Introverts don’t have it easy. I am an introvert, and I remember as I was growing up, I was told over and over that I needed to speak up, go out, make more friends. But I didn’t want to. I just wanted to live my life my way, even if that meant I looked like a turtle pulling into its shell. I wish I’d had this book when I was a kid. I would have felt understood.
A Turtle’s Guide to Introversion is a charming short book about being an introvert. What the turtle says about being an introvert is universal for those of us who prefer quiet solitude. He explains how he prefers to be alone, and shares that he likes art and music and potting plants.
He is drained by socializing, but he does enjoy conversations with close friends and family, and he enjoys quiet moments spent in the company of others. Loud noises are irritating, but the gentle sounds of nature are soothing and comforting. He is a good listener and wants to be a good friend but worries that he is misunderstood by others.
I’m using the pronoun “he” here for readability, but the book is told from the turtle’s perspective. All the statements are from the perspective of “I,” so a young female reading this could just as easily think of the turtle as a “she.” That’s one of the beautiful things about this book—it’s for any introvert, of any gender or any age. It rings true to us all.
The pages are filled with 2-color illustrations of turtle and his friends, giving a lightness to the words that come from a deep well within. Artist Ton Mak, who also wrote and illustrated A Sloth’s Guide to Mindfulness, shares her inner life with us through these pages, offering up an honest sense of introversion and how she interacts with the world.
Those who have trouble understanding why introverts don’t want to go out with them might use this book to build understanding and empathy for us quiet types. Introverts will read this and feel seen, and they can use it to help explain why they are the way they are and just how important solitude is to them. As I said, it would have helped me when I was younger, as I had extroverts in my family trying to get me to move outside of my comfort zone simply because they couldn’t understand my perspective.
A Turtle’s Guide to Introversion is a quick read, but the ideas in these pages will resonate long after the book is closed. I loved this little book, with it’s whimsical illustrations and powerful insights. It would make a great gift for all ages, to celebrate the introverts and their special powers in a noisy world.
Egalleys for A Turtle’s Guide to Introversion were provided by Chronicle Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.
