Let's hear it for the introverts!
This article is part of a series in which I publish reviews that appeared some years ago. If you're anything like me, I sometimes forget about the existence of some titles, so a reminder like this can be quite useful I think.The following review was originally published in Teach Secondary magazine, and so is aimed at teachers rather than writers, but as writers are often called upon to speak in public I thought this might be useful for them too!
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Quiet Power (Susan Cain, Penguin Life, £12.99)
This is aimed at students rather than adults, however, teachers will gain much from reading it too. Introverts thrive by being allowed to be quiet, having time for reflection and not being required to 'perform' all the time. Therefore don't be surprised if group work and speaking up in class fills them with dread.
This book gives plenty of examples of how kids have coped with the demands of living in the extrovert-friendly school environment. Some have even been brave enough to discuss their concerns with their teachers, leading to some changed practice. So the book is definitely one to read yourself and to recommend to students. Despite an unfortunate tendency sometimes to appear to use the terms 'introverted' and 'shy' interchangeably, it's a title that is highly recommended.