Book of the Month–January 2014
Quiet: the Hidden Power of Introverts in a World that Won’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Taking the reader on a journey from Dale Carnegie’s birthplace to Harvard Business School, from a Tony Robbins seminar to an evangelical megachurch, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects.
She talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools. She questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation, and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. And she draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal the surprising differences between extroverts and introverts.
Perhaps most inspiring, she introduces us to successful introverts–from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Finally, she offers invaluable advice on everything from how to better negotiate differences in introvert-extrovert relationships to how to empower an introverted child to when it makes sense to be a “pretend extrovert.”
This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves.
Publisher Description
Also available as:
• Audiobook
• eAudiobook
• eBook
• Large Print
• Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)
Book Reviews
New York Times
The Telegraph
The Washington Times
About the Author
Susan Cain was born in 1968. She graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English before attending Harvard University Law School. Cain, who describes herself as an introvert, says that law school was a “trial”. She practiced corporate law for 7 years before becoming a writer. While working as a lawyer she observed that an introverted personality could be beneficial in the profession and began to question the preference for extroverts she saw in the world at large.
She describes herself as a quiet person who prefers reading and writing to socializing. Cain lives in New York State with her husband and two children.
View The Power of Introverts–Susan Cain’s TED Talk
Read Alikes
If you liked Quiet: the Hidden Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, you may also enjoy:
Non-Fiction:
Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other by Sherry Turkle
The Introvert’s Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World by Sophia Dembling
Multiplicity: the New Science of You by Rita Carter
Listen to an excerpt from the audiobook:
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