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Must-Read Books for Introverts (and those who love them)

People often ask me what books I recommend for introverts. These are my current top three.

The Introvert’s Way: Living a Quiet Life In a Noisy World — Sophia Dembling

Thumbnail cover of The Introvert's Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World

This is my one of my favorite books for introverts. Dembling has drawn from her own astute insights and blended them with her expertise in psychology to produce an insightful and introspective book. She makes the case — for dozens of preferences, characteristics, and idiosyncrasies — that we’re not wrong, we’re just different. By understanding our preferences we can learn how to turn them into strengths. Check out my short review of The Introvert’s Way in one of my newsletters.


Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking — Susan Cain

Thumbnail cover of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

This is the ground-breaking book that pushed society’s acceptance of introversion past the tipping point (at least in America). Thanks to Cain’s well-researched ideas and her insanely popular TED Talk, it’s okay to be quiet now … or at least it’s okay to talk about it. Cain’s book is part introspection, part social commentary. One minute Cain will be talking about what it’s like to be an introvert and the next she will provide cutting analysis of what’s wrong with our classrooms or our “open-office” work environments.


Quiet Influence: The Introvert’s Guide to Making a Difference — Jennifer Kahnweiler

This is a practical guide on how to leverage your preferences as an introvert to great effect as an influencer and a leader. Careers are made by people who can get stuff done. Getting stuff done requires you to know people and be able to influence them. Introverts do this in their own way. At the heart of the book Kahnweiler takes six of our natural preferences and shows how to turn them into leadership strengths.


And of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend my own book, which goes to great lengths to illuminate the introvert / extravert spectrum and how everyone should leverage their personal style and preferences when building professional relationships.


Originally published July 2, 2015. Update June 21, 2019

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