Quiet

get fabulously wealthy or hold the promise of doing so.

Introversion along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology. Introverts living under the Extrovert Ideal are like women in a man s world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are. Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we ve turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform.

The Extrovert Ideal has been documented in many studies, though this research has never been grouped under a single name. Talkative people, for example, are rated as smarter, better-looking, more interesting, and more desirable as friends. Velocity of speech counts as well as volume: we rank fast talkers as more competent and likable than slow ones. The same dynamics apply in groups, where research shows that the voluble are considered smarter than the reticent even though there s zero correlation between the gift of gab and good ideas. Even the word introvert is stigmatized one informal study, by psychologist Laurie Helgoe, found that introverts described their own physical appearance in vivid language ( green-blue eyes, exotic, high cheekbones ), but when asked to describe generic introverts they drew a bland and distasteful picture ( ungainly, neutral colors, skin problems ).

But we make a grave mistake to embrace the Extrovert Ideal so unthinkingly. Some of our greatest ideas, art, and inventions from the theory of evolution to van Gogh s sunflowers to the personal computer came from quiet and cerebral people who knew how to tune in to their inner worlds and the treasures to be found the

highly sensitive people who are also introverts. Elaine Aron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person

Quiet legitimizes and even celebrates the niche that represents half the people in the world. Guy Kawasaki, author of Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions

Susan Cain is the definer of a new and valuable paradigm. In this moving and original argument, she makes the case that we are losing immense reserves of talent and vision because of our culture s overvaluation of extroversion. A startling, important, and readable page-turner that will make quiet people see themselves in a whole new light. Naomi Wolf, author of The Beauty Myth

Quiet elevates the conversation about introverts in our outwardly-oriented society to new heights. I think that many introverts will discover that, even though they didn t know it, they have been waiting for this book all their lives. Adam S. McHugh, author of Introverts in the Church

Gentle is powerful . . . Solitude is socially productive . . . These important counter-intuitive ideas are among the many reasons to take Quiet to a quiet corner and absorb its brilliant, thought-provoking message. Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School professor, author of Think Outside the Building
 
Memo to all you glad-handing, back-slapping, brainstorming masters of the universe out there: Stop networking and talking for a minute and read this book. In Quiet, Susan Cain does an eloquent and powerful job of extolling the virtues of the listeners and the thinkers the reflective introverts of the world who appreciate that hard problems demand careful thought and who understand that it s a good idea to know what you want to say before you open your mouth. Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice
 
An intriguing and potentially life-altering examination of the human psyche that is sure to benefit both introverts and extroverts alike. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Cain gives excellent portraits of a number of introverts and shatters misconceptions. Cain consistently holds the reader s interest by presenting individual profiles, looking at places dominated by extroverts (Harvard Business School) and introverts (a West Coast retreat center), and reporting on the latest studies. Her diligence, research, and passion for this important topic has richly paid off. Publishers Weekly

This book is a pleasure to read and will make introverts and extroverts alike think twice about the best ways to be themselves and interact with differing personality types. Library Journal

An intelligent and often surprising look at what makes us who we are. Booklist