Scan barcode
A review by victoriakleinco
The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World by Marti Olsen Laney
4.0
For introverts (like myself), it is easy to feel like an island, lost all alone in your head. The replies from Ode readers were heartwarming & honest, proving that the 1 in 4 of us that are introverts aren’t alone.
A book like this should be required reading in all schools, probably around middle-school-level. The concept of being an introvert is widely misunderstood, and author Marti does a downright phenomenal job at debunking those myths. From page 19:
Introversion is at its root a type of temperament. It is not the same as shyness or having a withdrawn personality, and it is not pathological. It is also not something you can change. But you can learn to work with it, not against it … The strongest distinguishing characteristic of introverts is their energy source: Introverts draw energy from their internal world of ideas, emotions, and impressions. They are energy conservers. They can be easily overstimulated by the external world, experiencing the uncomfortable feeling of “too much.”
For a more relative analogy, Marti writes on page 20:
Introverts are like a rechargeable battery. They need to stop expending energy and rest in order to recharge. Extroverts are like solar panels … Solar panels need the sun to recharge – extroverts need to be out and about to refuel.
After an intelligent introduction to the differences between introverts & extroverts, Marti goes on to cover evolutionary & biological reasons how & why the two key personality types developed. While psychology is an important element when talking about introverts, Marti provides detailed information about scientific documentation introversion, extroversion, and how the differences affect our thought processes. Finally, she wraps up the book with 3 full chapters with tips, tricks, and advice on how to live a full, progressive introvert life.
I can’t say enough about how impressive this book is. While I had a feeling I was a bit of an introvert, reading The Introvert Advantage only stood to cement the concept. Many folks I’ve met just don’t understand me & I’ve never really known what to tell them. Thanks to Marti’s book, that has all changed. For the first time in my life, I’m not terrified by the concept of socializing because I know, thanks to what I’ve learned, I know how to handle any situation that comes along in my life … in my own introvert-style way.
A book like this should be required reading in all schools, probably around middle-school-level. The concept of being an introvert is widely misunderstood, and author Marti does a downright phenomenal job at debunking those myths. From page 19:
Introversion is at its root a type of temperament. It is not the same as shyness or having a withdrawn personality, and it is not pathological. It is also not something you can change. But you can learn to work with it, not against it … The strongest distinguishing characteristic of introverts is their energy source: Introverts draw energy from their internal world of ideas, emotions, and impressions. They are energy conservers. They can be easily overstimulated by the external world, experiencing the uncomfortable feeling of “too much.”
For a more relative analogy, Marti writes on page 20:
Introverts are like a rechargeable battery. They need to stop expending energy and rest in order to recharge. Extroverts are like solar panels … Solar panels need the sun to recharge – extroverts need to be out and about to refuel.
After an intelligent introduction to the differences between introverts & extroverts, Marti goes on to cover evolutionary & biological reasons how & why the two key personality types developed. While psychology is an important element when talking about introverts, Marti provides detailed information about scientific documentation introversion, extroversion, and how the differences affect our thought processes. Finally, she wraps up the book with 3 full chapters with tips, tricks, and advice on how to live a full, progressive introvert life.
I can’t say enough about how impressive this book is. While I had a feeling I was a bit of an introvert, reading The Introvert Advantage only stood to cement the concept. Many folks I’ve met just don’t understand me & I’ve never really known what to tell them. Thanks to Marti’s book, that has all changed. For the first time in my life, I’m not terrified by the concept of socializing because I know, thanks to what I’ve learned, I know how to handle any situation that comes along in my life … in my own introvert-style way.