Quiet Reading Group Guide

  • Based on the quiz in the book, do you think you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or an ambivert? Are you an introvert in some situations and an extrovert in others?
  • What about the important people in your lives—your partners, your friends, your kids?
  • Which parts of Quiet resonated most strongly with you? Were there parts you disagreed with—and why?
  • Can you think of a time in your life when being an introvert proved to be an advantage?
  • Who are your favorite introverted role models?
  • Do you agree with the author that introverts can be good leaders? What role do you think charisma plays in leadership? Can introverts be charismatic?
  • If you’re an introvert, what do you find most challenging about working with extroverts?
  • If you’re an extrovert, what do you find most challenging about working with introverts?
  • Quiet explains how Western society evolved from a Culture of Character to a Culture of Personality. Are there enclaves in our society where a Culture of Character still holds sway? What would a 21st-century Culture of Character look like?
  • Quiet refers to the New Groupthink, the value system holding that creativity and productivity emerges from groupwork rather than individual thought. Have you experienced this in your own workplace?
  • Do you think your job suits your temperament? If not, what could you do to change things?
  • (If you have children) How does your temperament compare to those of your children? How do you handle areas where you’re not temperamentally compatible?
  • (If you’re in a relationship) How does your temperament compare to that of your partner? How do you handle areas where you’re not compatible?
  • Do you enjoy social media such as Facebook and Twitter? Do you think this has anything to do with your temperament?
  • Quiet talks about “restorative niches,” the places introverts go or the things they do to recharge their energy. What are your favorite restorative niches?
  • Can you think of a time in your life when being an introvert proved to be an advantage?
  • Susan Cain calls for Quiet. Would you like to see this kind of movement take place, and if so, what is the #1 change you’d like to see happen?