Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 231) – Susan Cain

Susan Cain – American Writer and Lecturer

“Some introverts are perfectly comfortable with public speaking; I’m not one of them.”

Susan Cain

Photo courtesy of Steve Jurvetson

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  1. Her book was fantastic, and it’s obviously hard to boil down her work into one quote – but I think this is a mis-characterisation of her position! She says that an introvert can grow very comfortable with public speaking (Free Trait Theory) and even use it to define how they see themselves. This quote focuses on her battle to overcome her public speaking nerves, which is true to the book – but it misses the liberating feeling that an introvert can get from speaking in public!

    Either way, a great thought leader and a great person to quote!

    1. Thanks for the comment, Matt. You are right, and she has done a lot to overcome her discomfort with public speaking. My approach with the quotes is just to throw them up there without comment and let people decide how to take them and, I hope, to start a conversation. Which you have done! Many thanks.

  2. Another outstanding (and beautifully researched) book by a speaker who says he’s also an introvert is EMOTE by Vikas Jhingran. It is one of the best books I have read on public speaking.

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