"Quiet" (2012) by Susan Cain

Nick: wants to be an extrovert

Nick revealed his long held ambition to be an extrovert.  He'd read many self help books including Paul McKenna's seminal work "Instant Confidence" but all to no avail.  Perhaps Nick should just accept that he is not Dale Carnegie or Jonathan Ross or Gary Barlow?

Could "Quiet" by Susan Cain hold the key to understanding his own power, the power of an introvert in a world that can't stop talking?  In a word "Yes".  

"Quiet" was a series of eureka moments for Nick.  So maybe it was 100 pages too long, perhaps Mike Judge's "Silicon Valley" explores similar territory in a more amusing way, no matter, this was all solid gold to Nick who finally came to embrace his own introversion.  

Nick also mentioned that in Myers Briggs he is in INTJ before lavishing the book with 7.5/10

Robin felt the book was common sense and that it was too long winded.  He then stunned Hove Book Group with two shock admissions: Admission #1 - he's married to an extrovert, and Admission #2 - he hadn't actually read the book.  He then qualified Admission #2 by stating he had read some of the book but he'd "been a bit busy".  

He had read this Jon Ronson review though.  

So that was alright then.  6/10

Tristan had a few gripes.  This book was just cheerleading for introverts.  What's so great about introverts?  Speak up, we can't hear you.  

Cain's book was a bit of a slog and not exactly a page turner however she made some valid points.  "Quiet" is right to highlight the "cult of extroversion", how teamworking does not necessarily suit all personality types, and, yes, some people need "restorative niches" in a toilet cubicle.  

Tristan is a strong extrovert, and an ENTP.  5/10

Shhhh

Nigel praised this interesting and timely investigation into introversion, and how introverts are undervalued and misunderstood in schools, the workplace, and Western society.  He especially enjoyed the chapter which described how, after industrialisation, the USA quickly evolved into a culture that valued a hearty, sales type personality over more considered personality traits, and how this outgoing stereotype now dominates at the expense of people who are naturally quieter and more thoughtful.  Nigel felt the book's most salient points also feature in Susan Cain's presentation on the TED Talks website and that the main points could easily be summarised in a few pages. 

Nigel is an ISTJ  6.5/10

Whilst Hove Book Group had been enjoying a discussion about "Quiet", Keith had been communicating by text.  After another afternoon of carousing at what passes for Keith's workplace, he had been helping a befuddled man find his hostel, this had caused him to wander the streets of Hove for many hours whilst trying to help the lost man.  

Once a clearly refreshed Keith finally arrived, he described "Quiet" as accessible science, a digest if you will of many research studies which, ultimately, and like so much accessible science, tells you what you already know.  

Describing Hove Book Group as "men of the world", Keith asserted that we had each devised our own strategies for coping with presentations, speeches, theatrical productions, and fronting rock and roll bands.  Did we need Susan Cain to help us?  No we did not.  Were we still cowering in the toilet cubicle?  No we were not.  Might a younger person find this book helpful?  Yes, a younger person might. 

Keith is INTJ.  10/10  

What was Don's view?  All quiet on the Don front.

"XO" (1998) by Elliott Smith

Nick praised the harmonies and middle eights of XO before describing Elliott Smith's death at the age of 34 years from two stab wounds to the chest which were probably self inflicted.  

Nick loves it, and Elliott's mastery of the pop song.

Nigel regaled HBG with tales of a road trip to France specifically to see Elliott Smith at a festival that involved a six hour journey there and back and a mood of simmering resentment from the arguing couple with whom he shared the experience.  Nigel stated he preferred "Either/Or" to "XO" but was quick to acknowledge that both are splendid records.

Tristan said he didn't feel things have really changed.  He still does the same things that he's always done, but that's OK.  Those things are fun.

Robin discussed the film "Boyhood" by Richard Linklater and how he got his daughter to lie about her age so she could see it as the Duke Of Yorks cinema.  What about Elliott Smith Robin?  Er....Elliott who?

So, another pleasant evening, sitting at a table outside the Poets Corner pub in Hove's romantic Poets Corner district meandered to an end.  The empty glasses and discarded crisp packets, the only evidence that weighty discussion and great insights had filled the night air only minutes earlier.