I'd recommend this book to anyone who is open to a fresh perspective introverts and how they fit (and don't fit) in to modern business culture and the educational system that feeds it. You'll find yourself picturing specific friends and colleagues as you listen, and appreciate them even more.

This book was extremely well-researched and thoroughly documented. Sometimes the author's background as a lawyer lead to overkill with the evidence, and she probably could have cut several chapters and made the same point. But overall it was a very well-argued and well-supported book, and despite the repetitive nature of the points she was making, I listened all the way to the end.

Kathe Mazur's reading was superb.

Quiet inspired me to think differently, about my naturally quiet and introverted friends - and about myself.

I feel like the author is very defensive about being quiet.

I find the book disappointing due to her be so defensive.

Yes, from the very first opening lines it got me. As an introvert I always felt out-of-place, especially at the new corporate world where louder folks seem to move up faster. This gave me an insight and a better understanding of myself... heck, I'm not the only one.

Plus, it relates it to culture and what things introverts tend to be better suited for. The best part is collecting a few tips to help deal with things in a loud office, I'm still trying to implement these.
All in all, it gave me a new confidence knowing there's nothing wrong with me and how I need to shift my habits rather than trying to change everything about it to fit into the extrovert ideal.

Introverts, BE YOURSELF!

The book tackled the concept of introversion from all angles. It celebrated the value of introversion and called attention to a tremendous societal bias that devalues introversion.

The concept that stimulation exhausts us in the wrong amounts based on our level of introversion. This explained a lot for me.

There are serious implications to how we view and interact with various personality types in all areas of our lives. That makes this book a must read for any and everybody.

Great and interesting ideas.

Malcolm Gladwell's Blink

This was one of my favorite performances - her pitch and voice were perfect for the subject.

I can stop feeling weird that I'm uncomfortable at cocktail parties!

What an affirmation! While listening to this book, I was constantly reminded of Al Franken’s Saturday Night Live character, Stuart Smalley, and his mantra, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.” Well, those who understand me do. Full disclosure, according to the Myers-Briggs Personality Test, I’m an ISFJ.

There were so many points of affirmation for me—things I intuitively knew. Things I’ve tried to share with others mostly to no avail. This book supplies all the data I need to support my case. Unfortunately, I don’t think the people who need to read/listen this book (extroverts) will.

The book is not an “introverts are superior” diatribe but rather an explanation of how we can leverage personality types most effectively. There is no right or best personality type but like life in general, we need to understand each other for more harmonious relationships. Whether these relationships are family, work, or social, applications of understanding are documented throughout the book.

There was one example in the book that hit particularly close to home. Although SAT or IQ scores do not support it, people who talk more are perceived as leaders. And, which personality type talks more? Extroverts. Now, assume that both extroverts and introverts have an equal amount of good ideas. Who is going to get their way more? Extroverts. This could be dangerous because they’re going to get their way more meaning that many of their bad ideas are also going to be implemented.

Oh, another thing I intuitively knew but now have support for is brainstorming sessions. Studies show the larger the number of people involved in a session, the less effective they are. A 9-member group is less effective than a 6-member group which is less than effective than a 4-member group which is less effective than a 2-member group. The suggestion is to conduct brainstorming sessions electronically. Collect comments and then share them anonymously and build from there. One of the reasons is that most introverts are better writers than speakers.

Other examples from the business world give tips for how both introverted and extroverted leaders can best work with their subordinates of each type. Take advantage of each of their strengths. Such as how studies show that introverts “inspect” and extroverts “react”. Neither adjective should be taken as derogatory but instead as strengths. Allow introverts time to examine and solve. Studies show they are more persistent trying to solve unsolvable problems. The famous introvert, Albert Einstein said, “It is not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” My hero.

A final word on the narration—fantastic. Please listen to rather than read this book. Kathe Mazur does a perfect narration in a “Quiet”, calm, soothing voice. Very appropriate “in a noisy world that can’t stop talking”.

Among the best

My reaction was a more "quiet" one. It was a realization being introverted is OK and that plenty of successful people were also introverts. I know it doesn't sound like much, but being OK with being you is very powerful.

I identified amazingly with the findings in this book, especially with the insights of how introverts and extroverts interact with each other in the workplace. I think the author might have gone into a bit more depth in how companies could improve "diversity" in the workforce by seeking better balance between these two characteristics in addition to the traditional parameters of sex, race, ethnicity, etc. The large corporations I've worked for have always prefered style over substance for higher level leadership, so I thought that paralleling personalities with these two characteristics was very good. I sent a copy to my daughter, who is an introverted high school principal, for reference in dealing with her quiet, artistic, and intellectual types.

The narrator's voice was excellent. The stories contained in the book really drew me in and I am looking at some of the things in my life in a different way. I highly recommend it for people interested in cultural diversity, introverts and extroverts.

This book connected with me and I am guessing with many on this site. All those that would be just as happy staying home and reading a good book as attending a great party. In a world that favors the extrovert it was refreshing to outline the strengths of the introvert. Good research, well written, nicely read and recommended to all those that might feel inclined to apologize for being introverted or for having a spouse, child or coworker that falls in that category.