As an introvert, I was always made to believe that something was wrong with me simply because I didn’t want to do all the things my peers wanted to do, like go out to the club until the wee hours of the morning. I was even questioned about my lack of rebellion because how dare I not behave like a “normal” child, right. However, many have also lauded the fact that I didn’t go out and get sloppily drunk, while I appreciated their praises, I wasn’t necessarily making a conscious choice not to behave like my peers, I was just being me — an introvert by nature.
Susan Cain’s “Quiet” makes a compelling argument about the power of introverts. Although on the biased side, the book highlights their quiet strength, which is often overlooked in our extrovert-dominant world. She also examines the shallow misconceptions that comes with the label. While It’s easy to categorize someone as an introvert, many people fail to realize that all introverts are not created equal, because not all introverts are shy, or don’t like to talk to people or are anti-fun.
Cain also features the attributes of famous introverts like Rosa Parks, and Gandhi. Like sociability, talkativeness, and assertiveness, traits like compassion, determination, and persistence are also potent vehicles for change and success.
At this stage of my life, I’m completely comfortable with who I ‘am, but this book has made me feel even more empowered. For all you introverts out there, there’s no need to feel guilty about who you are because being an introvert isn’t an abnormality, just a variant of the norm.
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