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

Susan Cain

Start date: June 1, 2021

Finish date: July 31, 2021

Discussion: ▶️ Book of The Month (BoTM)

Discussion leader: Trisha

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▶️ Book of The Month (BoTM)

* October 25 - Surrounded by Idiots
By Trisha , Founder · 1 post · 4 views

last updated Oct 01, 2025 05:32AM

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Aug 20, 2015 Sumit Singla rated it liked it

Shelves: business

The world can't stop talking, right? In fact, reports say that over 90% of the world's information has been created in the last two years. (Remember - information, NOT knowledge)

The author uses examples of lots of introverts to prove her point. And she does have a valid point, of course. However, at times, I think her approach is a little too simplistic and suffers from a bit of bias. Just because one is an introvert, it doesn't mean one is going to be a Vincent van Gogh.

I think one needs an un ...more

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Nov 29, 2024 John rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: psych-science-thought

I really did enjoy this book. Although it got a tad repetitive in the middle, the very end is on understanding our own children, and that brought it back up to a "Five" for me.

For those who know me, they may be surprised to learn that I'm a closet introvert. During Covid, I was pretty content being stuck in the house with just my family. I love my solitary time either reading, or just scrolling on my phone. That said, I do enjoy people and actually thrive on busy environments.

The author is an i I really did enjoy this book. Although it got a tad repetitive in the middle, the very end is on understanding our own children, and that brought it back up to a "Five" for me.

For those who know me, they may be surprised to learn that I'm a closet introvert. During Covid, I was pretty content being stuck in the house with just my family. I love my solitary time either reading, or just scrolling on my phone. That said, I do enjoy people and actually thrive on busy environments.

The author is an introvert...a big one. But, she shows so much empirical science in her writing that shows we all experience things differently due to the different types of social styles we all have. She also gives cause and reason for all introverts to help understand themselves (and also extroverts) better and helps introverts celebrate themselves.

I frankly think this is an important book. There really isn't much out there that compares to it. Most books in the psych/self-help/management/leadership genre focus on a "extroverts are normal and better and introverts need to come out of their shell". Cain shows this is not true and/or necessary.

For introverts reading this book, it is really about your strengths, and your weaknesses. It is a book about realizing that although you may not the American ideal model for success, you can still be uber successful given the right circumstances and the ability to relate with your more gregarious counterparts and colleagues.

Introverts are the over-analyzers, but they are usually the better creative thinkers and critics. So, for all the managers and bosses out there, be sure you are focusing on the work, and not trying to replicate your team to reflect your own image of success (usually due to your own insecurities). Have an open mind and work with the framework of BOTH types of mindsets, you may be blown away by the results.

One of the best lines in the book is “There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” Being the guy who dominates with size, speed of speech, and always talking, I realize when it comes to ideas, this may be why I'm quiet at those times....basically, I haven't had time to process yet. I used to fear I wasn't smart enough (or quick enough). As I've aged, I know for certain that first doesn't mean best or right.

Perhaps the most important aspect is that we all judge. We then judge with the bias of our own make up and how we would handle a situation. Make NO mistake, introverts can do all the same things extroverts can do, just a little bit differently.

One nice and refreshing theme is that Susan Cain doesn't say that introverts are better people, or that the way extroverts do things is wrong. I think the purpose of this book is not to crease excuses or scapegoats, it is to engender a better understanding among us of the different approaches we operate in and that if you are dealing with someone of the opposite make-up, have patience and trust that they will come up with ideas, handle things, accomplish things, etc., just in a different manner.

So, again I think this is an important book that could be of massive use if we all had a better understanding of the opposite social style. It's okay to be different. ...more

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