“In fact, public speaking anxiety may be primal and quintessentially human, not limited to those of us born with a high-reactive nervous system. One theory, based on the writings of the sociobiologist E.O. Wilson, holds that when our ancestors lived… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“Public speaking phobia has many causes, including early childhood setbacks, that have to do with our unique personal histories, not inborn temperament. In fact, public speaking may be primal and quintessentially human, not limited to those of us born with… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“where we fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Our place on this continuum influences our choice of friends and mates, and how we make conversation,… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“I worry that there are people who are put in positions of authority because they’re good talkers, but they don’t have good ideas,” he… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“He believes, as most of us do, that venting anger lets off steam. The “catharsis hypothesis”—that aggression builds up inside us until it’s healthily… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“Soft power is not limited to moral exemplars like Mahatma Gandhi. Consider, for example, the much-ballyhooed excellence of Asians in fields like math and… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“Events like this don't give me the sense of oneness others seem to enjoy; it's always been private occasions that make me feel connected… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“Social anxiety disorder”—which essentially means pathological shyness—is now thought to afflict nearly one in five of us. The most recent version of the Diagnostic… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“So when introverts assume the observer role, as when they write novels, or contemplate unified field theory- or fall quiet at dinner parties- they’re… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“Osborn’s theory had great impact, and company leaders took up brainstorming with enthusiasm. To this day, it’s common for anyone who spends time in… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we've turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform. — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
“But as the word satyagraha implies, Gandhi’s passivity was not weakness at all. It meant focusing on an ultimate goal and refusing to divert… — Susan Cain Copy Share Image
