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Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

In a society oriented to the extrovert ideal, Susan Cain’s "Quiet" is not only an eye opener, but a brilliant case for just how dramatically we undervalue introverts.

Given that one third to a half of the population are introverts, Cain’s book should be required reading for every teacher, parent, boss, spouse, partner… actually, it’s hard to think who wouldn’t benefit from reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.

Cain is a gifted and beautiful writer. She deftly wraps a scientific finding in a good story. And many of the findings she reports are surprises. She starts with a compelling history lesson of how we came to be an extrovert-oriented culture and then methodically shows us how this plays out from the workplace, to our intimate relationships, to our schools.

Cain relates how the internet allowed a large group of introverted engineers to collaborate and develop Linux, the open-source operating system. This innovation was a game changer, and many sought to extract lessons from the project. A primary lesson many corporations took away was to reshape their workplaces and reduce barriers to collaboration. This meant open workspaces, the elimination of offices, and structuring the work environment into teams. The problem, according to Cain, is that the research doesn’t support that this type of work environment is actually effective. In fact, this “forced collaboration” often produces lesser quality creative work.

Her chapter, “How to cultivate quiet kids in a world that can’t hear them,” lays out that the “purpose of school should be to prepare kids for the rest of their lives, but too often what kids need to be prepared for is surviving the school day itself.” Without meaning to do so, our schools are geared to extroverted kids and our advice to introverted kids is too often that they need to become “more social and gregarious.”

Cain points out the flaws in many of our assumptions, ranging from what is needed to be a strong leader, to how that person you think of as an extrovert is actually a “socially poised introvert.” She dispenses advice to introverts on how to negotiate relationships with extroverts, and explains to extroverts what makes introverts tick.

But what bubbles up throughout the entire book is a salute to the strengths and gifts of the introverted. For the introverted, the book is a celebration that society cannot do without them. For extroverts, it is a delightful explanation on how to understand the other half of the population that can be standing in the same room as you, but see, understand, and feel what’s in front of them in an entirely different way.

Every once in a while you read a book that you know is going to be around for a long time. Quiet is one of those books.

To see Susan Cain "make her case for the quiet and contemplative," watch her Ted Talk here.

Ted Talk