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.
Ini adalah salah satu buku yang saya inginkan yang sudah saya coba cari dari tahun lalu, tapi rupanya belum ada masuk ke toko buku Periplus. Mungkin sekarang sudah ada, tapi sepertinya masih versi hardcover. Saya masih menunggu versi paperback-nya, kalau ada.
Premis buku ini menarik, karena membahas beberapa kelebihan yang dimiliki oleh para introvert. Meskipun isi buku ini lebih banyak membahas persepsi masyarakat di Amerika, tapi rasanya tetap ada materi yang bisa dipelajari dan kita terapkan di Indonesia. Buku ini juga mendapatkan award Goodreads Choice 2012. Mungkin karena banyak introvert di situs itu? :p Nggak komentar lebih banyak lagi deh, karena saya juga belum membaca buku ini.
Saya tertarik dengan buku ini setelah menonton TED Talk Susan Cain. Kalau ada yang masih belum menonton videonya, kalian bisa lihat di sini:
Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas. They prefer to devote their social energies to close friends, colleagues, and family. They listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and often feel as if they express themselves better in writing than in conversation. They tend to dislike conflict. Many have a horror of small talk, but enjoy deep discussions.
I also believe that introversion is my greatest strength. I have such a strong inner life that I’m never bored and only occasionally lonely. No matter what mayhem is happening around me, I know I can always turn inward.”
― Susan Cain
Agoes Santosa's Journal 