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Christine's Reviews > Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
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Awesome, awesome book! I’ve been sitting on this one since 2014. It’s been off and on my TBR several times over the last 6 years. This year I have read all Net Galley books, Libby books, and read-for-review books. I thought it was time to pick one of the 953 (no kidding—hangs head in shame) e-books sitting on my kindle and this is what I selected. Boy did I get a winner. Go me!
OK, so yes, I’m a big introvert. Though this book discusses both introverts and extroverts, there is a bit more emphasis on introverts. Despite that, I think it will be a fascinating read for everyone no matter how you identify.
Ms. Cain, a self-proclaimed introvert, has an “insatiable curiosity” for human nature (her words). She is also an acclaimed author, has a Harvard law school degree, and has given innumerable talks (and was terrified before each one). She has won a host of awards. She recorded a smashing TED talk that has been viewed 14 million times and was named by Bill Gates as one of his all-time favorite talks.
This book kept me flipping the pages as if it were a Mark Edwards suspense novel. Ms. Cain lays out the results of a number of research studies (NOT boring) and dissects for us the traits of introverts and extroverts and how these traits are perceived by others and can propel one through life. The narrative is full of individual “cases”, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Warren Buffet, and regular people of all ages and how their introvertism has affected their lives. I now understand a lot more about myself and why I feel or think things that I could not understand before. Plus, I feel pretty darn proud to be an introvert.
There is SO much more to this book. It is such a compelling treatise that it approaches being a “must read,” in my opinion, for everyone who interacts with other people. Which is, well…. everyone. Oh, and I’m glad this book is on my kindle where it will forever sit as I know I will refer to all my saved highlights time and again.
Finally, a special shoutout to Gunjan, whose review finally got me to read this one.
OK, so yes, I’m a big introvert. Though this book discusses both introverts and extroverts, there is a bit more emphasis on introverts. Despite that, I think it will be a fascinating read for everyone no matter how you identify.
Ms. Cain, a self-proclaimed introvert, has an “insatiable curiosity” for human nature (her words). She is also an acclaimed author, has a Harvard law school degree, and has given innumerable talks (and was terrified before each one). She has won a host of awards. She recorded a smashing TED talk that has been viewed 14 million times and was named by Bill Gates as one of his all-time favorite talks.
This book kept me flipping the pages as if it were a Mark Edwards suspense novel. Ms. Cain lays out the results of a number of research studies (NOT boring) and dissects for us the traits of introverts and extroverts and how these traits are perceived by others and can propel one through life. The narrative is full of individual “cases”, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Warren Buffet, and regular people of all ages and how their introvertism has affected their lives. I now understand a lot more about myself and why I feel or think things that I could not understand before. Plus, I feel pretty darn proud to be an introvert.
There is SO much more to this book. It is such a compelling treatise that it approaches being a “must read,” in my opinion, for everyone who interacts with other people. Which is, well…. everyone. Oh, and I’m glad this book is on my kindle where it will forever sit as I know I will refer to all my saved highlights time and again.
Finally, a special shoutout to Gunjan, whose review finally got me to read this one.
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Quiet.
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Reading Progress
May 10, 2017
– Shelved
May 10, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 4, 2020
–
Started Reading
October 11, 2020
–
Finished Reading
April 1, 2022
– Shelved as:
psychology
April 1, 2022
– Shelved as:
nonfiction
Comments Showing 1-50 of 51 (51 new)
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Reading_
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rated it 4 stars
Oct 12, 2020 09:37AM
Thank you so much for this review. I was also putting it off ever since it came out
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Great review! I have now added it to my rapidly expanding TBR.
Reading_ wrote: "Thank you so much for this review. I was also putting it off ever since it came out"Wow, Reading, I hope I’ve moved you to pick it up!
PamG wrote: "Great review! I have now added it to my rapidly expanding TBR."Thank you, my good friend Book-A-Day Pam! You have 365 chances next year to read it!!
Wonderful review, Christine. Glad you finally got around to tackling this one. I have a hardcover somewhere in the stacks waiting for me.
Christine wrote: "PamG wrote: "Great review! I have now added it to my rapidly expanding TBR."Thank you, my good friend Book-A-Day Pam! You have 365 chances next year to read it!!"
: )
Mike wrote: "Wonderful review, Christine. Glad you finally got around to tackling this one. I have a hardcover somewhere in the stacks waiting for me."Thanks, Mike. I would love to see you read and review it!
Terrific Christine. Agree, it should be read by all.
I totally loved this one, too! And others like it. So helpful in accepting who we are. :-)
Carmel wrote: "I totally loved this one, too! And others like it. So helpful in accepting who we are. :-)"Absolutely, Carmel! Do you have another favorite along these lines?
Super review, Christine! I've had the physical book languishing on my bookshelf for years. I have no idea why I haven't read it yet, because I suspect I'm going to love it too :)
Candi wrote: "Super review, Christine! I've had the physical book languishing on my bookshelf for years. I have no idea why I haven't read it yet, because I suspect I'm going to love it too :)"Thanks so much, Candi! I am really really rooting for you to pick it up. I would love to see your review! 💕
So glad you read it! Amazing, isn't it Christine?!
Suzanne wrote: "So glad you read it! Amazing, isn't it Christine?!"Absolutely fascinating, Suzanne! Thanks!
Another favorite is The Highly Sensitive Person, Christine.
Ah, excellent, Carmel! Thank you!
Wonderful review Christine. I keep looking at this...now I guess I am going to have to read it! ❤😍📚☕🥮
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "Wonderful review Christine. I keep looking at this...now I guess I am going to have to read it! ❤😍📚☕🥮"Give it a shot, Sandy! Thanks!
Great review and glad you enjoyed. Maybe not one for me as I am a stark raving extrovert of the highest order 😯
Pat wrote: "Great review and glad you enjoyed. Maybe not one for me as I am a stark raving extrovert of the highest order 😯"🤣🤣🤣 Ah, Pat, but you would get to know what makes those introverts tick!
Ellen wrote: "Good review"Thanks, Ellen!
Another great review, Christine! I am adding this book to my expanding list.
Yay, Marilyn! Thank you for the kind words!
Great review, Christine. The book has been languishing on my to read shelf for a long, long time, even though I know that I would like it.
Lisa wrote: "Great review, Christine. The book has been languishing on my to read shelf for a long, long time, even though I know that I would like it."Come on, Lisa, you need to read this!!! It will help you understand yourself even better. I would love to see a review of this one by you.
Christine wrote: "Come on, Lisa, you need to read this!!! It will help you understand yourself even better. I would love to see a review of this one by you."Christine, I know that you’re right, even though I’m not a straight introvert, and I seem to be gravitating toward reading fiction at this moment.
Lisa wrote: "Christine wrote: "Come on, Lisa, you need to read this!!! It will help you understand yourself even better. I would love to see a review of this one by you."Christine, I know that you’re right, e..."
OK, later!
Christine wrote: "OK, later! "Yes. Hopefully not too, too much later.
Louise wrote: "Superb review, Christine!!"Thank you, Louise!
Vandana wrote: "Terrific review as always"Thanks, Vandana!
First of all, yay for you! So glad you've finally gotten to books you own and that you found a winner so easily! How great is that! Fantastic review Christine!Second of all, how did you read all of your NetGalley books, Libby books and read for review books?! Can you give some pointers? I try to hardly ever hit that request button but I still have quite a few in my NetGalley and Edelweiss Plus Queue. It is ridiculous! I have read way more library books and books that I own this year so my arcs have fallen off of the way side! I really do need to focus back on arcs... (baah, as if!)
Anyhow, kudos to you on all of your accomplishments! :) I can't wait to see which book you tackle next!
I NEED my quiet time!! Wonderful review!
Great review! This book helped me alot in understanding myself and to this day remains one of the best I have read.
I can clearly hear the excitement about this book in your review, Christine. I am a fellow introvert, sometimes painfully so...and based on your fabulous review, I will definitely check this one out! Thanks so much!!
Susanne wrote: "First of all, yay for you! So glad you've finally gotten to books you own and that you found a winner so easily! How great is that! Fantastic review Christine!Second of all, how did you read all ..."
What a nice note, Susanne! Thank you! And thanks for liking my review. Well, I am super controlled on that green button. I've been behind in the past, and I hate that pressured feeling and basic need to read a Net Galley book by the time it's published. It pretty much commits you to reading in order of publication dates, not by what mood you are in. I came to the conclusion that I want to read what I want to read whenever I hear it calling my name. In terms of Libby books, I request them and then suspend them until I'm in the mood for one and take it off hold when I'm part way through whatever I'm reading at the time. Works pretty well if I am first up. I'm usually sitting on 8-12 of those at a time. They let you sit at #1 forever. I keep my Net Galley list to 6 or under, preferably 4 or under, but I did hit 10 this year. I would have read a lot more off my owned shelves this year if my total count hadn't been hammered by the distraction of everything going on this year. Anyway, that's how I'm operating my read lists!!!
P.S. My book after this one was the fantastic Good Morning Monster. All you guys need to check that one out. Just phenomenal!
Jayme wrote: "I NEED my quiet time!! Wonderful review!"Jayme, I hear you, Girlfriend! Thanks!
Stephanie wrote: "Great review! This book helped me alot in understanding myself and to this day remains one of the best I have read."Totally, Stephanie. That was my reaction exactly. I'm so happy you got a lot out of it too.
Terrie wrote: "I can clearly hear the excitement about this book in your review, Christine. I am a fellow introvert, sometimes painfully so...and based on your fabulous review, I will definitely check this one ou..."Terrie, thank you! And you will not be sorry if you pick up this book. I would love to have you read and review it.
😂😂😂 me too 😉 can never have too many books on your Kindle.... and there’s another one for me to find and read. Great review, love it 😊
Heather wrote: "😂😂😂 me too 😉 can never have too many books on your Kindle.... and there’s another one for me to find and read. Great review, love it 😊"Thanks so much, my new friend. This book was so engrossing, and I learned so much. It periodically goes on sale for like $1.99, so keep an eye out!
Finally, started reading this book today, similar to you it has been on my TBR list since 2013. As an educator, it is especially an important read. I always appreciate the introverted students, if I had a room full of extroverts it would be bedlam. We do set up classroom rosters with learning styles/personalities in mind. My youngest son was/is an introvert and I cringe now when I read that parents tend to apologize for their child’s quietness. I remember clearly doing that because he was so different from his two older siblings who were outgoing and very verbal.
I must call him now to apologize! 😊
Lynne wrote: "Finally, started reading this book today, similar to you it has been on my TBR list since 2013. As an educator, it is especially an important read. I always appreciate the introverted students, if ..."Great post, Lynne! Yes, I bet this book would be very helpful for a teacher in understanding her kids of many personalities. I sure hope you enjoy the book. I could kick myself for not reading it sooner. Oh, and I bet your son will forgive you in a second!
Introverts unite! This book sounds as though it gives legitimacy to the state of being of the introvert. I should say, however, that some of my best friends are extroverts. Lovely review.
I read this one a long time ago and it is one of my all-time favourites. As a teacher and a school leader it gave me a whole new perspective on my relationships with others. I am looking forward to reading Susan Cain’s new book.I love using Libby and the ability to suspend the holds, especially when I keep getting all my holds coming in at once!
This book is giving me a whole new view on my son and husband who are introverts. I use to be an extreme extrovert but now find I appreciate my quiet time more and more.
