“The soul selects her own society…” – Emily Dickinson (1862)
The ideal of extroversion, the culture of personality prevalent worldwide today, the pressing call to “sell” one’s ‘brand’, and the relentless categorizing of quieter, more reflective persons as less capable are some topics that are explored by Susan Cain, a self-proclaimed introvert, and a Harvard Law graduate.
Far from criticizing extroverts themselves, Cain simply makes a case for those who lean towards introvertism. She acknowledges the importance of diversity in the world’s psychological make-up, and the shades between personality types as well, noting the predominance of some temperaments in some cultures (Americans being more extroverted, while the Chinese appear more reticent, generally speaking).
One is introduced to several extroverts, introverts, and those who represent the shades in between both personality types – from motivational speakers to HBS students to evangelists – even as Cain examines the ‘why’s’ and ‘how’s’ of personality types from the 360 degree viewpoints of behavioral psychology, social conditioning, history, stereotyping, pop culture, and so on.
Written in an exceptionally easy-to-read, conversational style, ‘Quiet:…’ neither pretends to be an academic thesis upholding introvertism as the formula for success, nor is it a legal case defending introverts as victims of the social Tower of Babel. It is simply a passionate opinion – not a perfect book, but a ‘speaking out’ as it were (and we all know how much that means to introverts!).
In a consumer-driven world of instant gratification and self-promotion, one is bombarded with sales-talk and often seduced by attractive packaging. Cain questions the need for constant self-promotion and the projection of one’s best image, to the point of being unconcerned about the value or depth in that image. A typical thought that often strikes the solitary seeker who “wanders lonely as a cloud”. Cain notes, not one who is ‘lonesome’ or ‘anti-social’, but one who prefers quiet time to recharge and re-orient oneself.
One might argue that such personality types would not fit into some fields such as entrepreneurship or business management, but Cain points out how leadership at the helm can be very lonely indeed, and how many a time across cultures, its torch has been borne by an introvert. It appears introverts make a difference by offering creative, original, out-of-the-box ideas in all subjects ranging from art (Van Gogh) to hi-tech (Steve Wozniak) to politics (Gandhi) to activism (Rosa Parks).
This book is most timely in the 21st century because extrovertism has come to be alarmingly associated with all that is ‘normal’, healthy, sane, etc, throughout schools and workplaces. One wonders if the current emphasis on the extroverted ideal is leading to the isolation of the thinkers in society, and the latter’s increasing frustration with the same.
Furthermore, the online virtual space that provides quieter folk an outlet for expression has led to a far lesser face-to-face interaction in society today, compounding the problem of imposed or self-imposed isolation in a way, leading to greater chances of misunderstanding between personality types. Cain addresses these issues and suggests ways of empowering quieter people of all ages to ‘perform’ better in real-world competitive situations where the chick that cheeps the loudest gets the worm.
The ideal of extroversion, the culture of personality prevalent worldwide today, the pressing call to “sell” one’s ‘brand’, and the relentless categorizing of quieter, more reflective persons as less capable are some topics that are explored by Susan Cain, a self-proclaimed introvert, and a Harvard Law graduate.
Far from criticizing extroverts themselves, Cain simply makes a case for those who lean towards introvertism. She acknowledges the importance of diversity in the world’s psychological make-up, and the shades between personality types as well, noting the predominance of some temperaments in some cultures (Americans being more extroverted, while the Chinese appear more reticent, generally speaking).
One is introduced to several extroverts, introverts, and those who represent the shades in between both personality types – from motivational speakers to HBS students to evangelists – even as Cain examines the ‘why’s’ and ‘how’s’ of personality types from the 360 degree viewpoints of behavioral psychology, social conditioning, history, stereotyping, pop culture, and so on.
Written in an exceptionally easy-to-read, conversational style, ‘Quiet:…’ neither pretends to be an academic thesis upholding introvertism as the formula for success, nor is it a legal case defending introverts as victims of the social Tower of Babel. It is simply a passionate opinion – not a perfect book, but a ‘speaking out’ as it were (and we all know how much that means to introverts!).
In a consumer-driven world of instant gratification and self-promotion, one is bombarded with sales-talk and often seduced by attractive packaging. Cain questions the need for constant self-promotion and the projection of one’s best image, to the point of being unconcerned about the value or depth in that image. A typical thought that often strikes the solitary seeker who “wanders lonely as a cloud”. Cain notes, not one who is ‘lonesome’ or ‘anti-social’, but one who prefers quiet time to recharge and re-orient oneself.
One might argue that such personality types would not fit into some fields such as entrepreneurship or business management, but Cain points out how leadership at the helm can be very lonely indeed, and how many a time across cultures, its torch has been borne by an introvert. It appears introverts make a difference by offering creative, original, out-of-the-box ideas in all subjects ranging from art (Van Gogh) to hi-tech (Steve Wozniak) to politics (Gandhi) to activism (Rosa Parks).
This book is most timely in the 21st century because extrovertism has come to be alarmingly associated with all that is ‘normal’, healthy, sane, etc, throughout schools and workplaces. One wonders if the current emphasis on the extroverted ideal is leading to the isolation of the thinkers in society, and the latter’s increasing frustration with the same.
Furthermore, the online virtual space that provides quieter folk an outlet for expression has led to a far lesser face-to-face interaction in society today, compounding the problem of imposed or self-imposed isolation in a way, leading to greater chances of misunderstanding between personality types. Cain addresses these issues and suggests ways of empowering quieter people of all ages to ‘perform’ better in real-world competitive situations where the chick that cheeps the loudest gets the worm.
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