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)

Great book for understanding introverts!

I know I am an introvert. I have always known. And this is one of the first times I felt like I was actually told it was okay to be quiet or want alone time. Not only was I told it was okay, but also that it is normal for introverts. Beyond learning more about myself, this book also covered the history of extroverts and introverts for a cultural prospective which I found absolutely fascinating.

If you are an introvert or have a child or spouse that is an introvert, I would highly recommend this book because it will allow you to understanding why introverts act and react to certain situations.

Great book for extroverts too!

This book was incredibly useful to me as an extroverted manager of introverts. I am already changing several elements of my interactions to help those around me thrive.

In addition to helping me at work this book provides many insightful thoughts on parenting.

I highly recommend this book for extroverts as well as introverts.

excellent read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

most definately

What was one of the most memorable moments of Quiet?

the entire read is captivating making you want to read over and over. Now my friends can really understand me.

Which character – as performed by Kathe Mazur – was your favorite?

emily

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

the minds of introverts

Not the strongest science

This was an informative book, but I didn't feel I could trust the author's judgement on certain aspects of the science. For example, we don't need to imagine 'secret introverts' in order to explain why we personally know fewer introverts than the statistics say exist. We don't know them because they choose to meet fewer people than extroverts do.

Fantastic book with a great narrator!

Where does Quiet rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's the fourth, but it's one of the best!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Quiet?

The narrator's great inflections, which happen throughout the book.

What about Kathe Mazur’s performance did you like?

She has the *perfect* voice for this kind of book!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Shut up"

A very good read.

Insightful and wonderful. Most important, though, I learned a great deal about myself and how I interact with my world. I've got a better understanding of myself and more confidence with my place among others.
I didn't come from a highly supportive environment which, for an introvert like me, is a great liability. What I've learned here, however, validates what I've done-but doubted-over the years. I wish I'd had an open mind to this idea decades ago! This book is a great tool to have handy, and I'm a smarter and wiser person for reading it, often making reference to the many relevant segments to me. I highly recommend this book.

Incredible Book

This is my 1st audiobook and it’s been an extraordinary experience. Susan Cain makes a well-researched and documented declaration that there is nothing wrong with being an introvert. This book is a must read for introverts, ambiverts and extroverts! This title is especially important for parents that suspect their child is introverted.

Everyone NEEDS to read this.

For every human that cares to interact with the world, please read this book. I’m an extrovert with an introverted husband, best friend, coworkers, clients, and possibly future children & this book has made my life richer with more depth of understanding.

Well researched book

What made the experience of listening to Quiet the most enjoyable?

The narrative/writer had a pleasant voice.

Were the concepts of this book easy to follow, or were they too technical?

yes, she used lots of examples and anecdotes.

Any additional comments?

Nice book to validate an introverts experience.

Held my Attention

This book is very informative. I gained a lot of applicable knowledge from it. The information held my attention, and I recommend this book to friends and colleagues.