In this day and age, extroversion is king. How else can one market oneself, network effectively, collaborate with others and become well-known in his or her field?

At Greenlight Bookstore on Monday night, Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, discussed this issue with George Prochnik (In Pursuit of Silence: Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise).

And it is an issue. Not only do introverts boast important and helpful traits that can get lost in the noise, but many feel guilty about their propensity for quieter environments. Susan (a self-proclaimed introvert) argues for balance and an appreciation for both types of people (she is, after all, married to an extrovert).

Two historical/cultural incidents promoted the rise of extroversion, according to Susan. The first was the move from rural areas to cities at the turn of the 19th century. Having to compete for jobs, people learned to differentiate themselves and strengthen their social skills in order to stand out.

The second incident is more recent: the rise of the Internet. Ironically, the online world in its earliest incarnation was run by introverts who felt more comfortable interacting from behind a screen than in person. But now, everyone’s online, and the reverence for collaborating and interacting has supplanted what Susan called “individual oneness.”

Susan’s interest in the subject stems from the early days of her career. In the world of corporate law, she was surprised to find that her introvert qualities were actually an asset. She was able to listen to colleagues, form alliances, and offer a constructive tone in meetings. Susan began to study the science of introversion vs. extroversion (terms coined by Carl Jung). She found that these tendencies are apparent in babies and children, and also that the level of stimulation of one’s environment can greatly impact learning. Susan’s next venture is to promote a more inclusive environment in schools, where a one-size-fits-all approach can penalize kids who aren’t as outspoken as their peers.

Susan and Greg spoke briefly about extroversion/introversion in religion. Susan remembered a priest she’d met who felt that god “was not happy with him” for wanting time to himself. Greg compared this to the Trappist monks he’d visited, who believed the opposite—that silence was the only way to hear the voice of god. Historically, religious figures—such as Jesus, Moses and Buddha—had to go out into the wilderness alone in order to hear their calling.

Another interesting point discussed was the ability introverts have to push themselves outside of their comfort zones in order to pursue passions. Susan noted a world-famous lecturer who would often run to the bathroom after speaking to allow himself a quiet place to recover. She also noted the “transformative leadership” of introverts such as Gandhi, Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt. Despite their quiet nature, they were able to impact the world in large-scale ways.

“There is power in core beliefs,” Susan said. “People sense it.”