I
have always found it difficult to chose books, largely due to the seemingly
unlimited amount of choices. Quiet,
fortunately, was easy to discover because of its popularity, and its subject
appealed to me. In this book, Susan Cain, a former instructor of negotiation
skills who has since become a writer, discusses “The Power of Introverts in a
World That Can’t Stop Talking”, as written on the cover. Cain begins by taking
a look at how society’s values have shifted from character to personality,
consequently putting an emphasis on extroversion over introversion. She then
begins discussing the advantages introverts have over extroverts in order to
highlight the problem with an extroverted world.
Throughout
this book, Cain uses a wide variety of examples, ranging from Tony Robbins, a
prime example of an extrovert, to an introverted evangelical minister who finds
the churches extroverted ideals troublesome, to various tests proving and
disproving the ideas of brainstorming and independent work, among others.
Cain,
who identifies herself as an introvert, seems to be writing this book in order
to clear up the misconceptions that glorify extroverts and degrade introverts,
in order to create a more efficient and functional society that recognizes
people’s specific attributes. Given the fact that this book is essentially a
detail of introverts’ power, most of Cain’s audience is probably composed of
introverts.
So
far, I have gained a lot of insight on the meaning of the terms introvert and
extrovert, and have been surprised to find that many of my preconceived ideas
about collaboration and teamwork, which have structured most of my educational
career, have been challenged as being better than independent learning. Cain
certainly supports her conclusions with a multitude of evidence, so it is hard
to disagree. Therefore, I believe she has achieved her purpose in part one of
the book.
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