Quiet is not a problem

Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts
by Susan Cain (with Gregory Mone and Erica Moroz)

With its emphasis on group work and participation, school can be an exhausting experience for introverts – the quiet types who’d rather read a book instead of going to a noisy party. So it’s reassuring to meet the like-minded people in Cain’s book. She shows that a quiet personality can be an asset, not a hindrance in achieving one's goals. Divided into four sections - School, Socializing, Hobbies, and Home – she provides lots of practical advice for introverts to vocalize their needs to teachers, friends, and parents without damaging relationships. Topics range from how to be heard during class, thrive within a group, handle parties, and perform for an audience. Delivered in a sympathetic, non-preachy tone, her advice is particularly welcome in that it doesn’t ask introverts to change their natures but to work comfortably within them.

There’s nothing wrong with being quiet; a comforting thought for introverts who read this book, and an enlightening one for extroverts who struggle to understand them.