I often complain that many self-help books really aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. Often they will do a good job at identifying the “problem” one is afflicted with and get us excited that finally, someone understands.  “Yes, yes, that’s me! I can relate to that . . .” we find ourselves thinking as we excitedly read. However, as we frantically flip through the pages, there is little or no help on what we can do about it or next steps.

THIS BOOK IS DIFFERENT! The author, Susan Cain, took about seven years to write it and she did an excellent job.

Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, is a book about Introverts and the extreme value they hold. It also talks about the challenges of being an Introvert in a society and culture that readily accepts and praises extrovertion. I love the many examples of important people of our time that Susan uses for illustration, and how she normalizes and stresses the importance of not pathologizing the Introvert. They are just fine, thank you, and very important.

As I read this book, it made me wonder how many clients I have had in my practice that have come with the presenting issue of anxiety — that needed to be fixed or medicated. Did they have an anxiety disorder, or were they actually Introverts? Identifying the difference can be a game changer.

I would recommend that everyone reads this book, not just Introverts.  If you yourself are not an Introvert, you are probably married to one, are a parent of one, or work with a few. This book will shed some light on yourself and/or the people around you. And if you already know you are a parent of an Introvert, Chapter 11 is written for you.

The author, Susan Cain, also has a great Ted Talk that is well worth watching.

Hope you enjoy this read as much as I did!