiastically at thin air (the dangers of good audiobooks) - there are considerable new facts put forward by it, as well as more obvious, albeit gratifying details. The book provided insights into the history of neurological and psychiatric studies around introversion, the societal push towards extroversion, educational experiences, work experiences, and how to live a fulfilling life in a world that rewards extroverted traits. There's a healthy mix of research findings, anecdotal evidence from people, and just plain gratification. It goes on to show how introverts thrive in every setting, whether they tap into an extroverted mindset, or work within their own power. Introverts succeed as writers, artists, scientists, engineers, traders, teachers, and every single profession - they're just quieter about it.
A few of my absolute favorite quotes:
There's a word for 'people who are in their heads too much': thinkers.
Whoever you are, bear in mind that appearance is not reality. Some people act like extroverts, but the effort costs them energy, authenticity, and even physical health. Others seem aloof or self-contained, but their inner landscapes are rich and full of drama. So the next time you see a person with a composed face and a soft voice, remember that inside her mind she might be solving an equation, composing a sonnet, designing a hat. She might, that is, be deploying the powers of quiet.
The highly sensitive [introverted] tend to be philosophical or spiritual in their orientation, rather than materialistic or hedonistic. They dislike small talk. They often describe themselves as creative or intuitive. They dream vividly, and can often recall their dreams the next day. They love music, nature, art, physical beauty. They feel exceptionally strong emotions--sometimes acute bouts of joy, but also sorrow, melancholy, and fear. Highly sensitive people also process information about their environments--both physical and emotional--unusually deeply. They tend to notice subtleties that others miss--another person's shift in mood, say, or a lightbulb burning a touch too brightly.
So stay true to your own nature. If you like to do things in a slow and steady way, don't let others make you feel as if you have to race. If you enjoy depth, don't force yourself to seek breadth. If you prefer single-tasking to multi-tasking, stick to your guns. Being relatively unmoved by rewards gives you the incalculable power to go your own way.
I'm so happy that I did because I absolutely loved it. This book is now to be my top nonfiction audiobook recommendation to everyone. It helped me understand aspects of my behavior and life that I assumed were personal preferences, but are more probably introverted traits. It had me nodding along enthusiastically at thin air (the dangers of good audiobooks) - there are considerable new facts put forward by it, as well as more obvious, albeit gratifying details. The book provided insights into the history of neurological and psychiatric studies around introversion, the societal push towards extroversion, educational experiences, work experiences, and how to live a fulfilling life in a world that rewards extroverted traits. There's a healthy mix of research findings, anecdotal evidence from people, and just plain gratification. It goes on to show how introverts thrive in every setting, whether they tap into an extroverted mindset, or work within their own power. Introverts succeed as writers, artists, scientists, engineers, traders, teachers, and every single profession - they're just quieter about it.
A few of my absolute favorite quotes:
There's a word for 'people who are in their heads too much': thinkers.
Whoever you are, bear in mind that appearance is not reality. Some people act like extroverts, but the effort costs them energy, authenticity, and even physical health. Others seem aloof or self-contained, but their inner landscapes are rich and full of drama. So the next time you see a person with a composed face and a soft voice, remember that inside her mind she might be solving an equation, composing a sonnet, designing a hat. She might, that is, be deploying the powers of quiet.
The highly sensitive [introverted] tend to be philosophical or spiritual in their orientation, rather than materialistic or hedonistic. They dislike small talk. They often describe themselves as creative or intuitive. They dream vividly, and can often recall their dreams the next day. They love music, nature, art, physical beauty. They feel exceptionally strong emotions--sometimes acute bouts of joy, but also sorrow, melancholy, and fear. Highly sensitive people also process information about their environments--both physical and emotional--unusually deeply. They tend to notice subtleties that others miss--another person's shift in mood, say, or a lightbulb burning a touch too brightly.
So stay true to your own nature. If you like to do things in a slow and steady way, don't let others make you feel as if you have to race. If you enjoy depth, don't force yourself to seek breadth. If you prefer single-tasking to multi-tasking, stick to your guns. Being relatively unmoved by rewards gives you the incalculable power to go your own way.
brainstorm's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0