The Happy Introvert: A Wild and Crazy Guide for Celebrating Your True Self [Paperback]

Elizabeth Wagele (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 2006

BE YOURSELF
BE INTROVERTED
BE HAPPY

All your life you’ve heard the myths . . .
•Introverts are depressed and lonely.
•Introverts wish they were more outgoing.
•Introverts lack self-confidence.

These stereotypes about introverts have been propagated by the people who do all the loud talking—the extroverts. To counter these (and many more) common misconceptions, author Elizabeth Wagele, a self-proclaimed introvert, offers a book that delivers the truth: The Happy Introvert.
This compassionate guide explores the rich inner world you as an introvert enjoy. The insightful advice—presented in a fun format of provocative quizzes wacky cartoons and inspiring quotes—will help you better appreciate your uniqueness.
With The Happy Introvert, you’ll learn to navigate the extroverted world without compromising your creative, independent self.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Elizabeth Wagele is the well-known author and cartoonist of three Enneagram books. She is a frequent contributor to "The Enneagram Monthly" and advises parents on Clarence Thompson's Enneagram web site. She has also written movie reviews. A trained musician, her performance of a sonata movement from her origianl work can be heard in the movie, "The Theory of the Leisure Class." Even though she is an introvert, she enjoys playing requests, "Name That Tune", and improvising at parties. She claims that this is much easier for her than making small talk. Playing in a jazz trio helped put her through college. Elizabeth lives with her husband, Gus, in their Berkeley house where they raised their four children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Ulysses Press; 1 edition (June 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569755469
• ISBN-13: 978-1569755464
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Moved to Berkeley at ten, majored in music at Cal , married Gus, had four children and taught piano lessons. Renee and I wrote The Enneagram Made Easy - I drew the cartoons in it and Are You My Type, Am I Yours? Then I wrote The Enneagram of Parenting, Finding the Birthday Cake, and The Happy Introvert. I like to play the piano. I've made up some Enneagram variations. Don't forget the "Beethoven Enneagram" CD I made playing parts of his sonatas. That was an interesting project. My latest was "The Career Within You" with Ingrid Stabb. Am working on a book about death and dying. I love my kids and grandkids. I'm always curious about something - a 5 in the Enneagram. INFP in the MBTI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Happy Introvert" is the Friendliest Book I Have Ever Read, October 9, 2006

By 

B. Kyle - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Happy Introvert: A Wild and Crazy Guide for Celebrating Your True Self (Paperback)

"The Happy Introvert" is the Friendliest Book I Have Ever Read.

I feel I've made a new friend and the friend is me. I thought I knew who I was but I was being overly influenced by this extraverted culture we're a part of. This book helped me appreciate the positive sides of myself more by pointing out the many potentials we introverts have. And I thank the book for explaining the neurological basis for introversion and extraversion in a clear and interesting way. I've already used some of her suggestions and found them to be very practical.

I had a lot of misconceptions about this subject before I read
"The Happy Introvert." The clever cartoons hit the nail on the head. I can't wait for her next book.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Happy Introvert, October 16, 2006

By 

Gail Wread (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Happy Introvert: A Wild and Crazy Guide for Celebrating Your True Self (Paperback)

I highly recommend The Happy Introvert -- it is a great and useful read. The author has a fresh, lively and down to earth way of looking at what it means to be introverted, Her approach serves so many goals: stimulating the creative process, encouraging introspect and self appreciation, enhancing parenting skills and communication, and furthering our empathic understand and sense of humour for our wonderful differences.
The Happy Introvert is filled with nuggets of wisdom and insight which can only increase the pleasure and appreciation of our good fortune of being born an introvert. And shed light on our life experiences. One example is the difference in "processing time" needed between introverts and extraverts-- illuminating for me the basis of my general frustration in group discussions.
Would that it was required reading for both introverts and extraverts--think of the multitude of miscommunications which could be avoided if each better understood the other's verbal and body language, their needs and world view!!! The many cartoons are a delight, and add a further dimension. I will NEVER again apologize for being introverted.... thank you Ms. Wagele, where ever you are!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Visual and Intellectual Delight, September 16, 2006

By 

Edward Arleigh (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Happy Introvert: A Wild and Crazy Guide for Celebrating Your True Self (Paperback)

The title tells it all. The verbal sketches are fine and fun, and the drawings, cartoons, are a pure delight. In short, you don't have to have the stamina of someone who reads Proust or Jung to ride the wave of this wonderful exploration of the inner life of those whom the more "out there" types call introverts. And if you're an extrovert, you'll love to open to a great cartoon and share it with the lady behind you in the checkout line -- or the cashier.