The Power of Introverts (with Susan Cain)
3/2/20261 hr 8 min
Introverts are underrated. So says Susan Cain in her conversation with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about her book, Quiet. She explains why introversion isn't the same thing as shyness and she speaks of the many benefits of solitude and silent contemplation. They also discuss why modern schools and workplaces' obsession with extroversion is problematic, and the reasons for the shift from a culture of character to our current culture of personality. Cain concludes by sharing how the book has changed her own life and helped other introverts navigate a world that can't seem to stop talking.
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First 90 secondsRuss Roberts· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Welcome to EconTalk, Conversations for the Curious, part of the Library of Economics and Liberty. I'm your host, Russ Roberts of Shalem College in Jerusalem and Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Go to econtalk.org where you can subscribe, comment on this episode, and find links to other information related to today's conversation. You'll also find our archives with every episode we've done going back to two thousand and six. Our email address is mail@econtalk.org. We'd love to hear from you. [upbeat music] Today is January 13th, twenty twenty-six, and my guest is author Susan Cain. This is Susan's second appearance on EconTalk. She was last here in October of twenty twenty-four discussing her book Bittersweet. Our topic for today is her twenty twelve book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Susan, welcome back to Ec- to EconTalk.
Susan Cain· Guest1:01
Thank you so much, Russ. It's great to be here. I'm a huge fan.
Russ Roberts· Host1:05
I think I'm the last person to read this book. Um, e-everyone I know has read it. It made a big splash when it came out. Uh, and as I joked with you before we started, uh, I've read it more recently than you have, which gives me a, a certain advantage, but I'm sure y-you remember a little bit about it. How did you come to write, write the book?
Susan Cain· Guest1:26
Well, I had been