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jenhurst's review against another edition
4.0
I’m an extrovert (maybe an ambient if we’re pushing it) so I think it was really interesting to read about the other side of the personality spectrum.
cripplinghappiness's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Having had this book recommended to me numerous times, I finally picked it up during a period when, once again, I found myself feeling like I didn't quite fit into the noisy world around me. Susan Cain's exploration of introversion is a revelation, offering a deep dive into the many facets and nuances of what it means to be an introvert in a predominantly extroverted society.
What I appreciated most about "Quiet" is its balanced approach, offering both personal anecdotes and research findings to validate introverted tendencies. Cain effectively highlights the strengths of introversion, such as deep thinking and creativity, challenging societal norms that favor extroversion.
However, there were instances where the book felt a bit one-sided. For example, Cain's portrayal of quiet discipline in Asian cultures seemed idealized and lacked acknowledgment of its potential drawbacks. A more balanced examination would have provided a fuller understanding of introversion in different cultural contexts.
Overall, "Quiet" is an insightful read that provides valuable perspectives on introversion. While it occasionally leans too heavily in one direction, Cain's book offers hope to introverts, encouraging them to embrace their personality traits even in a world that often values extroversion. It really inspired me on my journey to self-acceptance and I'm sure I will refer back to it many times in the future.
jbabiarz's review against another edition
3.0
As an extrovert, I had a hard time with her POV that introverts are better. But overall, an interesting read. I definitely made me think differently about communicating with certain people I know or work with!
janichkokov's review against another edition
3.0
I tend to be wary of pop psychology books, but Quiet came well recommended by multiple sources. I had the opportunity to do a couple of leadership training workshops over the last couple of years and it kept coming up. I'm glad I read it. I think I feel this way about a lot of pop psychology books; I have an initially suspicious attitude, but I end up thinking about the book a lot after I finish reading it. I think I will feel the same way about this one.
I know that most people understand the basic idea of introverts and extroverts. I tend to be very cautious about categorizing people into one category or the other, and I strongly suspect things like the Myers-Briggs test are more pseudoscience than actual science. However, I like that we have a book that shows a lot of examples of how introverts are undervalued and as somebody that would definitely be classified as an introvert, it's reassuring.
Some of the bits about children kind of make me wonder. For instance, the author gives lots of advice about how parents shouldn't be worried about their introverted children and should look for ways of supporting them. Maybe it's just my background, but I got the idea that parents were probably more thrilled to have introverted children, because those kids tend to be quieter and easier to manage. So I wonder if the author is overstating the patholigization of introverted children in our society.
But overall, I think this book is helpful for people - namely introverts - to draw power from (I'm very curious to see what extroverts think about this book). Maybe people that would describe themselves as introverts will enjoy knowing that they can be very successful and have as powerful of an impact on the world around them as the extroverts do. And also that it is okay to be introverted and learn from the key advice, which is to take time to recharge and look for ways to play to your strengths (especially when on a team of extroverts).
Another thing that I'll be thinking about long after this book is off my shelf is the idea that introverts are more likely to take the time to process things and give meaningful feedback rather than just saying something just to say something. That's something I respect and try to practice. I do think that teaching introverts and people that would consider themselves shy how to express themselves more is valuable. I've thought more and more about looking for opportunities for quiet people to practice being more comfortable speaking and advocating for themselves, especially during an anxiety epidemic. It's incredibly valuable personality and absolutely necessary professionally. It's reassuring to see that other folks agree.
I know that most people understand the basic idea of introverts and extroverts. I tend to be very cautious about categorizing people into one category or the other, and I strongly suspect things like the Myers-Briggs test are more pseudoscience than actual science. However, I like that we have a book that shows a lot of examples of how introverts are undervalued and as somebody that would definitely be classified as an introvert, it's reassuring.
Some of the bits about children kind of make me wonder. For instance, the author gives lots of advice about how parents shouldn't be worried about their introverted children and should look for ways of supporting them. Maybe it's just my background, but I got the idea that parents were probably more thrilled to have introverted children, because those kids tend to be quieter and easier to manage. So I wonder if the author is overstating the patholigization of introverted children in our society.
But overall, I think this book is helpful for people - namely introverts - to draw power from (I'm very curious to see what extroverts think about this book). Maybe people that would describe themselves as introverts will enjoy knowing that they can be very successful and have as powerful of an impact on the world around them as the extroverts do. And also that it is okay to be introverted and learn from the key advice, which is to take time to recharge and look for ways to play to your strengths (especially when on a team of extroverts).
Another thing that I'll be thinking about long after this book is off my shelf is the idea that introverts are more likely to take the time to process things and give meaningful feedback rather than just saying something just to say something. That's something I respect and try to practice. I do think that teaching introverts and people that would consider themselves shy how to express themselves more is valuable. I've thought more and more about looking for opportunities for quiet people to practice being more comfortable speaking and advocating for themselves, especially during an anxiety epidemic. It's incredibly valuable personality and absolutely necessary professionally. It's reassuring to see that other folks agree.
laikaa's review against another edition
5.0
Quiet provided me with a new lens to examine myself and my career.