Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts by Susan Cain

★★★★

I bought this book as soon as it came out, since both my kids have introverted tendencies. But since the book is geared towards middle and high schoolers, and my kids were still in elementary school at the time, the content just didn't feel too relevant yet. Now that my kids are both teenagers, I'm glad I remembered to give this book another go; actually, I wish I had read it just a few years earlier, as I think this book can be helpful as soon as kids are in middle school and/or in their tween years.

Kids are the intended audience for this book, but I read it as a parent. I appreciated the insight into teen perspectives, and there were plenty of illustrative examples validating the experiences and feelings of introverted kids. The book also offered many concrete suggestions on how to "stretch" yourself as needed for various situations, and I came away with specific things I can do to help support my kids as they navigate school, friendships, and life at home.

The book is divided into four parts - school, socializing, hobbies, and home - each focused on how to leverage or manage your introverted nature in that particular arena. Every chapter ends with a clear, concise summary of key takeaway points, a convenient go-to section in case you have a reluctant reader or you're short on time.

Much of the content consists of stories of other introverts who achieved some level of success in some area, generally not in spite of their introversion but because of it. Sometimes a motivational story about a famous person made me think, "Great, but that person is clearly exceptional in their field, how does this help me, an ordinary person?" Stories about specific teenagers at first made me feel like, "Who is this random person?!" but in the end they did inspire a sense of, "Well, if they can do it, then so can I!"

I especially appreciated the afterword for teachers, describing how introverts can be better accommodated in schools, where the extroverted student ideal tends to be more frequently rewarded.