Quiet

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

By: Susan Cain

Narrated by: Kathe Mazur

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Experience the book that started the Quiet Movement and revolutionized how the world sees introverts—and how introverts see themselves—by offering validation, inclusion, and inspiration

“Superbly researched, deeply insightful, and a fascinating read, Quiet is an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to understand the gifts of the introverted half of the population.”—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—People, O: The Oprah Magazine, Christian Science Monitor, Inc., Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introverts—Rosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak—that we owe many of the great contributions to society.

In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also 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. Passionately argued, impeccably researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves.

©2012 Susan Cain (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

2013, Carnegie Medal, Long-listed

2012, Goodreads.com Readers Choice Award for Best Debut Author and Best Nonfiction Book of the Year, Winner

“As an introvert often called upon to behave like an extrovert, I found the information in this book revealing and helpful. Drawing on neuroscientific research and many case reports, Susan Cain explains the advantages and potentials of introversion and of being quiet in a noisy world.” (Andrew Weil, author of Healthy Aging and Spontaneous Happiness)

“Susan Cain has done a superb job of sifting through decades of complex research on introversion, extroversion, and sensitivity—this book will be a boon for the many highly sensitive people who are also introverts.” (Elaine Aron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person)

Life Changing

What did you love best about Quiet?

I bought this book to better understand how I could support our exceedingly introverted son. What surprised me is how much I learned about myself, as well. I learned why I am always so utterly pole-axed after even a brief lunch with friends--and how to better manage my energy. And I got wonderful insights into my son's "quiet" and also learned, as hped, how to support him. After reading this book, I feel like being an introert is very much like having a hidden super power.

I have bought ten copies of this book to hand out to friends and family--and every single person has been amazed at what a fabulous book this is.

If you have a relationship with someone who is on the quiet side, this book will explain to you what is going on in that quiet person's head and heart.

If you are a quiet person yourself, you will find this book to be empowering. The stuidies cited will make you feel wise, will make you grateful to be the introverted soul that you are. You will feel really good aout yourself and want to read it over and over again.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

With all the interviews with successful introverts, those who have managed to come out of their shells somewhat, yet still retain their core quiet nature, I felt for the first time in my life that I was not alone. And that the quiet me, who is truly content to be alone for days on end, who would rather read than go to a party, who gets exhausted when pushed into the madding crowd--all that is okay. In fact, those introverted qualities are to be cherished and nurtured.

The book also helped me gain some insight into my son's inner world. He is far more introverted than me, bordering on social anziety. QUIET offered sound advice on hleping him find some balance and encouraging him to push himself in a healthy, nurturing way.

Any additional comments?

I wish every teacher, every CEO in the world had to read this book. It would open their eyes to the value and wisdom of the quieter people in the world.

If you are involved with a QUIET person, or are a parent to a quiet person, this book will really help you understand why your true love/son/daughter/ parent/friend is the way he/she is--and by the end of the book, you will look at that person with an entirely new, and appreciative eye. You will wish you were QUIET, too.

Shhhh ... listen to what you are feeling

This is a really excellent exploration of the quiet nature of people. It goes beyond simple categories of introverted or extroverted and discusses why people have these traits. Best of all there are a number of suggestions on how to get the most out of both your quiet and your boisterous self.

Fine book, but I have two problems with it!

The book is original and has a lot of fresh ideas, only two comments:
- Calling introverts repeatedly "open" , "more reactive", "sensitive", "reflective" , " more consciousness", ... is for me more biased than analytical.
- While casually stating that there are no pure introverts/extroverts and we are all a little bit of both, the stories imply otherwise. There are always two poles to contrast MLK Jr. vs Rosa Parks, Eleanor vs Franklin D. Roosevelt etc. It got me lost trying to find out to which side I belong :)

I'm an introvert

and I'd commit hari kari if it meant I had to sound as bland as the narrator of Quiet. Maybe I simply don't care for female narrators; I seldom like female radio personalities. I found the subject matter fascinating - well written and well researched, but I just could not listen for more than an hour at a time. The narrator's voice absolutely grated on my ears and I'd find myself trying to figure out why I disliked her voice and intonations but not hearing the book's contents! (I cannot multi-task.)
This is a book I would buy in book format if I were to do it again.

Thought provoking.

Any additional comments?

This was the exact kind of book I would rather listen to than read. I would have had a hard time getting through the middle of the book if I was reading it because the

A manual for extroverts!

Great insights, well delivered…This book is a well composed manual for understanding behavior and relationships for both introverts and extroverts. Long overdue.

A must read for all introverts and extroverts.

Any additional comments?

Great book. If you or someone you know/love is an introvert please read this book. It offers a lot of insights on the psychology and biology of being introverted.

Very Relatable

this book has helped understand myself more and others like me. It has given me a new perspective that being an introvert isn't bad its just different, while pushing myself to do something different as well.

Great for Teachers!

This book was a great insight into my shy and reserved students! I now have some general understanding, and actual tools to deploy in the classroom.

Explains a lot for myself

Would you listen to Quiet again? Why?

I'm still listening to it but so far I am very pleased with it. If it continues this way I would definitely listen to it again.

What other book might you compare Quiet to and why?

"Compare" it to? I don't really have an idea. However I just listened to the Power of Habit and feel Quiet is equally interesting and thought-provoking.

What does Kathe Mazur bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She reads it like she was "just talking". I feel like I'm having a conversation with the author on the topic. She brings the words to life.