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1-Page Summary of Quiet Power

Overview

We live in an extroverted society. We admire people who are good at getting attention, such as pop stars, movie stars and models. In school, those students who raise their hands a lot usually get better grades than others. In the workplace, loud people tend to advance faster than others.

How are young people who are introverts supposed to get by in this world where extroversion is often rewarded? How can they succeed without betraying their true nature?

The author interviewed more than 100 children and teens, as well as their parents and teachers. He discovered that introversion is not a hindrance to success. There are certain things you can do when others pressure you to act in ways that make you uncomfortable.

You’ll also learn how to measure introversion with lemon juice, and how group discussions can be fun for introverts. Also, at a party, it’s good for an introvert to go the bathroom frequently because they’re not used to being in groups of people.

Big Idea #1: There are common misconceptions about what it means to be introverted or extroverted.

Some people believe that everyone can be classified as introverts or extroverts. However, this isn’t true because we’re all unique individuals with different personalities and traits.

The terms introvert and extrovert were created by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. However, people don’t necessarily fall into either category.

Personality traits can be placed on a continuum. Introversion and extroversion are just two categories at the extreme ends of this continuum, while ambiverts are in between.

For example, you might know someone who is quiet at work or school. However, they’re talkative when they’re with their close friends and family. Likewise, someone who’s loud and the life of the party has a quiet side to them that appreciates solitude. Although there is no simple definition of an introvert; if we had to pick one characteristic shared by most introverts it would be a rich inner-life.

This doesn’t mean that introverts dislike being with others. It simply means that they tend to look within themselves and find quiet places where they can recharge their batteries. In fact, this is a good description of the author herself when she was growing up. While her friends were off at summer camp being loud and gregarious, she preferred to stay home reading books and thinking about things on her own.

Big Idea #2: Introverts are sensitive and often feel like something is wrong with them.

If you’re an introvert, then you probably try to avoid noisy parties. Indeed, you might steer clear of crowded restaurants and bustling streets. You may not know exactly why this is the case, but it’s because your nervous system is more sensitive than average.

Introverts have a greater sensitivity to their environment and the things happening around them.

In 1967, psychologist Hans Eysenck studied how the bodies of introverts and extroverts react to stimuli. He had each group taste lemon juice, which caused their mouths to produce saliva. The results showed that introverts produced more saliva than extroverts did, suggesting that they have more sensitive nervous systems.

Introverts also often think that they should be more outgoing.

The world celebrates extroverts, who are often at the center of attention. However, an estimated one-third of people don’t like being in the spotlight. That’s okay because there is nothing wrong with them.

In many schools and colleges, extroverts are considered more popular than introverts. Therefore, some introverts may feel like they need to change in order to become more popular.