Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

We cannot recommend this book enough! If you are an introvert who, like us, loves to read quietly or immerse yourself in music to recharge, this book is for you. If you are an introvert and haven't read this, remedy that NOW! If you are an extrovert with an introvert partner, get insight into why they act that way with this invaluable resource!

Quiet is a book that challenges cultural biases for and against extroversion and introversion. When most of us hear the word bias, we think of prominent historical examples of discrimination and prejudice based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Yet there are many more subtle forms of prejudice that imbue our current culture, and it is not uncommon for one group to be judged superior or inferior based on other factors that may or may not be as easy to identify.
 
A few obvious cultural biases exist against overweight people, mentally challenged people, poor and wealthy people, and people of various religious backgrounds. Nevertheless, there are many other examples of biases. Quiet introduces us to the profound social bias that favors, and even exalts, extroverts and criticizes introverts.

The term introvert denotes a personality style that is often more reserved, contemplative, and passive. These traits are viewed negatively in America. By contrast, contemporary American culture too often embraces an Extrovert Ideal: the notion that characteristics of extroverted personalities—assertiveness, charisma, gregariousness, social dominance—reflect a superior type of person. But, as Susan Cain elegantly and forcefully argues in her book, this notion of extrovert supremacy has not always existed, and, like all forms of discrimination or bias, prejudice based on personality has many destructive consequences for the success and happiness of society as a whole.