“Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain
Wow, the descriptive clause in Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking does go on, doesn’t it?
For one of my book groups, Quiet was one I almost abandoned. I didn’t care for the author’s take on Rosa Parks’ story as she focuses more on Rosa as lone superhero than on Rosa as the superhero who inspired everyone else to be heroic. But I pressed on, and as the book goes beyond the sometimes trite stories and gets into some of the science, I found it very interesting. No surprise to learn that brainstorming in groups doesn’t work, or that persuasive talkers are more listened to even if they’re not right. By the end, this book had won me over so completely I kept bringing it up in conversations with friends and family. It’s overly reductive, and she protests for the amazingness of introverts (among which she counts herself) too much, and yet, it’s still a fascinating window into behavior and interaction. Highly recommended, with a grain of salt, if that makes sense.