Come to the next discussion of the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain in room 143 on Monday, Nov. 21 during all lunches. You don't need to have read the book to enjoy the discussion. Light snacks will be served. Contact Mrs. Roberson for more information. Also check out the Ted Talk with Susan Cain. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0KYU2j0TM4
Suggested questions from the book:
1. 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?
2. What about the important people in your lives- your partner, your friends, your kids?
3. Which parts of Quiet resonated most strongly with you? Were there parts you disagreed with -- and if so why?
4. Can you think of a time in your life when being an introvert proved to be an advantage?
5. Who are your favorite introverted role models?
6. 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?
7. If you're an introvert, what do you find most challenging about working with extroverts?
8. If you're an extrovert, what do you find the most challenging about working with introverts?
9. Quiet explains how Western society evolved from a Culture of Character to a Culture of Personality. Are there enclaves of our society where a Culture of Character still holds sway? What would a twenty-first-century Culture of Character look like?
10. Quiet talks about the New Groupthink, the value system holding that creativity and productivity emerge from group work rather than individual thought. Have you experienced this in your own workplace?
11. Do you think your job suits your temperament? If not, what could you do to change things?
12. If you have children, how does your temperament compare to theirs? How do you handle areas in which you're not temperamentally compatible?
13. If you're in a relationship, how does your temperament compare to that of your partner? How do you handle areas in which you're not compatible?
14. Do you enjoy social media such as Facebook, Twitter, etc., and do you think this has something to do with your temperament?
15. Quiet talks about "restorative niches", the places introverts go or the things they do to recharge their batteries. What are your favorite restorative niches?
16. Susan Cain calls for a "Quiet Revolution". Would you like to see this kind of a movement take place, and if so, what is the number one change you'd like to see happen?
Other questions:
1. What do you think of the notion of "Quiet persistance" as it was presented in chapter 8 as being common to Asian cultures?
2. Are we different in different situations? What are our social masks? Are they our real selves as proposed in chapter 9, "When should you act more extroverted?" Should we be comfortable with the idea of a "false persona? Should you have to save your true self for the weekends and maintain the false persona that serves your work and school goals?
3. "Free Trait Theory", is the idea that we are born with certain personality traits but we can and do act out of character in service of "core personal projects". What is a core personal project for you? How are your core personal projects going? Could the pursuit of core personal projects help students cope better in social settings like school and extracurricular activities?
4. What are some of the strategies for students proposed in the book and how might they be used to attend to the social-emotional needs of gifted students? Can you add to any of the following suggestions?
- observing the way peers talk and carry themselves
- fake it to some extent, but know and respect the limits of self presentation (leakage)
- identify viable restorative niches for during the day as well as home; make an agreement with yourself and others to maintain regular visits to these restorative niches
- exercise "self monitoring" by observing, following the social cues of the situation
- create index card with 3- 5 relevant, amusing anecdotes to help with conversation
6. How do you identify your core personal projects?