Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength - Introvert Power

Very interesting book, detailing introvert "strengths" in a new way to help see the positive side of this personality. Very informative, understandable and encouraging, as practical steps are given to let your strengths shine!

Found this book to be very relatable. Being an introvert, I often feel that I have some extrovert characteristics at times. I feel like over the years I've grown and adapted to the society that surrounds me. But I always needed and felt most comfortable in my quiet space/time

Wonderfully informative and enlightening. Calming for introverts, eye-opening for extroverts. The power of introverts has been overlooked and devalued until this book opened the doors to this treasure.

Found this book to be very relatable. Being an introvert, I often feel that I have some extrovert characteristics at times. I feel like over the years I've grown and adapted to the society that surrounds me. But I always needed and felt most comfortable in my quiet space/time

Wonderfully informative and enlightening. Calming for introverts, eye-opening for extroverts. The power of introverts has been overlooked and devalued until this book opened the doors to this treasure.

It is encouraging to read information on intoverts. It has freed me from the misconception that we are inferior . I'm 69 years old and have tried to "fit in" and/or "measure up" to more outgoing people. Laurie writes clearly and has opened me to new ideas that are freeing me to leve a little differently.

Starts out strong with a number of valuable facts and anecdotes. About a third of the way through the book it just turns into the author complaining on-and-on about extroverts. It comes off as not productive but rather someone trying to air their grievances.

As a life long introvert I found the books content both liberating and affirming. You don't have to be an extrovert to lead a fulfilling life even though for most of my 59 years I thought introversion was a character defect. Excellent book, thank you.

I first listened to this book on Hoopla, I decided to buy it because I found it to be an essential book to have at the reach of my hand whenever I feel like I don't fit in. A few weeks ago I was feeling very depressed after attending a party and feeling very alienated, after looking for some solutions online I came across this title. Laurie Helgoe's words changed my life, helped me realized that there's nothing wrong with me. I highly recommend Introvert Power.

Thank you, Dr. Helgoe, for finally explaining me to myself! For my whole life (I'm now 60) I've felt "out of it", not part of the crowd, always an outlier, even in my own family. I frequently wondered what was wrong with me. Why didn't I like going to parties, why did I clam up when too many people all talked at once, why did I hate those after-work Happy Hours and the mandatory potlucks. Finally, I feel understood and validated! And knowing that there are many, many others like me out there, well, that is such a wonderful thing to learn. What relief to know that I'm just an introvert, not some weird antisocial sociopath!

I was disappointed in the book & sorry I bought it. It's the same story of introverts being misunderstood with many examples of their problems, but no solutions. I couldn't understand how your inner life equates to having hidden strength, or any strength, for that matter. I would recommend it to people who want to learn more about being introverted, hoping they can get more out of it than I.

Way too stretched. Author implements good ideas, but mostly tried to fill pages. Content didn't quite required the amount of pages she gave on personal experiences. Needs to back up her claims on introverted individuals making up more than half of population. It was an alright read.

I identified with the author's description of the introvert's world. She presents some interesting tips on how an introvert can navigate in an extroverted world (the other 50% of the population). I recommend this for both introverts and extroverts, alike.

Just couldn't get into it. Nothing the right book if you're already comfortable in your own skin. Was looking for more insight into how to deal with people as opposed to accepting myself. This may have come in later chapters, but the first 3 couldn't keep my attention.

was great seeing the introvert personality so clearly written and understandable (in places). would have appreciated more info on why we introverts, after having the time to internally process an issue or information, still find it difficult to approach the other person with a "now i'm ready to talk". leaving the extrovert still hanging? this book gave alot of ying yang info instead. don't support the way she inferred it is ok to give her word, and then in order to accommodate HER introvertism, not abide by it. real strength of character there! maybe it changes according to her pyche's recent prediction. what was the reasoning behind the stand that she would not sit down to dinner with husband and children because she is an introvert? i question if that is a healthy message to send my family. would rather join the dinner and give the message that at this time they are important. not my introvertism. just a common so so book.

This was a very well written book, except when she said introverts make up more of the population than extroverts. That is just WRONG. NOT TRUE AT ALL. If anything, she should have said, we really don't know if there are more introverts. Because we really don't know for sure. Look around you, this society if FULL OF EXTROVERTS. And encourages them all the time.
Meanwhile, introverts are pushed aside. And if we are quiet for 2 seconds, extroverts get worried and say, "Are you okay?". We are made to feel like we have something wrong with us.
Television shows are all about extroverts too. They are EVERYWHERE!

Other than that erroneous idea backed up by shady studies and not enough evidence, the book managed to be good.

was great seeing the introvert personality so clearly written and understandable (in places). would have appreciated more info on why we introverts, after having the time to internally process an issue or information, still find it difficult to approach the other person with a "now i'm ready to talk". leaving the extrovert still hanging? this book gave alot of ying yang info instead. don't support the way she inferred it is ok to give her word, and then in order to accommodate HER introvertism, not abide by it. real strength of character there! maybe it changes according to her pyche's recent prediction. what was the reasoning behind the stand that she would not sit down to dinner with husband and children because she is an introvert? i question if that is a healthy message to send my family. would rather join the dinner and give the message that at this time they are important. not my introvertism. just a common so so book.

This was a very well written book, except when she said introverts make up more of the population than extroverts. That is just WRONG. NOT TRUE AT ALL. If anything, she should have said, we really don't know if there are more introverts. Because we really don't know for sure. Look around you, this society if FULL OF EXTROVERTS. And encourages them all the time.
Meanwhile, introverts are pushed aside. And if we are quiet for 2 seconds, extroverts get worried and say, "Are you okay?". We are made to feel like we have something wrong with us.
Television shows are all about extroverts too. They are EVERYWHERE!

Other than that erroneous idea backed up by shady studies and not enough evidence, the book managed to be good.

This is a fascinating and very readable book. I'm an introvert (though not as extreme as the author and some of her quoted introverts), and have been exploring this facet of my life more deeply- so this book came to me at the right time. There were many moments of validation in this book, many useful tips and tactics. I learned a lot- about introversion (what it is not as well as what it is), about the Meyers-Briggs test, about the inner lives of other introverts. This book made me think.

Realizing the extrovert bias in the USA has been an ongoing revelation for me, and it was helpful to find that bias dissected and quantified here. The 50/50 split between E and I is hidden indeed- I had no idea, and the explanation of how the official figure (much lower) came about was interesting. Some commenters seem to have been annoyed by the author's reiteration of that figure, but it felt more like a mantra to me.

On the other hand... All through the book, something kept nagging at me. Then it hit me- the author may have seen through the extrovert bias in our culture, but she's still caught up in a number of other biases common in self-help and spirituality writing and practice. A lot of the recommendations here seem to be based on radically transforming your life, dramatic shifts and changes, reinvention of self, and other deep self-work. It's not really surprising, since her background is in Jungian therapy. That part doesn't offer much to me- I'm already past my "midlife crisis" years, and don't need to find a new identity. I was also disappointed (but not surprised) that so many of her suggestions were about adding more work my life, and getting more out of one's introversion. Too much "Puritan work ethic" bias there for me.

All in all, very useful and a good read.

As others said, this book was life changing. Unlike some of the other books on introversion, Helgoe talks about how to move through one's life, be in the world, how to not just accept but love being an introvert. I initially read the book about 2 years ago and frequently return to read excerpts, especially after I've been in a social situation where I was uncomfortable or uninterested, wondering how I could possibly participate in a discussion about the minutiae of people's lives. Why should I? I'm an introvert. Thank you, Laurie!

The title of the book is misleading. It suggests an analytical, factual read. Where as it feels more like you're reading someone's journal (and a very female-oriented one at that), combined with some social commentary. The author makes a lot of generalizations and uses a lot of "we" phrases. Such as where she talks about how in childhood she kept her side of the room simple and neat- "Japanese-style" as she described it, compared to her sister's messy "extroverted" bedroom decor. And how "you probably" did this too. I think the author is venturing into other aspects of personality and labeling it introversion or extroversion erroneously. There are INFPs (Itroverted, INtuitive, Feeling, Perceiving) introverts and there are ISTJ (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking and Judging) introverts. I, for example- although practical and unattached to material items, which I think was what the author was trying to convey unsuccessfully when talking about her childhood room, had what some might describe as a "messy" room. Because I am more of an intuitive/feeling introvert than a judging and sensing introvert. That's why you can get introverts in fields as diverse as Banking and Finance and Music and creative arts. And this accounts for personality differences despite common defining traits specific to introverts. I don't think she highlights the importance of these Myers-Briggs personality distinctions which she only mentions in passing in the introduction when talking about how introversion has come to be misunderstood. Which leads me to believe that this wasn't very well researched. Additionally, of the assumptions she makes, the most important of these is that everyone reading this book feels ashamed about being an introvert in an extrovert world.I couldn't relate in many places. The writing style is very conversational and in fact feels like it was written by an extravert! For this reason I couldn't get into it. Hopefully there's a more useful book on introversion out there for me. I gave this 3 stars because it wouldn't be fair to give it two as I did not finish it and donated it to my local library. Since buying it in 2011, the author has re-released a new version in 2013.

I have read most of the recently published books on introversion, and INTROVERT POWER is, by far the best one I've encountered. Even when introversion is acknowledged and explained by many authors, it is regarded as an obstacle that needs to be overcome, or an enemy that should be conquered.

Dr. Helgoe identifies introversion as a characteristic of personality that is common, but widely ignored; and explains that when properly understood, introversion can be enjoyed, celebrated and put to productive use.

I have discussed the subject of introversion with people who have advanced degrees in psychology, and I have been told that introversion is a personal choice or an attitude. Bull!

Dr. Helgoe GETS IT! She understands that some people are plenty of company for themselves. She understands that many of us just don't care for parties or crowds or superficial relationships. She knows the value of just a few good friends and the life enhancing value of a solitary retreat. And she knows the need to have the freedom to think your own thoughts and to feel your own emotions.

This is an outstanding book. Introverts will be refreshingly validated by it, and extroverts will be educated.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dr. Helgoe. Thank you for new found self-esteem. For years, I thought because I was more intrigued by the prospect of visiting the back roads of West Virginia than Boston, I thought part of me was a dull hick. I also thought I was dull and empty-headed because I feel a strange kind of piece while I am in certain non-descript open spaces with few to no people around. (Empty grassy baseball diamonds in neighborhood parks are my favorite.) I thought I was partially a bum and throwing my life away, because I like to sit on a bench (like a "bum") observing people. I thought I was a weak escapist who couldn't face reality because I have had a rich fantasy life. I thought I was egomaniacal because I can actually be happy alone, and I didn't get so much of a charge out of meeting other people for its own sake. (Though I do enjoy people if we happen to have something in common.) I also had lingering self-doubt as to "missing out" when I took a pass on social events. (Though there are some I really do enjoy, just not all.) Thank you Dr. Helgoe for explaining the difference between extroverts and introverts. I am just an introvert, though I have learned to pass sometimes. And I really do prefer heavy metal/ grunge to mellow rock, though true to introvert form, I am happy just listening to music. And I enjoy the action of sports events, the drivel of the audience, not so much. "A lot of chatter which really don't matter."

INTROVERT POWER is a very beneficial book. With every page, the introvert feels the warm recognition of oneself in a glow of positive affirmation rather than as someone to be "fixed." The first liberation comes with the research-validated fact that introverts represent 57% of the population, thereby undoing the myth of the introvert as the lone oddball who can't fit in. Introverts are shown how their unique characteristics of reflection, depth, and inner life are important qualities that benefit the world and provide a rich source of inspiration, creativity, and value.

In a world heavily dominated by media, with its external depiction of outwardly-interacting characters, it is easy to form the impression that we live in an extroverted world. "We have become a culture of 'everybody else.'" (p. 18). Introversion becomes less valued in a society that focuses on outputs and external measurement, the inner life of the introvert is invisible, thus presumed to be non-existent.

INTROVERT POWER helps introverts to embrace their special nature, with exercises that help to nurture and flourish one's inner life (imagining one's perfect room, taking personal retreats, etc.) Another helpful technique is to be a "flaneur" in unpleasant situations, viewing ongoing life as an external movie viewer and enjoying the interactions observed. Introverts learn how to marshal and husband their energy and attention, and learn how to be able to say "no" and decline gracefully when extroverts try to "fix" the introvert or influence them to conform to group norms and expected social occasions. Most importantly, the introvert learns that their nature is good, important, valuable, and worthy of respect and protection in a domineering and manipulative world.

There are many great tips and strategies for cultivating one's inner life and creativity in this book, and it is beautifully and engagingly written. It would be a great primer for voyagers of the inner life, especially writers, philosophers, artists, performers, and anyone who appreciates a silent refuge, a book, and time to create. "Introverts paradoxically pull away from culture and create culture. We provide perspective that is seasoned by time and experience, nourished by thought and imagination, and fueled by desire. And our hungry society is ready to hear from us" (p. 220). Like the ocean, the deep waters of the introvert intellect bring up a rich harvest of ideas and culture for the world.

This is a really good book for those just starting to identify as an introvert OR have struggled with that identity and need some validation and suggestions for owning and celebrating your introversion.

My # 1 complaint with this book is a complaint I find with most female writers; constant referencing of their husbands. This is a not an autobiography; it's self help/psych. A few anecdotes here and there are fine for the purpose of supporting arguments, but by and large readers of a self help book aren't interested in your personal life/relationships. Especially when you are using your PhD credentials, which suggest more academic references than this book actually offers.

P.S. What is her obsession with goths (which of course is now outdated)? And since when are goths introverted? They are as chummy and conformist as jocks and cheerleaders.

As an individual who has struggled with aspects of my introverted personalty at times, I truly loved this book by Laurie Helgoe. Rather than being a bundle of coping mechanisms or "it's not so bad" exhortations, the author unveils introversion as a "wellspring of riches," defined not by lack but as an essential aspect of humanity, contemplative and reflective and sometimes mysterious.

Extroversion is often rewarded by the marketplace and by American culture. Sometimes honoring one's introverted qualities can start to feel self-indulgent or selfish. The author paints a picture of unapologetic self-care as a means of attaining one's best self and being of most service to the world: why feel guilty when leaving a party early? Why say "oh, I wish I could, but maybe next time" when invited to an event that won't appeal to you next time, either? As an idealistic and contemplative person, and as someone who needs to internally "finish" a thought before expressing it and thus sometimes struggles to feel like a contributor in team meetings at work when the conversation topic keeps changing fast, this book helped me feel great about my strengths and reminded me that the world needs people like me.

There are practical and pragmatic tips, too, but the book's holistic and comprehensive tone really sets it apart. I couldn't recommend it more highly for introverts or for extroverts trying to understand an introvert in their lives.