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I've picked up and put down quiet for years now.

The book has always been on my I'll get to you list, which is a growing library of titles

that catch my interest but don't have immediate utility.

I mind you, not every book has to have a purpose.

But in my career, I'm often reading non-fiction to prepare for an interview or write about

a topic.

And given that I work with a lot of software engineers at my full-time work, a lot of them

tend to be on the introverted side, and so I felt it was a good time to brush up on

my communication skills with fellow introverts.

The timing of reading this book with the last episode of Conspirituality was purely

fortuitous, and I'll get to that.

Susan Cain traces the cultural change from championing introverts you to outer charm

at the turn of the 20th century.

When figures like Dell Carnegie usurped the wisdom of thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Forget long stretches of contemplation broken up by thoughtful and measured speech.

And forget 19th century manuals that heralded qualities like duty, citizenship, honor,

reputation, and morals.

...