Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Seven Years in the Making: Susan Cain spent seven years researching and writing Quiet before it was published in January 2012, transforming from a Wall Street lawyer who felt like she was living in a foreign country to a writer working from home. Her extreme difficulty with public speaking actually inspired her to explore introversion, and she patiently built her expertise while supporting herself through negotiation consulting work.

Four Million Copies Sold: By 2022, Quiet had sold over four million copies worldwide and been translated into 40 languages, spending an astonishing eight years on the New York Times bestseller list. The book became a number one bestseller and was voted the top nonfiction book of 2012 in the Goodreads Choice Awards.

Over 30 Million Views: Susan Cain's 2012 TED Talk about the power of introverts has been viewed more than 30 million times, making it one of the most popular TED Talks of all time. This is particularly remarkable given that Cain identifies as an introvert and found giving the talk deeply uncomfortable, yet she pushed through because the message mattered so much.

Started a Cultural Movement: Within three weeks of publication, Time magazine featured Quiet as its February 6, 2012 cover story, and by 2015, The New York Times noted that Cain had started a bona fide publishing trend about introverts. Scientific American reported in 2019 that introverts have been having their moment since Quiet's 2012 publication, with the book sparking what became known as the Quiet Revolution.

Rosa Parks Opens the Book: The book begins with the powerful story of Rosa Parks on that Montgomery bus in December 1955, celebrating her as an introvert whose quiet strength changed history. Parks titled her own autobiography Quiet Strength and was described as timid and shy yet having the courage of a lion, perfectly embodying Cain's thesis about introverted power.

Famous Introverts Featured: Cain showcases an impressive roster of introverted world changers including Eleanor Roosevelt, Gandhi, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin, and Marcel Proust. She argues that we owe many of our greatest contributions to society to these quiet, contemplative individuals who knew how to tune into their inner worlds.

One Third to One Half: According to the research Cain presents, one third to one half of all people are introverts, meaning one out of every two or three people you know. Yet you would never guess this because introverts learn from an early age to act like pretend extroverts, trying to pass in a culture that prizes the outgoing and gregarious.

Culture of Character to Personality: Cain traces how Western culture transformed from a culture of character to a culture of personality in the late 19th century, driven by what she calls a perfect storm of big business, urbanization, and mass immigration. This shift aligned with the rise of the salesman and moved society from valuing morals to valuing magnetism, fundamentally changing who we admire and how we raise our children.

Brainstorming Doesn't Work: One of the book's most surprising revelations is that 40 years of research shows brainstorming in groups is actually a terrible way to produce creative ideas. Organizational psychologist Adrian Furnham bluntly stated that business people must be insane to use brainstorming groups, and that talented, motivated people should be encouraged to work alone when creativity or efficiency is the highest priority.

Introverts Salivate More: Cain shares fascinating physiological research showing that introverts even salivate more than extroverts when you place a drop of lemon juice on their tongues. This demonstrates that introversion is fundamentally about sensitivity to stimulation, not about being antisocial or shy, which is actually about fear of social judgment rather than preference for quieter environments.

Harvard Law School Graduate: Susan Cain graduated from both Princeton University and Harvard Law School before becoming a negotiations consultant, training everyone from corporate lawyers to hedge fund managers. She spent over ten years helping people figure out their natural personalities and how to make the most of them, drawing on this rich experience throughout the book.