Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain

Susan Cain demonstrates in her book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking how our society greatly underestimates the value of the introverted people in the world. Through her research and final works, it is transparent that we lose sight of how successful introverts can be and how they are beneficial to the business world

Modern Western society has come to have a strong preference for the former, extrovert type, especially at work, social life and (because of these) schools. The book tries to explore how we could improve the world if there was a greater balance between the two main types of personality: introversion of extroversion.

I read this book as it was recommended to me by a former employer (thanks Mike if you ever read this) as he is a self described introvert as am I and I would assume he has had struggled in his career and perhaps life and wanted to share some actionable insights

Here are the five takeaways I gained from this read:

1. I’m not really an extrovert. I’m more of an ambivert.
2. It’s true, introverts really are better managers.
3. Western society loves an extrovert
4. Introverts are people, too.
5. How to act a little more introverted (for the benefit of your career).

This book states that at least one-third of the country is introverted. That is a lot of people who are potentially suffering trying to meet an extroverted ideal that just isn’t for them.

Many people do not really understand how introversion worked, they think all of the people in family and friend circle are just anti-social. And it isn’t true. We just need alone time to recharge and think best. And they prefer to spend time with me one on one as opposed to in a big group. (That is where most of my big group interactions take place!)

There are potentials pros and cons of both introversion and extroversion and concludes over and over again that we need a balance of both. The traits should be complementary, not opposites. So there isn’t a black and white picture of a world split up in two kinds of people. She also acknowledges that there is a middle thing (ambivert – although it isn’t discussed at length in the book) and that the introvert and extrovert traits interact with other personality traits, creating wildly different kinds of people.

Given the right context and environment out personality traits can flourish and bring out the best: “introverts and extroverts differ in the level of outside stimulation that they need to function well”.