Erg. Contains some useful advice but the more I read, the less I like this book. First off: "innies" and "outies"? I know it's an easy way to talk about introverts and extroverts but it makes me feel as if I'm in fifth grade. I found that while reading this book I often felt like a first grader who was being explained things very, very slowly and very, very simply. She mentions in the first chapter that she breaks things into teeny, bite sized sections so us introverts don't become "overwhelmed", which I thought was a little ridiculous and condescending. I think everyone is different, but as an intovert, one of my abilities is to take more complex things and deconstruct them - I don't need information spoon fed to me.

She also spends time of how slow introverts are - we think slowly, we talk slowly, we move slowly, we eat slowly. I don't think this is true at all! Just because I need quiet time to recharge doesn't mean I'm a turtle.

Finally, for all the espousing she does about being proud of your introversion, many of her tips seem to align with acting as a pseudo-extrovert rather than imbracing your own introverted style. For instance: she points out that introverts often value intellectual conversation and dislike small talk. Then she goes on and recommends conversation starters that revolve around the weather, or other inane topics. There is a reason I struggle with small talk and don't use those conversation starters: it's not how I want my conversations to go!

I think this book would only be helpful to a small subset of people: namely, people who are exactly like the author. I didn't glean much from it. I found Susan Cain's Quiet to be much more empowering in terms of embracing and managing my introversion than this book was - and it didn't insult my intelligence.

Listened to the audio version of this book after having read Quietby Susan Cain and The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron. If you or someone you know or a loved one are an introvert are are struggling to thrive in an extraverted world, these books should be required reading (if only to empower you/them to thrive)!

Laney mentions Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott which is a book about writing. While I have not yet that, that may turn this trifecta of introvert literature into a quadfecta. Definitely recommend this book (and the others)!

The very first chapter has a complete description of me. Laney talks about some of the things introverts deal with or feel, and every sentence from that section elicited a nod and smile, even as I walked around campus listening to the book. Overall, I thought it was a incredibly helpful discussion about how different introverts and extroverts tend to be and how to bridge the gap between the two temperments in ways that round out our life experiences without denying our true natures.
Laney mixes together science and personal stories to communicate what it is like to be an introvert. She even tops each chapter off with some practical advice, which I found useful. I always thought it was weird that I felt so tired when everyone around me was raring to go. It turns out that I just haven't been very true to my natural tendency to want to conserve energy.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who identifies as an introvert or is just curious to know what it feels like to be one.
I didn't give this a full five stars, however, because I did skip a chapter and there were some parts that didn't really engage me, but that's not to say there isn't someone out there that would find the value in those parts I passed by.

Very dated book, (ie palm pilots) so certain parts were not relevant anymore to the world we live in now. But I learned a bit more about introverts I now appreciate characteristics about myself that I did not see as strengths before, and have more understanding for the other introverts in my life.

I skimmed over a lot of this book, skipping to more relevant or interesting sections. I already knew that I'm a left-brained introvert, so I concentrated to the sections that applied to me.

Got some really great information from this book. Lots of insight - except for that recommendation for listening to Bill Cosby audiobooks or routines. Gonna pass on that one.

If you're an introvert, or deal with us regularly, I'm sure you'll get something out of this book.

Well, it was ok. I would say a must read for people who have just recently discovered their introversion for those who are past that point, skim or forget it.

Super interesting to learn more about the varying neural pathways & neurotransmitters used by introverts and extroverts. I didn’t know they were different, but it makes a lot of sense. Also love that Marti loves cookies so much; she mentions them 3-4 times throughout the book.