Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

“Superbly researched, deeply insightful, and an enchanting read, Quiet is an indispensable resource for any individual who wants to remember the gifts of the introverted half of the population.”—Gretchen Rubin, writer of The Happiness Project

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY People • O: The Oprah Magazine • Christian Science Monitor • Inc. • Library Journal • Kirkus Reviews

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They’re the ones who prefer being attentive to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introverts—Rosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak—that we owe most of the great contributions to society.

In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the upward thrust of the Extrovert Ideal right through the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts—from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Passionately argued, impeccably researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves.

Now with Extra Libris material, including a reader’s guide and bonus content