I found this book, at times, to be very long, repetitive in parts which unfortunately made me tune out and added noise to my own few day that it took I found this book, at times, to be very long, repetitive in parts which unfortunately made me tune out and added noise to my own few day that it took for me to listen to this audio.
I enjoyed many of the anecdotes the author portrayed about her need for silence, and her career as a journalist and excellent way of gleaning any information out of a subject. She is a keen observer and a good listener.
What made me feel a little uncomfortable, then which affected my enjoyment and rating, was the ability to be able to attend many sojourns, retreats, flitting here and there in her search for quiet. She did mention as a single mum there were challenges, but I saw none. I saw privilege and the ability to do more than most of us in her never ending search.
Organisational busyness was an interesting concept for me to hear more about. Workplaces busily and continually holding meetings meetings meetings without much progress, and workers having the need, or inclination to appear busy and productive for the sake of. I know where I work there are so many meetings, of which I see no relatable progress!
I like the idea of having a day of the week where no meetings are held. The author discussed, as many authors have before her, the idea of open planned offices and the pros and cons of this in relation to productivity and workers' mental health/comfortability.
I was impressed at the level of research carried out, Christine Jackman is a very smart (she told us this a couple of times) and capable woman, who tells her story of searching for a better level of life/noise/busyness level in her life. I found it a little long, or perhaps I was looking for something different to that was on offer.
In an aggressive culture, non-HSPs are favored, and that fact will be obvious everywhere
Do not overschedule yourself. Allow time to think, to daydrIn an aggressive culture, non-HSPs are favored, and that fact will be obvious everywhere
Do not overschedule yourself. Allow time to think, to daydream. Keep your expectations realistic. Do not hide your abilities. Be your own advocate. Support your right to be yourself. Accept it when you have narrow interests. Or broad ones.
Being so eager to please, we’re not easy to liberate. We’re too aware of what others need.
I found this to be extremely interesting and insightful. I only just realised now at the time of writing this review that the author was not the narrator. This doesn't matter, but I assumed it was her. Being a HSP and psychotherapist herself, the author has tremendous experience and clinical knowledge into the phenomena behind this mostly unrealised personality type.
One not must assume all highly sensitive people are extraverts, or introverts either, there are so many qualities to this personality. Upbringing, attachment style is a huge one, trauma, and life events all go into the melting pot of this ideal.
I love learning, and here I realised there are so much to this concept. Things I knew but was not made concrete until now. A sensitivity to light, sound, smell just to name a few. I suppose most interestingly to me was the susceptibility to cold. This rang so true for me. As did those prior sensitivities. I am unfortunately well able to a high level of discomfort when working with people who don't have clean clothing or who possibly are not very hygienic. Sometimes this is honestly hard to tolerate, and knowing I'm not abnormal is helpful.
On the other hand, a lot did not apply to me, but this is all part of it. The author has had a lot of experience in interviewing many HSPs in a clinical setting, and was able to lay out many ideas and scenarios. A lot of the ideals pertaining to spirituality and the esoteric didn't apply to me, but this would definitely be of interest to others.
High intuition, being really attune to others in the space you share, noticing everything. Being highly aware of one's surroundings and other's intricacies is common. Needing extra time alone, retreating to the written world. The importance of boundaries, reactions to hunger and cold. Being too aware of other's needs. This is so interesting to me. There is much detail in all this, and activities and ideas that can be used.
This is a well written and equally well researched book written by an expert in the field who describes her life experiences throughout.
This was a present to myself, for Christmas. Kmart have great little bargains. A big fan of reading about personality types, and of course of Quiet: TThis was a present to myself, for Christmas. Kmart have great little bargains. A big fan of reading about personality types, and of course of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, I looked forward to reading this. This little book is nothing like Susan Cain's book, more like a little guide of handy hints. I found them to be quite basic, and mostly in point form. Here are a few:
“Introversion – along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness and shyness – is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappoi“Introversion – along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness and shyness – is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology. Introverts living under the Extrovert ideal are like women in a man’s world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are.”
I came across the author of this outstanding book when we studied for our Library studies last year. We were to present on the topic “What are you passionate about”, and my friend presented on this topic by firstly going to the author's Ted Talk. This talk is in a nutshell an excellent summary of this book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0KYU...
I recommend this as ‘required watching’ before delving into this book, which is serious and requires vast concentration to take away with you the gamut of information that took the author five years to research and present to us.
Essentially, Susan Cain worked successfully in what would be an extremely extrovert profession for ten years, before realising this is not the fight she needed to be fighting. Imagine being a Wall Street lawyer! Susan states, in a quote I love in relation to reflecting on the lives of her friends and classmates who she envied (in her own quiet way I imagine).“My college classmates who’d grown up to be writers or psychologists. Today I’m pursuing my own version of both those roles.” I’d say she has found her perfect mix.
This book is full of information from many professionals and psychologists leading in their field of expertise. I can wholeheartedly understand this book taking five years of research and writing. On introverts as leaders “Because of their inclination to listen to others and lack of interest in domineering social situations, introverts are more likely to hear and implement suggestions… Extroverts, on the other hand, can be so intent on putting their own stamp on events that they risk losing others’ good ideas along the way...”
A fascinating concept is that of high reactivity and low reactivity, beginning at birth. Amygdala is the scientific term. Babies that react wildly from early days of life with dilated eyes, higher cortisol levels (stress hormone), flailing arms and legs etc, shows that they are more likely to ‘feel’ to new stimuli. From visiting a fun park to the first day of school, experiencing the ocean for the first time, of course the list could go on and on. Loud noises, a large group environment. There is a reason for reacting to these situations! The research is not this simple, but this is my take home layman’s explanation. It explains “sensitivity to novelty in general, not just to people.”
Studies have gone into such depth that high reactivity and sensitivity has been related to such specifics as blue eyes, allergies and hay fever. Very interesting! Food for thought for this reader. It could be said that I am proof of this.
This would be relatable to many: “Her favorite part of the day was the quiet ten minutes when she walked to the bus along the tree-lined streets of her neighborhood.“ This is so important to many people. I will put my hand up for my children’s sports drop off straight after work to get the return journey to drive home solo to have 20 minutes of my audio book, aka peace. It is fascinating that this book has taught me so much about myself. The down side of this is the intense self observance I have been carrying out while reading the book. I guess it’s a good thing but I am tired! I have not stopped observing myself and others.
I tear up when I see kindness, listen to an emotional speech, when someone says something particularly nice, hear sad news, or just witness sincere acts or words. I’m not simply ‘soft’. I am fascinated by all of this. “...about sensitive people is that sometimes they’re highly empathetic. It’s as if they have thinner boundaries separating them from other people’s emotions and the tragedies and cruelties of the world.” It is also a common trait to be ultra observant of others thoughts, feelings and actions.
This book has validated certain behaviours of mine. I won't go into details but I am understanding intricacies of my behaviours. Avoidances, not wanting to engage in social media.. nor wanting to be out there like so many others do. I cannot stand the Facebook gloating, the pushing of the 'perfect life' stuff. I really do think so many people do not understand this side of things, but I dare say those will not read this book.
American culture is drilled into deeply here, this is not the interesting issue for me personally, but I can see this is an excellent cultural acknowledgment or opinion of the American way of life. Obviously written from an introvert’s prospective, but this is not too uneven. Extroverts would not feel unheard reading this book, either.
This book would appeal greatly to those who feel they are quiet reflectives or those who live with and/or parent children with sensitive and high reactive children. Softly spoken ideas are offered to be taken on board if desired.
Do we need to vigorously brainstorm and discuss at all times? Or would those who are more quiet be missed out on all together? This has its downside as ideas may be unheard, or lost all together. Also at the younger side of the spectrum, cluster our youngsters in groups together in the classroom, and some of our young people will not cope with this and the assumed way of learning for all will not suit all. Hopefully teachers all around the world can draw these children out and allow them to contribute in their own way. Much in the same way as open planned offices may not be conducive to all adults, either. A lot to ponder on. This really is a great book, one the author I hope would be proud of....more
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