This is a review of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain.
Fantastic! Why has it taken so long for this book to be written? “Quiet” systematically tackles the topic of introversion from a number of angles: history, culture, psychology, sociology, biology, family and workplace. The book is well researched and well presented. It does not come across as pop-psychology but is very accessible nevertheless.
I am an introvert. And on a personal level this book resonates with me. Sure, like many, I’ve learned to function in an extroverted world. But it is freeing to know that it is okay to be an introvert. It is not a character flaw; it is just part of who I am.
I highly recommend this book to introverts, extroverts and to those who don’t know which they are. There is great advice that is helpful in family situations as well as in the workplace. Everyone should read “Quiet”. Okay, leave me alone now, I want to be alone and think!
“1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.” Luke 5:1-3
I have heard sermons explaining the acoustic effects of preaching from a boat. Maybe there’s something to that. But when I read this passage recently, I wondered if Jesus needed personal space. Did he want to get in the boat so that he could have some space? I doubt the concept of personal space was the same in that time as it is today. I think it to be a fairly unique attribute of American culture. And I’m not trying to foist an American concept of personal space on Jesus. But the question was there. Did Jesus need personal space? Other passages in Luke have jumped out to me since that question popped into my head: ones that mention Jesus going away to be alone. Luke 8:42 mentions the crowds almost crushing Jesus. That is said in the context of the women who was healed by touching him.
At first the idea of Jesus needing personal space surprised me. It seemed odd, I realized, because I was thinking of Jesus as less than human. I realize that I tend to think of him as perfect and immune from human difficulties. Perfect yes. But not immune. Might he have needed personal space? Sure. Might he have relished time alone away from people? Sure. Might he have been an introvert? I always assumed that he was an extrovert because of the stories we see in the gospels. But those stories only account for a fraction of his life. Would his life be more remarkable if he was an introvert? I don’t know. But the thought that he might have been makes him feel more real to me. Because I am an introvert. Maybe he was like me.
Do you have a hard time balancing your work and your family? Is your family life difficult because your work is consuming your time and energy? If so, then I recommend that you read When Work & Family Collide by Andy Stanley. This is a short book, part motivational, part practical steps. What I liked best about the book was the chapter about setting up a test. It seems to me that people are often reluctant to change because of fear of what might happen. Setting up a test is a great way to validate a potential change.
This book is not a complete Theology of Work. It leaves a number of questions unanswered. But it gives the few first steps to start walking toward a life where family is not compromised by overcommitment to work. And as such, I think it succeeds.
One of my goals for this year is to “see people”. I want to look past the surface, past their appearance. I want to see more than just what they might do for me. Will they help me or get in my way? Are they attractive or plain? What do they do for a living? Are they rich or poor? Are they smart or of ordinary intelligence? I’m sure we all evaluate each other on any number of things that are important to us. We tend to want to put people in boxes, categories. Not because we have some malice, but because that’s often just how our minds work. I want to move beyond these things. I want to see a person. A person whose world is not my own. A person who has secret hopes and dreams. A person who is made in the image of the creator.
I read “Man Alive” by Patrick Morley with some hope. The need to feel alive, to have a purpose, to make a difference–I have all those things. So I thought it would be a great book. And it is good, don’t get me wrong. I think the author is correct in his assessment and major points. Then why am I so disappointed after reading the book? Is it just that some of the things he suggests sound easy enough and yet sometimes prove to be unattainable? Is it that there is no recognition that even with all those things we are still sometimes left wanting more? Are there not some needs that will never be met here and now? Are not some of the soul aches that draw us to God in the first place the very things that keep us connected to him? I don’t know. Maybe my disappointment has nothing to do with the book. It is possible that the only failure in the book is that it over-simplifies. Nonetheless, I think this book asks a lot of the right questions. And it is very accessible. I would recommend it for use in men’s Bible studies or discussion groups.
Email, Text Messages, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Coworkers, Neighbors, Friends near and other further away. Sometimes I worry that I do not know how to be alone anymore. At other times, despite all the connections, I feel very alone. And that scares me. How can I feel alone when I am more connected than I have ever been?
I am becoming more aware of my own desires and motivations. I want to be a hero to my boys, but I don’t want to do the hard work of being a dad. I want to be seen as competent at work more than I actually want to be competent. I want to be a good guitar player, but I don’t really feel like practicing. It’s not that I mind hard work, or that I think I’m being hypocritical. It’s just that I’ve been noticing the mismatch. My desire to be seen as an awesome person is usually stronger than my desire to do something about it.
Dug Down Deep is a sometimes autobiographical, sometimes, systematic theology, but always approachable. The attempt is to give people a tool to help them think rightly about God, but in a way that is attainable. Most people will never read through a full systematic theology book. This book does as good a job as is possible in 200 pages of which half are autobiographical stories and anecdotes. For those wanting to get their heads spinning with thousands of pages covering every possible angle, this is clearly not what you are looking for. For people looking for a good book to read and discuss in a small group setting, consider Dug Down Deep. I think this would also be really helpful for high school students as well.
This is a review of Espresso for your Spirit; Hope and Humor for Pooped Out Parents by Pam Vredevelt.
Espresso for your Spirit is a collection of anecdotes and musing about parenting, life and God. The aim of the book is to be inspirational, to give hope and a bit of humor. I think it best succeeds where the author shares her own personal stories, her struggles and insights. At certain points, the author shares other people’s stories as well. I personally preferred the author’s own stories. The book would have had a bit more continuity if it were all coming from the same voice. But aside from that minor quibble, I think the book works. The format fits well in a busy lifestyle. Chapters are short and each one gives the reader a shot of hope.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group through their Blogging for Books program.
