The Introvert Advantage

How to Thrive in an Extrovert World

By: Marti Olsen Laney PsyD

Narrated by: Tamara Marston

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Some people - a sizeable minority - prefer to avoid the limelight, tend to listen more than they speak, feel alone in large groups, and require lots of private time to restore their energy. Often they feel different, not right, less than. But as Marti Olsen Laney proves, that is far from the truth.

The Introvert Advantage dispels common myths about introverts - they’re not necessarily shy, aloof, or antisocial - and explains how they are hardwired from birth to focus inward, so outside stimulation such as chitchat, phone calls, parties, or office meetings can easily become "too much". Most importantly, it thoroughly refutes many introverts’ belief that something is wrong with them. Instead, it helps them recognize their inner strengths - their analytical skills, ability to think outside the box, and strong powers of concentration. It provides tools to improve relationships with partners, kids, colleagues, and friends, while offering dozens of tips, including eight ways to showcase their abilities at work and strategies for socializing. In short, The Introvert Advantage shows introverts how to take advantage of their special qualities not only to survive in an extrovert-oriented world, but to thrive.

©2002 Marti Olsen Laney (P)2013 HighBridge Company

Could be interesting...but isn't

What did you like best about The Introvert Advantage? What did you like least?

The title, but it didn't really deliver

Would you be willing to try another book from Marti Olsen Laney, PsyD? Why or why not?

Probably not. It Is a little simple

Could you see The Introvert Advantage being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

It's not really that kind of book

Any additional comments?

No

Thank goodness--I understand myself better than years with shrinks

Now I understand myself better than years in therapy--no kidding! This book explained why I always felt odd. Well it could help another 30% of the population.

Interesting ideas good content

Narrator sounds like a robot. The book was well written had great tips to help.

Good overview of what it means to be an introvert

The Introvert Advantage is a good overview of what it means to be an introvert (it isn’t exactly what I would have thought), and what it doesn’t mean. According to the author, the difference between introverts and extroverts has more to do with how you get your mental and spiritual energy than with how social you are. Although how you get your energy seriously affects how social you are likely to be.

If you are energized by quiet activities alone or with one other person at a time, you are likely to be an introvert. If you are energized by interacting with lots of people, going lots of places, and having almost non-stop new experiences, you may be an extrovert. The book also points out that there is a continuum of introversion/extroversion and that people may be anything from extreme introverts to moderately introverted or moderately extroverted to extreme extroverts.

There are more extroverts than introverts, so many introverts feel that there is something wrong with them or that they are somehow inferior or less than. The author points out that this is actually not the case; just because people are different does not mean that they are less valuable.

The book also points out some of the potential problems that may come up when introverts and extroverts have to interact with each other (in families, at work, etc.) and suggests some strategies that can be used to make these interactions work out better.

Good narration.

practical, helpful advice

This was great information to share with my students who struggle with being introverts. I've also found it to be helpful with understanding my family members

I am an Extrovert and I enjoyed It

I found this book gave me a lot of insights into my sons and wife who are all introverts. It helped me to better understand them and how they process situations that I just don’t understand. I also found it described several of my friends. I would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested about learning about Introverts.

okey, thats interesting

its go on a little too much with details, my attention span is not that great while commuting. as a clear introvert it was interesting to get some confirmations and affirmations. intersting about the actual biochemical differneces between introverts and the loud mouth dumb dumbs. worth the money and listen.

Good for what it is

"I may sound like I'm tooting the horn for introverts - because i am!"
Which pretty much encapsulates this book. It's an examination of the emotional and even physiological characteristics of not only the Introverted, but also the extroverted. While she doesnt go full on militant, she's delightfully dorky in her advocacy speeches. It's true though, society is built of both, but favors the Extrovert. It's good to know where you fit in.

I felt like I was being cheered by the local PTA mom, and the narrator only enhances this effect. She sounds exactly like the matronly church lady at the bake sale. Wonderfully dorky

And you know what - it kinda grew on me. I've done my share of tough love, macho books w/ their finger in your chest, telling you to buck up. I get it, there's something to be said for a firm kick in the pants, sometimes. That's not always productive with somebody who is of this personality type. Introverted people can become completely drained of physical energy from social interaction, and no macho-man kick in the pants is going to help that. I am good for about 2-3 hours, then I'm done with people, and talking.

As the PTA Bake Sale Mom is giving kindly advice, there will be a lot for the married with children. There's still a lot of content for the rest of us, but I feel it's more of a female-oriented, married person's book. Furthermore, she seems to not only be discussing introversion, but a fear of people in general. Personally, I'm not especially frightened of people themselves - I just tend to like them better when they arent around. For instance, she goes into working up the courage to..... return an item at the store? So, it's a very nurturing and gentle book - she's trying to coax us out of our shells w/ a lot of pep talk, and while it can be a little eye-rolling at times, or elicit a chuckle, it's a good overall listen.

I can see myself listening again, while exercising. Glad i got it on sale, tho

Feels like I am getting to know about myself

Love this book and get to know a little more about myself
Guidelines are what I am going to follow and it has given my voice back thank you

details are new for me.

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

this book gives me insight and awareness of how introvert gets their energy. And examples of what can bother introvert or consume their energy. Also tips of what we can do and what to care about and to be careful of. It's filled with reasons to support explanation and i love to listen to it. It makes sense to me and it do me good. It makes me know how i should put myself in my social and everyday life. It answers most of the why in my head and gives out reasons that made me understand myself.

ex: i want to sit in mcdonald restaurant be surrounded by ppl and not talking to them but listen to audiobook. When actually i don't really like to sit out, i rather stay home. But i need reason to be in a restaurant/ in a certain atmosphere. Because sometimes i get lonely but i don't need interaction or worry about my companion feelings.

i love how am being able to reason my act. and what i want and what not and why.

as before i discovered this audio book i'd been having much trouble with myself.
just few more example of how not knowing oneself is an introvert can give trouble
in life. I never know that i was pushing myself into a wrong direction in a fast fwd speed.

I am an introverted artist. I kindda know i am introverted but i never looked it up. I did not understand why i feel like crying and storm only because my dad popped in and start talking to me while i was drawing. I didn't now why i feel that he was very very rude. And why i have to get so emotional about such a simple thing. i hate to react and feel that way.

I have to give up drawing and help out my family business where i have to interact with client and people all day. And i got a friend who literally cry in the phone to get my attention and sometimes took photo of herself with tears and email it to me (people around me find me very comforting to rely onto me over emotional stuffs that's too much that it flat me out most of the time)<< now i learn to be more careful and put limit to it.
My dad loves us to be more open and mingling more with people means more successful opportunity in business to him which i don't have a problem with his thought but i find it hard to swallow. i turned to my parents for emotional fuel which they can never fulfill and i get frustrated and feel betrayed. =='' ( sounds silly but honestly i just have no idea what a better way i can do or even what happened to me and how to put a stop to it.)

i was frustrated i didn't know why i only knew working for people i love (my parents)makes me feel like I'm in hell. But i care so much about work that i have to experience all the details because i am quite a perfectionist. That expose me more to people and clients. And it also tore me more at the same time. By the end of the day i feel like i am less of a human. I didn't know why i exist. I cannot reconnect to my art work coz switching modes seems to be too hard to manage ( but after listening to this book i know how i can do it by sitting silently among people in restaurant with that i don't feel lonely and i can cool down feeling sure that i need no more interaction without feeling guilty after that getting reconnect to my own artistic world just turn on itself like a magic).

I lost everything when I didn't know my limit. I didn't know where to watch for the sign or indicator that i am overly stimulated now and my power dropped. I was disappointed with myself and my life.

appreciation is what i got out of this audio.
thank you for such a great audio.

What did you like best about this story?

knowing how i lost my energy and how to refuel it. with tips to do it professionally.

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

it's more of a rest to sit and listen than reading. coz i need to rest my eyes. and i want to relax seeing people walking around in my free time rather than having my whole waking hours looking at text.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

i love the whole thing. it's all so vivid and important and valuable that i want to have them all carefully heard.

Any additional comments?

thank you very much.