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)

Very good listen

Would you listen to Quiet again? Why?

Ms. Cain is so insightful. The reader (not sure if it's the author) is one of the best I've heard.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

This is a fantastic, incredibly well-written collection of the science behind introversion.

Unapologetic

After reading this book, my self-esteem went up a couple of notches. What I mean by that is that I now feel that it's OK to be the way I am; to like seclusion, to dislike lunchroom birthday celebrations at work, to hate open offices, to love rainy days being tucked inside my house with my cat. I now understand why I hated recess time and grouping up with classmates when I was in middle school. I also feel less guilt in my relationship (hence the title of this review) because I also dislike going to all of his family cookouts and dinners. It's also difficult sleeping in the same bed with my boyfriend. We can watch tv, talk, and everything else, but at the very end of my day, I need my alone time and I need to sleep alone. I then feel recharged to face another day of an open office filled with people "mostly younger than myself" who like to be seen and heard. LOL! I thank God for this read!!! I plan to order the hard copy so that I can highlight and place on my bookshelf for references (for me and my boyfriend). :-D

I'm an introvert

First time author. For any of us that have felt that we might be introverts and that was a bad thing, this book is for you. It makes us understand that being an introvert isn't necessarily bad, maybe even a good thing. I scored higher on the introvert scale than I thought I might before taking it. The book helps put the introvert/extrovert issue into perspective.

Enlightening Surpassing of Expectations

Choosing all five stars on all categories is not something that I'm usually quick to do, because, when I see this on others' reviews, there's a little voice in the back of my head that goes "yeah right". At first glance, I expected this book to be more of the same "just stay positive and accept yourself" stuff of inspirational books. Even though I had these expectations, a thorough look at the reviews was enough to cause me to give this book a shot.

Every positive review that I've read on this book is absolutely spot-on. The narration of the book is very pleasing to the ears while--at the same time--not one bit in danger of putting one to sleep. This book caused me to realize that there is *much* more to introversion that can be casually assessed without some thorough reflection and research. The concepts are backed up by solid lab studies and tests. While most books that I read in the area of self-development help me to determine more about others (and how to deal with them) than about myself, this book caused me to gain more insight into *my own* life than that of others.

I am lucky enough to live within walking distance from my office, and usually listen to books while walking there. This book had me wandering outside of my office building, not wanting to go inside because it would deprive me of more listening time. You can truly tell that the author has put her life's work into the making of this material.

Whether you're an introvert, or a friend or family member of an introvert, there is no way that I could possibly convey how much insight this will give you into an introvert's mind. The concepts laid out inside *will* open your eyes and go FAR beyond the simplistic alone; I almost guarantee that there are ideas that you've not considered about introversion in the content of this masterpiece that will change the way you go about your life.

The most powerful thing that I brought out of the wonderful experience of listening to this book is the reversal of the incorrect assumptions that introversion is something to be fixed and of which to be ashamed. I never would have imagined that there are strengths to introversion that have no substitute in the extroverted personality and are strengths to be cherished and *honed*, not *fixed*.

If you're reading the reviews of this book, wondering whether or not to give it a listen, I think you know my vote, but, just in case, I will tell you to GET THIS BOOK. After listening to it, I would gladly pay ten times the price for this book because it's enlightened me--and changed my life--more than ten other self-development books combined.

CEOs should read this

Any additional comments?

...Or any manager, for that matter. This book offers strong, research-based strategies for enabling introverted employees -- who are often the creative heart of a company-- to work to their full potential. Perhaps the stronger message for managers would be: if you force introverts to work like extroverts, e.g. ordering them to "brainstorm," or work in teams, or work in loud, busy places with no privacy, you will reap less benefit from their hard work. Cain demonstrates that both introverts and extroverts have important roles to play in business, families, and society. We all benefit if we just let ourselves be who we are.

In regards to the narrator, Mazur has a soothing voice that befits the subject matter of a book called "Quiet."

A Must-Read for all Managers

Would you listen to Quiet again? Why?

I almost never read a book more than once, but I can see myself listening to at least the first half of this one again. The reason is simple. I learned a lot about myself throughout the first half of the book. Now that I have that knowledge, I might want to go back and revisit the information again so that I can look at it with a new mind.

What other book might you compare Quiet to and why?

Interestingly, I thought a lot about the book "How We Decide" as I was listening to "Quiet". They are not that similar, but both discuss how we think and use our own mechanisms to solve problems and live our lives fully. I had great "aha" moments during both books.

What does Kathe Mazur bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

I saw the TED talk by the author of the book before I listened to it. The narrator for "Quite" reminds me of the author, so I felt as though I were really hearing the words directly from the author. She spoke with the same style and passion I heard from the author in the TED talk. That actually surprised and delighted me.

If you could give Quiet a new subtitle, what would it be?

Honestly, the subtitle is one of the things that puts me off about the book, so I'm glad I already knew I wanted to read it before seeing the title. I think "The Power of Introverts" would be sufficient and accurate. I know how important it was for the author to impress upon extroverts that they impede progress, but the shortened subtitle would catch the fee of more readers. And it would be memorable. Right now I just think about "Quiet" and try to forget the subtitle that I can't remember anyway.

Any additional comments?

This is a must-read for managers who want to really help their teams flourish. I am a long-time manager, and I'm actually an ambivert, but some of my extroverted tendencies can squash the creative thinking of introverts. That became so clear to me in this book, and to be honest, it shocked me. I was not prepared for that. I consider myself to be a pretty open manager, but I was blind to how some of my actions could have the completely opposite affect on true introverts. All I can say is, "Wow, you just have to read it and think about it. You owe it to yourself and everyone you have any kind of relationship with."

Eye-opening and relieving

It was refreshing to find so much relevant and well thought out information about introverts and introversion organized in one place. The progression of the book seems perfect to me.

I have always known I am introverted and some of what comes with that, but I have believed that it was necessary for me to overcome my introversion, as though it were a handicap. That always left a strong tension in between who I believed I was and who I thought I was supposed to be. Even while listening to this book, I began changing my perception of myself and altering my habits, and the difference has been notable.

I recommend this book, not just to people who are shy or have social difficulties, but even to people who, like me, find that being bold and assertive, social and outgoing, takes a heavy toll. There are ways to be powerful and effective without forcing yourself to be what others expect of you.

Listened and learned

If you could sum up Quiet in three words, what would they be?

Revealing and insightful

Who was your favorite character and why?

As a non-fiction work, characters are not the focus of the book, but Ms.Cain did a deft job of weaving together pieces of research with everyday observations.

What about Kathe Mazur’s performance did you like?

Her performance as smooth... with a voice well matched the the subject matter.

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

There's a distinct difference between being quiet and shy.

Formative Book

I've never been very talkative, and this book helped me figure out why. I'm certain an extrovert will probably be bored out of their skull by this, as the narrator's voice is calm and soothing and the topic is meticulously researched and presented in a slow format that's easy to absorb. But introverts will likely love it for those very reasons.

Quiet was helpful in discerning not just why I tend to be less talkative than my peers, but also in how to circumvent and overcome the challenges Introverts face in a world that can't seem to shut its mouth for more than ten seconds.

Well-organized, thorough research, possibly trendy

Would you listen to Quiet again? Why?

I would listen to the parts I bookmarked a second time- probably 4 of the 10 hours - because there were some very deep insights from broad research areas.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The historical and psychological references were very illustrative. The organization was easy to follow and connected each chapter/part nicely.

Any additional comments?

A number of times, Kathe Mazur's inflection did not indicate a chapter or paragraph is ending, so there were times when I was "left hanging". Otherwise it was captivating and soothing to hear.