Book Review: The Introvert's Way: LIVING A QUIET LIFE IN A NOISY WORLD by Sophie Dembling

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I really appreciate how this addressed the unnecessary stigma that introverts receive, particularly in american culture but also to a slightly lesser extent in the UK (which essentially copies america's culture), with introverts always being seen as a "problem" by society and told to be "more extroverted". I know how sick to death I am and how much it infuriates me when seeing articles and books that say "How introverts can become more extroverted/a people person", essentially telling us that our introversion is something that needs fixing and that we can't be ourselves, undermining the very concept of self-acceptance.

It really did touch upon some interesting points that I know resonated with me quite a lot. However, it did just annoy me a bit when it said in one chapter that she can understand why introverts can come across as being "a bit of a bitch" to some people (female ones at least). I do not like this stereotype, as for something that is supposed to be promoting introversion as a positive thing it is only ironically doing the opposite saying that (female) introverts can come across as "being a bitch" which is not true, as introversion is nothing to do with being a bitch, maybe some can come across as a bit anti-social/reclusive, but not all, and even then it's not the same as being "a bitch". I realise that it was trying to say come across as rather than that introverts can be bitches as a result of their introvert qualities, but it still wasn't right, as bitchiness has nothing to do with introversion. If anything I would have thought that surely more extroverts are bitches than introverts, not that I want to stereotype extroverts either, but the qualities would fit in more. Also, why just aim it at female introverts, why no negative stereotypes about male introverts, as if its just generalised to female introverts appearing problematic?!

It was definitely an interesting read, though some annoying parts like what I mentioned, and I like how accessible it was, i.e it didn't use all complicated language and did spell out the neuroscientist terminology for us, and didn't waffle on and on, which I'll admit I found a problem with Susan Cain's Quiet, which lacked that conciseness and was a bit too incoherent and complex with its language for my liking. I always like concise, which this mostly was with its brief chapters and streamlined, straightforward language, so I do really appreciate that.