11 exciting things I learned about Introverts from the book Quiet by Susan Cain

The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t stop talking

What is the book Quiet by Susan Cain about?

Forever people and children who are quiet, shy, sensitive, and serious have been misunderstood. But it is time for everyone to listen to what they have to say, even though their voice is not as loud and lively as the naturally extroverted. And that is where Susan Cain’s Quiet helps us understand what this silence means.

Quiet as a book, is vital not only for calm people to understand themselves better, but also for the outgoing to understand their quiet partners/colleagues/friends.

The theme of the book is fresh and very relevant as unknown to us one-third of the world consists of introverts. And perhaps it is time we listen to this quiet voice of calm and reflection in this chaotic and loud world.

What are introverts?

Introverts are those who recognize themselves or themselves somewhere in the following constellation of attributes – reflective, cerebral, bookish, unassuming, sensitive, thoughtful, serious, contemplative, subtle, introspective, inner-directed, gentle, calm, modest, solitude-seeking, shy, risk-averse, and thin-skinned.

What are extroverts?

Extroverts are those who recognize themselves somewhere in the following constellation of attributes – ebullient, expansive, sociable, gregarious, excitable, dominant, assertive, active, risk-taking, thick-skinned, outer-directed, light-hearted, bold, and comfortable in the spotlight.

What famous people in history are/were introverts?

Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lewis Carroll, David Weiss, LouAnne Johnson, Mahatma Gandhi, Barack Obama, Steve Wozniak, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Sir Isaac Newton, Dr. Seuss, and Albert Einstein.

Learnings from Quiet by Susan Cain

Following are some takeaways from the book that I enjoyed reading tremendously. Some of these takeaways are in the form of quotes from the books, while others are written in my language.

1. Introverts are offered keys to private gardens full of riches. They just need to use well the kind granted to them.
2. Love is essential; gregariousness is optional.
3. Do not think about socializing with everyone. Relationships make everyone happy, introverts included, but think quality over quantity.
4. Solve problems, make art, and think deeply.
5. Spend your free time in a way you like, not in a way you think you’re supposed to.
6. If your children are quiet, help them make peace with new situations and strange people, but otherwise, let them be themselves.
7. The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting.
8. Find out what you are represented to contribute to the world, and make sure you contribute it. If this requires you to do activities that make you uncomfortable, do them anyway. But accept that they are hard to achieve and get training in them. And once you do the activities, reward yourself.
9. Respect your loved one's needs for socializing and your own for solitude.
10. Whoever you are, bear in mind that appearance is not reality.
11. If you have a proactive workforce, remember that they may perform better under an introverted leader than an extroverted or charismatic leader.