Quiet

It would not be an understatement for me to say that I've never been "Mr. Popularity".

I've never quite been a people person. Growing up, I was always the kid who preferred to keep mostly to himself. In general, I find it hard to relate to others (or do they find it difficult to relate to me?), and while I'm capable of making connections in small groups, when faced with larger crowds my mind just seems to shut down. Bright lights, loud noises, hustle and bustle are all anathema to me. Privacy is something I value highly, and my idea of a good time is getting very lost in a good book, or similar experiences best enjoyed in an environment of peace and quiet.

In short, I am a self-confessed introvert. Hence, it shouldn't come as any surprise that I jumped at the chance to read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, Susan Cain's exposition of the societal implications of introversion.

What's interesting about Quiet is that it isn't your token piece extolling the virtues of introversion (although there's that, too). Instead, Cain starts off by presenting a cogent discussion on the cultural underpinnings of introversion and extroversion in modern society, and how the latter came to be accepted as an ideal over the former. According to this thesis, there was a shift from a "culture of character" -- in which traits such as hard work, perseverance, prudence and the like were what society valued -- to a "culture of personality" -- where being outgoing, eloquent and socially adept came to be seen as important characteristics for success. As a result of this subtle cultural shift -- as exemplified by Dale Carnegie's drive to help others to "win friends and influence people" -- extroversion came to be seen as an ideal, the sine qua non for wealth, power, and success.

This paints an incomplete picture, however. True, many individuals who rise to positions of leadership and prominence might be described as extroverts -- or at the very least, we notice them because they are extroverted. But what of the silent majority who are introverts? The qualities often associated with introversion are equally important to achieving professional success and obtaining social esteem, and there are many examples of self-described introverts who have become exemplary leaders (such as Ghandi), businessmen (such as Warren Buffett), and even artists (such as Barbra Streisand). As such, perhaps we ought to look beyond the extrovert ideal to see what sets introverts and extroverts apart, and in the process come to an appreciation of what exactly introverts have to bring to the table.

This is what Cain aspires to offer in Quiet, which is without a doubt a very thoughtful read. That it is a critique of the extrovert ideal is certainly the best reason to pick up the book, by far. But more than this, Quiet is compelling because it goes further by providing insights on introversion and extroversion from the field of neuroscience, as well as useful advice for how introverts and extroverts can make the most of each other's innate traits. Granted, this is not without limitations. Obviously, the studies that Cain describes in her book often rely on people self-reporting themselves as either introverted or extroverted, which is clearly fairly subjective. Additionally, the self-help turn that the book occasionally takes may not be to some readers' liking (this is perhaps what I liked least about the book). But these do not detract from the intelligent discussion that Cain provides in Quiet, on the whole.

Surely, Quiet is a book that will appeal to those who have never been known to be Mr./Ms. Popularity, to those who have always liked to keep mostly to themselves, to the multitudes of self-confessed introverts out there in the world today. But because it's more than just a rah-rah-rah piece for introverts to rally around, it's a book worth paying attention to and learning from -- regardless of what one's individual disposition might be.

[This review is based on a pre-publication proof obtained through NetGalley.]