“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”
Many people out and about today find solace in the quiet, introspective world of books. For those who prefer solitude and thoughtful reflection over small talk and socialising, certain reads can feel like a comforting companion. Whether you’re on the hunt for insightful guides on embracing your introverted nature, stories from individuals who reflect your inner world or self-help bestsellers tailored to help you step out of your comfort zone and become more extroverted, the right book can be a refuge and a source of empowerment. Which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would curate the best introvert books in one place. Understand yourself better and unwind from the hustle and bustle with these great books for introverts!
Quiet: The Power Of Introverts In A World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain
First up on our list of introvert books is Susan Cain’s Quiet. A Goodreads Choice Award winner for Best Non-Fiction and one of the defining books for introverts, Cain argues how we dramatically undervalue those who prefer listening to speaking and shows how much we lose in doing so.
She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and illustrates just how much it has permeated our culture. She also shines the spotlight on some of the most successful introverts, ranging from a high-octane public speaker who recharges after his speeches, a record-breaking salesman who taps into the power of questions, to iconic figures from across history including Rosa Parks, Steve Wozniak and Dr Seuss. Brilliantly researched and passionate in its arguments, Quiet still has the potential to change the way in which we see introverts, and how they see themselves.
Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength – Laurie A. Helgoe
Psychologist Laurie A. Helgoe reveals that more than half of all Americans are introverts in her book, Introvert Power. She explains how introverts gain energy and power through solitude and reflection. She also explores how society is geared toward the extroverts out there, delving into the pressures to enjoy parties, talking and other interactions can lead us to believe that inward orientations are a problem.
Introvert Power is one of the best books for introverts looking to fully understand exactly why that isn’t the case. Helgoe’s work is a groundbreaking call for an introvert renaissance, providing a roadmap for how introverted people can take advantage of this hidden strength in their daily lives. Backed up by the voices of several introverts, Introvert Power teaches how to claim private space, carve out time to think and reflect, usher in a slower pace to life and overcome the hurdles of parties, crowds and interruptions.
The Introvert’s Way: Living A Quiet Life In A Noisy World – Sophia Dembling
Sophia Dembling’s The Introvert’s Way is a smart book that challenges introverts to take ownership of their personalities with quiet confidence. Through a mix of personal insights and tested psychology, Dembling assures readers that the introvert’s lifestyle is not lacking in anything as some would lead us to believe.
The Introvert’s Way encourages and empowers introverted people to embrace their nature and respect the traits they may have felt guilty or resentful for having and, crucially, begin to view them as the assets they really are. By honing in on what makes them unique, this inspiring book for introverted people has helped its readers change the way in which they see themselves, and how they engage with the world.
The Secret Lives Of Introverts: Inside Our Hidden World – Jenn Granneman
One of the most famous introvert books available, Jenn Granneman pens a compassionate uncovering of the secret inner world of introverted people in The Secret Lives of Introverts. Designed to explore, discover and celebrate, Granneman draws on scientific research, in-depth interviews with experts and other introverts and her own personal journey to illustrate how an introverted mind ticks, and why so many people get it wrong initially.
Whether someone is a proud introvert, an extrovert trying to learn more about how they work or just a curious individual interested in psychology, Granneman’s book is an invaluable resource for uncovering everything from how much introverts really have to say, how they tap into their creativity, to what goes on behind the scenes when they go quiet.
The Introvert Advantage: How To Thrive In An Extrovert World – Marti Olsen Laney
If you’ve ever felt yourself ‘zone out’ when things get hectic, feeling energised when you’re alone or noticed small details others have missed, good news, you might be an introvert. If you’ve ever caught yourself doing any of these things, Marti Olsen Laney’s The Introvert Advantage is the book for you.
In The Introvert Advantage, Olsen Laney shows introverts, and their extroverted loved ones, how to work with instead of against their temperament to live a more fulfilled life. Delving into relationships, parenting, socialising and the workplace, Olsen Laney’s book comes with a number of coping strategies, tactics for managing energy and dozens upon dozens of invaluable tips for not only surviving but truly thriving in an extroverted world.
Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come: An Introvert’s Year Of Living Dangerously – Jessica Pan
What would happen if an introvert lived like a full-bodied extrovert for one whole year? If they knowingly, and willingly, put themselves in the sorts of social situations they would normally avoid like the plague? Writer Jessica Pan attempts to find out in her 2019 book, Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come.
With the help of various extrovert mentors, Pan embarks on a number of personal challenges ranging from talking to strangers, travelling solo, hosting a dinner party and performing stand-up comedy. Her journey and misadventures explore whether living life like an extrovert can yield lessons that might improve her life, and what happens when an introvert fights their natural tendencies.
The Highly Sensitive Person: How To Thrive When The World Overwhelms You – Elaine N. Aron
For introverts who feel that time alone is as essential as food and water, that noise and confusion can quickly overwhelm them and that their nature has led to them being labelled as ‘too shy’ or ‘too sensitive’, Dr Elaine N. Aron puts forward the case of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) in The Highly Sensitive Person.
Aron, a clinical psychologist, workshop leader and an HSP person herself, shows readers how to identify this trait in themselves and make the most of it in everyday situations. Drawing on her many years of research and hundreds of interviews conducted, she demonstrates how to better understand yourself and your traits to establish a richer, fuller life.
Quiet Girl In A Noisy World: An Introvert’s Story – Debbie Tung
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World is a sweet, funny and poignant series of comics by Debbie Tung that reveal the ups and downs of coming of age as an introvert. Delivered in a loose narrative that readers can dive into at their own pace, Debbie chronicles how she discovered that being alone was something she needed.
From navigating her final year in college, socialising with friends, dating and falling in love with an extrovert, moving in, getting married, building a career, overcoming in-laws and everything else that comes along with attempting to fit in, Quiet Girl in a Noisy World delivers an uplifting and positive pro-introvert message that is sure to resonate with any reader looking to learn more about the trait.
Quiet Influence: The Introvert’s Guide To Making A Difference – Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
Introverts often feel at odds with a world that increasingly seems to favour the extroverts. But there are still ways in which they can have some sway. Jennifer Kahnweiler proves introverts can be highly effective influencers by, instead of acting as extroverts do, they use their natural strengths to make a difference.
In Quiet Influence, Kahnweiler lifts the lid on six key strengths of introverts. She also includes a Quiet Influence Quotient (QIQ) quiz for readers to measure how effectively they are utilising these strengths. Through questions, tools, exercises and fascinating real-world examples, Quiet Influence is one of the best introvert books for those looking to master the unique strengths that come with an introspective mind.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
