Leading@Google: Susan Cain

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society--from van Gogh's sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.
Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Taking the reader on a journey from Dale Carnegie's birthplace to Harvard Business School, from a Tony Robbins seminar to an evangelical megachurch, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects. She talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools. She questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation, and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. And she draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal the surprising differences between extroverts and introverts.
Perhaps most inspiring, she introduces us to successful introverts--from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Finally, she offers invaluable advice on everything from how to better negotiate differences in introvert-extrovert relationships to how to empower an introverted child to when it makes sense to be a "pretend extrovert."
This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves.

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[winterpoetry]

I found this immensely helpful! I'm an ambivert ENFP. I find my extroversion a hindrance and an embarrassment...to rely on a stimulant outside of myself feels disempowering. Looking to the outer world for validation can become an illness. Introverts don't need other people to have fun...they create whole worlds all in their minds. Introverts take very little from the world, but what they add speaks volumes. <3

[Paseosinperro]

This topic of introvert-extrovet is interesting but I hate that behind this is always the same shit: Success, success, success,... Horrible

[Lasienkeli881]

Maybe an "ambivert"? Susan mentions this term in the video when a guy, who also couldn't figure out wether he was an introvert or an extrovert, asked her how he could "define" himself.

[Telstar85]

Susan appears to be the most beautiful woman this earth carries on. If I was the earth, she was the magnetic field that kept me spinning. I'm buying the book in hard covers.

[jaysharma314]

.nhh

[bootyclaw]

Ditto.

[Paseosinperro]

OMG, You are describing my mind perfectly.

[naturefreak799]

For many, success is not about happiness. Success is for making ones parents happy, for being a "good American", for attracting high status mates, and many other reasons. Being succesful for ones own inner happiness and well being is far to uncommon.

[naturefreak799]

Money and fame in our society are becoming synonymous with extroversion. Being introverted, a thinker, or even a private individual is looked down by many. We are now expected in our culture to always be 'on", to be ready and able to be a social butterfly on the drop of a dime.

This point in my life I would rather be broke living by myself (or a compatable significant other) in a cabin in the woods and being true to me. A life without introspection and private moments is not worth having.

[Paseosinperro]

Yes, not also money, also fame. Is terrible. Success is just a word, I hate what nowadays they mean with it.

[Dwarfsneedfood]

I don't get it. What's wrong with succes? Succes isn't always about money but also about happieness.