(Most) Nerds are Introverts

A book on Introverts was just published. Mostly it states things that are obviously true. But since most people don't know these things and they're not part of mainstream cultural thinking, it's worth reading.

Jobs and Wozniak

One review of the book refers to the hoopla about the "wonderful, creative" Steve Jobs. Here's an excerpt:

If you look at how Mr. Wozniak got the work done — the sheer hard work of creating something from nothing — he did it alone. Late at night, all by himself.

Intentionally so. In his memoir, Mr. Wozniak offers this guidance to aspiring inventors:

“Most inventors and engineers I’ve met are like me ... they live in their heads. They’re almost like artists. In fact, the very best of them are artists. And artists work best alone .... I’m going to give you some advice that might be hard to take. That advice is: Work alone... Not on a committee. Not on a team.”

Introverts

Not every introvert is a nerd (far from it); and not every nerd is an introvert (though most of them are, I think). So this book is worth looking at because of the high overlap. I was particularly struck by the transformation in American society to elevate the extrovert to the image of what is desireable in a human being. To the point of admissions officers at top universities saying they'd rather have someone who was good at sports and slapping backs than someone who (among other things) doesn't put going with the crowd above all else.

Comments

[Zakaria]

Thank you for your thoughts and the Atlantic actirle, which I consider a modern classic' and alas, although I am outgoing and interactive,I am also an introvert.Recently we relocated from Europe ((yeah, that goode//ugh olde one')) and I have been shell-shocked ever since, on a quasi-daily basis by being stuck in endless voice-mail-trails starting with punch 1 for English' andsoforth ending with we have changed our menue options' which leaves me clueless and exhausted and really frustrated after 20 min of achieving : NOTHING.Except wasting my time.Just talking of basic everydaythings like calling a utility company.Can't wait to get back to the ugh-olde-Europe.Gee, how can you Americans tolerate this ?-March 15, 2005 at 5:33 pm

[Ulya]

Twitter is like playing. The thing you have to remnid yourself of is every interaction gets your name noticed. Name recognition is the #2 reason people buy a book. (#1 is recommended by a friend). So even though you're playing, you're also selling your books.The time management is something we all have to learn. I like to pop in, say something, then log off. I get @replies sent to my phone, so I am still available to respond. Is this how I always do it? Sadly, no. I get sucked in by all the fun exchanges and get lost for hours at a time. It's something I need to work on.