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The Introvert Advantage
Most people don't understand what introversion is. I certainly didn't, despite delusions to the contrary. The book begins by explaining what being an "innie" is all about, using a light conversational tone and experiences from the (introverted) author's life. A number of misconceptions are examined and dispelled. For example, introversion is not shyness or a lack of social skills. It's temperament, hard wired in your genetic code, and cannot be altered. To give some flavor to the remarks, examples of introverts from fiction and real life (e.g. Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jordan, Steve Martin) are listed.
The book includes what has to be one of the weakest personality tests ever devised. The goal is to determine if you're an introvert, but it appears that most responsible adults qualify. Some of my clearly extroverted friends got nearly the same scores as introverts. Skip it.
That test aside, the author does an excellent job of reducing the difference between introverts and extroverts to one of energy levels. Extroverts have more energy -- and recharge by being around large groups of other people, while introverts have less, and recharge by being alone or with a very small group of close friends. The very things that energize "outies" will drain "innies," leading to the "party pooper" perception.
One of the strongest parts of the book is a discussion of the physiology of introversion. Differences in the dominance of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (the "fight or flight" and "throttle down" feedback systems) explain why introverts tend to go through the day at a lower energy level than extroverts. Introverts tend to be less vocal and more "blank", especially when mixed into groups of active extroverts.
The discussion of brain chemistry is equally fascinating: introverts use different neurochemicals for memory, which is why it can take some time (and perhaps REM sleep) for information to fully settle and process. Hence the tendency for great ideas to occur during the morning shower. The chemical mix also explains why the sorts of events that stimulate extroverts can quickly over-stimulate and wear out introverts.
Dealing with Extroverts The second part of the book is about dealing with significant others, children, and co-workers. The first chapter has sections on different relationship pairings (introvert male with extrovert female, introvert female with extrovert male, introvert with introvert). These are insightful and, frankly, would have saved me some grief had I read them a number of years ago. The author gives specific tips for improving communication and understanding in each situation.The chapter on parenting gives tips on identifying introverted children and coping with them. This will be more useful for an extroverted parent, who perhaps doesn't understand why sitting quietly and reading has such a strong appeal. The chapter also has tips for introverted parents with extroverted kids, who need a little more outward show than the parents are perhaps used to giving.
A section on socializing and small talk is in this section, but such things have been covered more extensively in books on overcoming shyness.
Introverts and extroverts often rub up against one another in the workplace. In the last chapter in this section, the author raises a number of issues and suggests ways to cope with them. For example, introverts tend to immerse themselves in a particular project, and like to work without interruption for extended periods. Intrusions disrupt concentration, and regaining it takes time and energy. Extroverts enjoy the occasional interruption, because it gives them an energizing break and avoids monotony. Both sides expect the other to feel the same way, so extroverts interrupt others with quick questions (which annoys the introvert), and introverts try to avoid interrupting others (which makes extroverts see introverts as aloof). The chapter also discusses participation in meetings, giving presentations, and just dealing with people who "interface" differently.
There are other books on relationships, parenting, and on dealing effectively with others in the workplace. This is not the book that puts all others to shame, but if you're an introvert it covers the essentials.
Living in an Extroverted World The last part of the book discusses strategies for living in a world dominated by extroverts. How to manage your time, schedule your life in a way that won't cause overstimulation, how to re-energize through aromatherapy. There is some good advice here, but nothing really new or insightful.The author points out that 75% of people are extroverts, and suggests that might explain why the quick-thinking life of the party is idealized. Introverts often have self-esteem problems because they can't be what most of the world wants them to be. The point of this book is to teach introverts why they are the way they are, to show them which aspects of their personality are immutable and which can be changed, and most of all to show that that there is nothing about introversion that requires making excuses.
Much of the value of this book is in the first third, where the psychology and physiology of introversion are treated as an integral whole. Discovering that personality quirks and the desire to ask "how long are we planning to stay at the party" are normal and expected behaviors is liberating. (I'll be launching the Introvert Liberation Front shortly.) The later sections range from "just okay" to very good, but even if you've seen such before it's worthwhile to get a different perspective. Other books -- many of which are listed in the bibliography -- have covered these topics with greater depth or breadth, but the focus on looking at life from an introvert's perspective separates this from most of them.
I highly recommend this book to introverts or to extroverts with an introvert in their life. (If you work in high tech, you're probably one or the other.)
You can purchase The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World from bn.com. There is also a web site for the book, with merchandise, downloadable pamphlets, and discussion forums. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
But I am a pervert. Is there a good book about that for me?
Q: How can you tell an extroverted computer geek from an introverted computer geek?
A: The introverted computer geek will look at his shoes while he talks to you. The extroverted computer geek will look at your shoes while he talks to you.
Oh, you're not stuck, you're just unable to let go of the onion rings.
Extroverts think out loud while an introvert does it internally. Rather like the difference between an exoskeleton and an endoskeleton: same basic functionality, but the former is better off steamed with some garlic butter and a nice chilled wine.
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
So if you program naked, are your intro or extroverted?
Dr. Laney's book will help millions of introverts understand why they are misunderstood...
I'm pretty sure my fascination with Slashdot contributes to this.
Where does this guy work? :)
If that ever happens around here, the extrovert usually goes "Eeeeeew", and I just shrug it off anyway and go back to reading Slashdot.
Since most people are stupid, and I don't like to waste my time, does that make me an introvert? Just because I don't want to chit-chat about Survivor or American Idol?
Vote Quimby!
I was ready to post some really witty esoteric apropos joke, but I think I'll just keep it to myself.
I find a few quarts of ale energize me, and make me the most charming geek in the world.
I just posted an anti-introvert post on Slashdot, where I spend hours on weekly.
A: His shoes look at you while he is talking.
Wow, thanks for that link to bn.com -- I thought maybe I'd have needed to see daylight and maybe have to interact with someone at the cash register in order to buy the book.
So what you're saying is, you're a pussy.
I'd buy a copy at the bookstore, but then I'd have to go outside.
Nothing a little (ok... alot of) booze can't fix!
I took a class on personality development and we studied all the 'great' minds who have put forward theories on how we get the way we are. Froyd, Skinner, Jung, etc.
I will now summarize for you what every one of them came up with.
"This is what happened to me when I grew up. I think this is what basically happens to everyone when they grow up."
I just saved you a semester of hard work.
.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
There are two types of people in this world. Those who believe that people can be separated into two different types; and those who don't.
Anti Anxiety pills are a waste of money, drink a beer.
Working out doesnt help at all.
Reading a book is the last thing you want to do.
The funny thing is, I'm only introverted offline, online I'm an extrovert who posts all over slashdot.
If you use Linux, please help development of Autopac
An extrovert gets energy...from other people.
No, that would be a vampire.
...but the perverts have the most fun with them.
Sorry introverts.
I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
And people love talking about themselves.
This I was just trying to write a reply to about how much I as an introvert hate talking about myself. Then I realised what a paradox such a statement would have been. Oh well...