May Book Review!
The Irony of Being an Introvert- Shout it from the
Rooftops!
Joseph D. Portoghese, MD, FACS | Vice President AIAMC Board
of Directors
So, there I was in a group discussion about diversity and
resident evaluations when the question was raised, “What about introverts? Do
they get shorted on evaluations just because they don’t speak up as much as the
extroverts?” Wow. I had never considered that, and I’m an introvert! Imagine
‘mind blown’ gesture here. The insightful person who posed that question was our
own Deb Simpson and, of course, there was a path to explore the issue: she
suggested the book ‘Quiet’ by Susan
Cain.
The subtitle of ‘Quiet’ is “The power of introverts in a
world that can’t stop talking”. While that may grab the attention of a
casual book browser, it doesn’t really do the book justice. One reviewer called
it “part page-turner, part cutting edge science”, and he’s right. ‘Quiet’ is
first of all incredibly well written. Personal anecdotes are mixed with
conversations with researchers and ordinary people in a way that builds a
consistent story that expounds on the book’s premise in an organized and
engaging fashion. Second, the book is meticulously researched with social and
psychological researchers quoted, their work explained, and an appendix lists
nearly 300 citations if you care to go direct to the source material.
In the introduction, Susan Cain states “We see ourselves as
a nation of extroverts - which means we’ve lost sight of who we really are…one
third to one half of Americans are introverts…” Through four major parts, the
author shows the strengths of introverts. She does this without criticizing
extroverts but just our cultural love affair with the Extrovert Ideal.
·
The
Extrovert Ideal! Western culture (particularly American) where the externally
oriented ideal is someone gregarious and comfortable in the spotlight. Speak first, listen later…
·
Your
Biology, Your Self? Think
amygdala and how to respond to stimuli – does hanging out with a small group of
friends seem better than a raucous concert with people you don’t know?
·
Do All
Cultures Have an Extrovert Ideal? Cain argues that there are introverts
and extroverts in almost every species of the animal kingdom – each with a
corresponding survival strategy. Yet
cultures vary in what they value.
·
How To
Love, How to Work? It’s essential
if one’s partner /friends are not your intro/extrovert match – each just needs
to recognize and value the differences and work our compromises. The talents an
introvert brings are vital (careful listening, synthesizing, creativity) yet they
may need to “speak up” a bit before all their thoughts is assembled given the pace
of the workplace.
I’ll end with one more reviewer’s quote: “A smart, lively
book about the value of silence and solitude that makes you want to shout from
the rooftops.” Gotta love irony! I think you’ll enjoy this book.
Brief Bio: Joseph D.
Portoghese, MD, FACS is the Chief Academic Officer and Designated
Institutional Official at AdventHealth Orlando. Clinically Joe specializes in both general
surgery and minimally invasive surgery.
He established and served as program director for the General Surgery Residency. He is on Florida State University’s Community
Board and is a clerkship faculty member for FSU.