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Have you read Susan Cain's "Quiet"? (All types welcome)

[INFJ] 
1K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  StElmosDream 
#1 ·
The full title is Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Won't Stop Talking.

I'm about halfway through right now, and I wanted to know what other introverts (or anyone, really) thought of it.
Did you agree with what she had to say?
Did you disagree?
Were there parts you liked, and parts you didn't?

(I might say my opinion later on, if there's actual conversation about this. ;P)
 
#2 ·
Yes I've read parts of it. The most intriguing part is the beginning is when she talks about the evolution of our extroverted ideal in society based on personality, and how this contrasted with the older ideal surrounding character(ie honor, discipline and seriousness) which was more compatible with introverts.

Also the implications the extrovert ideal has on religion also intrigued me too, cause I have noticed a certain bias in that realm too. Here's a commentary(based in part on Cain's book) on the issue: Tyranny of the Extroverts, In Church and Out | Crisis Magazine

A few thoughts I can remember reading the book.
 
#7 ·
Yeah I read part of it this in late 2012 and then really got interested and read the whole thing in summer of 2013.I agree with peguy as that historical past and development of the outgoing businessman was the most interesting part. What our society values has changed and it has become who can sell themselves based on talking and "confidence" versus actual well thought out strategies. I enjoyed the studies she mentioned in there that looked at the ability for a confident person to persuade an entire group of people to answer a simple math problem incorrectly, just by talking, even though many of the people knew the person was wrong. It shows how we we can easily be manipulated by the extroverted personality.

There was also a part that resonated a lot with me. My culture was mentioned several times in that book and it all was true. The Chinese culture respects and favors the quiet and respectful individuals, not the boisterous and "loud" ones. I was always praised for being quiet, mellow and thoughtful where as other family members were told they were bad just because they voiced opinions. This book helped me grow a bit in terms of personal growth through communications. I have actively been working on beig more vocal and voicing my opinions and it has done wonders in this western society. I tried to get my dad to read this book but he has no interest.
 
#8 ·
I read it and didn't like it. As I recall she spent way too much time talking about the biological / other reasons for introverts to be introverts and by the time I'd started reading it I was already familiar with the concept of introversion. I found Laurie Helgoe's Introvert Power, and Martin Olsen Laney's Introvert Advantage to be better books - easier to read, better structured, and more helpful (addressing the hows and what to do's rather than the whys).
 
#10 ·
I found it more telling that the author valued HSP traits yet disliked them when spending too much time at a HSP specific event (I would have been glad for the peace and meeting Elaine Aron).
 
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