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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
reflective
slow-paced
I am an introvert-- one that, as described in this book, self-compared to more gregarious friends throughout public school life and never understood the feelings of overwhelming I experienced at parties. It wasn't until college that I began to value my own introspective attributes and feel that it was "okay" that I didn't collect people like pennies into a huge social circle.
It was also the comment of a professor on study abroad experience. He wrote to me how he was impressed with my style of leadership. That I sat back and listened and didn't speak up unless i thought it was really important or needed to move things back on track. That I "let others speak". It was a flashbulb moment for me. I wasn't "letting" others speak, i truly had nothing to say until I felt strongly about something...and then I had to speak. I had never thought of that as 'leadership' before.
and that is what this book does for Introverts-- shows the very qualities USAian society doesn't value as ones that are valuable at the same times as encouraging introverts to be successful in their lives via short term compromises, challenges, and carving out resting niches in high pressure situations.
But mostly its Cain's alternating use of studies with single-person anecdotes illustrating her points about what introverts are and how they interact in USAian society in schools and businesses. While nothing here was super surprising, the book is valuable in its drawing together the attributes, delineating them, and offering practial suggestions:
"If it's creativity you're after, ask your employees to solve problems alone before sharing ideas" and "Don't mistake assertiveness or eloquence for good ideas" and "make a deal with yourself that you'll attend a set number of social events in exchange for not feeling guilty when you beg off."
And as an introvert married to an introvert with introvert children, I wish I had read this when my daughters where in early stages of school and I was worried about the number of friends they had. Sigh. (Projection is awful.)
So worth reading for folks, even like me, who think they know what it means to be an introvert and have embraced those parts of themselves.
It was also the comment of a professor on study abroad experience. He wrote to me how he was impressed with my style of leadership. That I sat back and listened and didn't speak up unless i thought it was really important or needed to move things back on track. That I "let others speak". It was a flashbulb moment for me. I wasn't "letting" others speak, i truly had nothing to say until I felt strongly about something...and then I had to speak. I had never thought of that as 'leadership' before.
and that is what this book does for Introverts-- shows the very qualities USAian society doesn't value as ones that are valuable at the same times as encouraging introverts to be successful in their lives via short term compromises, challenges, and carving out resting niches in high pressure situations.
But mostly its Cain's alternating use of studies with single-person anecdotes illustrating her points about what introverts are and how they interact in USAian society in schools and businesses. While nothing here was super surprising, the book is valuable in its drawing together the attributes, delineating them, and offering practial suggestions:
"If it's creativity you're after, ask your employees to solve problems alone before sharing ideas" and "Don't mistake assertiveness or eloquence for good ideas" and "make a deal with yourself that you'll attend a set number of social events in exchange for not feeling guilty when you beg off."
And as an introvert married to an introvert with introvert children, I wish I had read this when my daughters where in early stages of school and I was worried about the number of friends they had. Sigh. (Projection is awful.)
So worth reading for folks, even like me, who think they know what it means to be an introvert and have embraced those parts of themselves.
Amazing! Totally changed my inner dialogue about being an introvert!
informative
This book was beyond fantastic. The information contained within has the potential to be life-altering for introverts who have always felt they didn't quite fit in but didn't understand why.
The history of the shift from a character-driven society to a personality-driven society was one of my favorite parts. It set a very important stage for what was to come, and helps explain so much about culture and politics today. While the science behind introversion was also interesting, if there's a low point to the book, section 3 would be it.
Just while reading this I have had several opportunities to bring up information I learned from it in conversations about other things. My favorite aspect was the helpful advice about how to handle situations once you understand your introversion. I now recognize what it is about certain social gatherings that make me so nervous, not just the general knowledge that social interaction makes me nervous.
Whether you are an introvert or simply know an introvert, I would recommend this book for everyone. It's a fast-read, which I say as someone who typically sticks only to fiction. I'm glad I strayed out, as this is one I cannot recommend highly enough.
The history of the shift from a character-driven society to a personality-driven society was one of my favorite parts. It set a very important stage for what was to come, and helps explain so much about culture and politics today. While the science behind introversion was also interesting, if there's a low point to the book, section 3 would be it.
Just while reading this I have had several opportunities to bring up information I learned from it in conversations about other things. My favorite aspect was the helpful advice about how to handle situations once you understand your introversion. I now recognize what it is about certain social gatherings that make me so nervous, not just the general knowledge that social interaction makes me nervous.
Whether you are an introvert or simply know an introvert, I would recommend this book for everyone. It's a fast-read, which I say as someone who typically sticks only to fiction. I'm glad I strayed out, as this is one I cannot recommend highly enough.
I have never related to a book so deeply. I need to add a hard copy of this book to my library because I know I will keep wanting to reference it forever!
This is a really great book! Highly recommend for introverts, parents of introverts, teachers and leaders.
Refreshing read! It made me realize I don't need to feel guilty about my need for quiet. I was reminded of when our family moved to the city. We had lived on an acreage. When we moved to the city kids would call after school and invite me to play. I clearly remember hiding to avoid the invitations. I just wanted some time to myself.
I also found myself having to hide, sometimes, to enjoy some of the things I truly enjoy, like reading. I remember well being at family reunions and having people grab my book away and say, "What are you doing?!" Clearly reading wasn't socially acceptable in that situation. So, instead, I would find ways to steal away and read now and then without people noticing. I still do it as an adult, actually. I also have groups that I tend to find myself avoiding just because the extrovertness (is that a word?) is so overwhelming for me.
I really liked how the author addressed the need for situational extroversion and the need to plan for time to re-energize if all that extroversion doesn't come naturally to you. You don't have to be a banker or a statistician if you're an introvert. Nor do you have to avoid jobs where you interact with people a lot if you tend towards being introverted.
She also talked about how to parent or work with kids who are introverts, and how to help them learn to live happily amongst extroverts. Also, extroverts could do well to learn some quiet skills from introverts.
All in all, a great book!
I also found myself having to hide, sometimes, to enjoy some of the things I truly enjoy, like reading. I remember well being at family reunions and having people grab my book away and say, "What are you doing?!" Clearly reading wasn't socially acceptable in that situation. So, instead, I would find ways to steal away and read now and then without people noticing. I still do it as an adult, actually. I also have groups that I tend to find myself avoiding just because the extrovertness (is that a word?) is so overwhelming for me.
I really liked how the author addressed the need for situational extroversion and the need to plan for time to re-energize if all that extroversion doesn't come naturally to you. You don't have to be a banker or a statistician if you're an introvert. Nor do you have to avoid jobs where you interact with people a lot if you tend towards being introverted.
She also talked about how to parent or work with kids who are introverts, and how to help them learn to live happily amongst extroverts. Also, extroverts could do well to learn some quiet skills from introverts.
All in all, a great book!