Reading List: Quiet

It’s been quite a while since our last Bella Vita Reading List selection. Sorry about that. I’ve been reading stacks of good books this summer, but nothing particularly Earth-shattering. That is, until now.

Buy It!

I first heard about Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking several months ago from a friend’s Facebook page. She is a television anchor and one of the most extroverted people I know, but she fell in love with an introvert and posted a review of the book as acknowledgment of his quiet strengths. At the time, I was intrigued by the title, but never got around to downloading it.

Fast forward a few months, I find myself at a sushi restaurant in the midst of a slightly awkward first date. He was unfailingly kind, a good listener, and content to let me do most all of the talking. In short, unlike any man I’ve ever dated. I took that as a sign I should keep him.

Several months later, we’re still going strong, but our different communication styles sometimes pose a challenge. Enter Quiet.

For the record, this is not a self-help book; it is a celebration of the unique talents and gifts introverts bring to our world. Cain begins by tracing the origins of our current “Culture of Personality,’ which values a ‘good personality’ over other, arguably more important character traits like work ethic, manners and integrity.

She mixes personal stories and real-world examples with the latest scientific research to answer questions like: What determines our personality? How is it that self-proclaimed introverts can appear extroverted? What are we missing by prizing one over the other?

I especially loved Chapters 10 (How to Talk to Members of the Opposite Type) and 11 (How to Cultivate Quiet Kids in a World That Can’t Hear). If you’re not going to buy the book, at least skim those chapters at the bookstore (P.S. Am I the only one who does that?). You’ll be rewarded with practical solutions to improve your relationships and help your kids thrive in and out of the classroom.

On a personal note, this book was the mother of all ‘A-Ha!’ moments for me. I picked it up thinking it would help me better understand my reserved boyfriend. Instead, I learned something about myself. As it turns out, I have been an introvert masquerading as an extrovert all of this time. This explains why I choose intimate gatherings over big parties, prefer not to be spoken to before 10am, and sometimes secretly hope friends will cancel plans. Who knew?

Hey, I’m an introvert, not necessarily self-aware.

Anyhoo, do yourself a favor and add Quiet to your summer reading list. It’s insightful, well-written, and has the chance to revolutionize the way we think about the quiet souls among us.

Happy Reading!

{Images via Powell's}