Western culture seems to favor introverts. They are the ones that get the leadership positions, make a lot of money, and become famous. In this book, Cain tries to explain what it means to be an introvert, how introversion is different than being shy, and that introversion is not a disability. Introverts have the valuable traits of being thoughtful, deliberate and careful. They are often less ambitious than extroverts and are less likely to get carried away in a moment of excitement and make stupid decisions. Cain gives lots of examples of how introverts make valuable contributions to society and spends time helping introverts come to understand themselves and their abilities. She urges introverts not to feel bad when they take steps to meet their own needs for solitude and quiet. She also explains how introverts can act like extroverts for small periods of time when they feel passionate about a cause. Throughout the books she quotes scientific studies and gives real life examples to support her assertions.
I read this book because I am leading a panel discussion at the ULA Conference in May about how introverts can be leaders. I had read the book, Quiet Power, by the same author written for teens and I found it really helpful in illustrating how introverts can succeed in school and life. I enjoyed this book, but I found it less compelling than the one for teens. It rambles a little and is more slow moving. Still, it gave me a lot of ideas I can use when writing the questions I will ask my panel at the conference. This is a good book for anyone who wants to understand how being introverted or extroverted affects how people function and view the world. (2013, 368)
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