I could always have told you that I’m an introvert. There’s no doubt in my mind. I can also tell you that I’m rather shy and, it turns out, highly sensitive (at least according to page 136). Most of the time, I’m perfectly happy with who I am. But then there are those times when I’m sitting home again on a Friday night, wishing and wondering if I should be out partying with a group of friends. Or when I walk into a room full of noise and wish I could walk right back out again.
Guess what? There’s nothing wrong with me! I’m just an introvert! I saw myself on every page of Susan Cain’s Quiet, and I saw reassurance on every page as well. Being an introvert is not a problem; it’s simply a different way of reacting to situations and people. I’m exactly the way God made me, and I should rejoice in that.
Beyond the reassurance for us diffident introverts, Susan Cain offers a lot of fascinating facts and studies about introversion and extroversion. She also explains why working in groups is not always necessary – in fact, it’s often counter-productive. Being an introvert actually brings many benefits to your work and your workplace.
There is a lot to be gleaned from Quiet, whether you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert. It’s a fascinating, wonderful book that helps you look at yourself and the people around you in a new way. If you haven’t read it yet…well, what are you waiting for?