Quiet (2012) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 5 stars

“Excellent Book. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to better understand themselves in our western society; or their colleagues, spouse, friends. An engaging read that effectively summarizes a fair amount of research. Written in a respectful, if pointed manner. This is not a "self help" book. It is simply a book about all of us.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Started out good, but later became more academic and a little dry. A lot of nuggets of truth for introverts and of course, validation, but not quite as fun as I thought it might be. Maybe it will lead to an introvert revolution, though. :)”

• Rated 5 stars

“ Do you feel uncomfortable in large groups, preferring intimate one-on-one discussions? Would you rather be home with a good book on Friday night while others are out at clubs? If so, there’s a good chance you’re an introvert. The bad news: this world has become increasingly extroverted, especially in the west. The good news: there are more introverts out there than you may think. You are not alone, although you may feel like it sometimes. In “Quiet,” Susan Cain presents what it’s like for introverts to live in a world dominated by an extrovert culture. She focuses on research that has been done to test levels of introversion/extroversion, the differences in how these groups think and interact, and the best ways to overcome these traits that seem to hold us back (when the need arises). Overall, she encourages the world to embrace its introverted citizens, often asking how the world (schools/work places/economy) would be different if both extroversion and introversion were embraced equally.

I’ve known for years that I am an introvert. I’ve come to embrace it as an adult. I don’t like public speaking, I don’t like the spotlight, I tend to blend into the crowd (very happily), and I enjoy solitude and doing things on my own such as reading and studying things that interest me. I’ve learned to love my “Geek”-side. So, this book confirmed some things for me that I already knew, but there were things about myself that I actually learned from this book. Why did I feel so uncomfortable in that situation? Why couldn’t I express my thoughts better during that conversation? This book opened my eyes to a lot of the “whys” behind my behaviors that I’ve just learned to accept and embrace. It’s also very comforting to know that there are so many others out there who feel the same way, even if they’ve become good at hiding it.

“Quiet” is very well researched. Cain definitely did her homework for this one. I’m considering giving this to my friends, co-workers, and family who don’t always “get” me. Maybe it will help them understand.”

• Rated 5 stars

“If there's anything you should take away from this book (no matter what your 'personality' trait is) is to be yourself. There's no ideal introvert or extrovert. Susan argues that, "There are Introverts who may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas." Her main point was to show you that you don't have to be 'extroverted' because of what society values, but rather embrace your inner solitude being alone. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“The best non-fiction I have read this year. It totally explains myself and my family to me. She thoroughly reviews research on introverts and extroverts in an organized and engaging way. I was constantly stopping anyone in hearing diistance to read them passages, and all of my close friends have heard the study about noise levels and performance. At the end of the book she talks about spceific things you can do to support the introvert members of your household. I heard about this on NPR and a few of my smartest friends are reading it.”

• Rated 5 stars

“I loved this book.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Wow! What an interesting and inciteful book. Haven't quite finished it but have enjoyed what I've read.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Made me feel as if I found myself - well, I knew most of this before reading the book, but I have definitely been validated. So have some of what I realized about my quieter students when I was still teaching.”

• Rated 3 stars

“An essay turned into a book. Introverts already know this stuff and extroverts don't care.”

• Rated 5 stars

“An excellent book for anyone who is "Quiet". I feel validated after reading this book. Even helps parents understand their quiet children. ”