Not useful

I listened to about one third before quitting. This book has very primitive information, sprinkled with few good points that are not elaborated on enough. Author is clearly not a professional psychologist. She refers to the reader as "the shy", which is annoying and strange. Also made me think of the type of the information people used to have about introversion 40 years ago, like some vague concept. Modern psychology offers amazing studies and strategies, which don't seem to be are reflected here.

3 people found this helpful

Annoying

Annoying says it all. This book had no useful information other than the occasional references made to actually studies.

1 person found this helpful

great book for young and old

The book inspired my wife to make changes and seek more dreams in her life. I listen to it and will listen to it again. there is so much great content in it.

1 person found this helpful

Pretty Good for Self help book

First if you go into any book thinking it is a Gospel truth panacea to anything you are going to lose.

What this book does well is break down separate ways of being shy and has 85 actionable ideas to address them, not all 85 are for everyone since there are different sorts of shyness. Each "Shybuster" illustrates the problem, solution and reasonings by using anecdotes from Leil Lowndes real life, shared wisdom and citing academic sources. Putting these “Shybusters” in real-world experiences allows you to weigh them out, some of the “Shybusters” are more valuable than others depending on your circumstances. I take it as 85 ideas to try out and not the 85 commandments written in stone.

The one thing she does which is kind of laughable is she claims she was shy however if you listen to the stories she goes from a girl in high school and college attracting all the boys, to being an energetic elementary school teacher, to a flight attendant to a social coordinator on a cruise, she also is constantly calling acquaintances from her past to check up on them something a shy person would never do. However even though I do not believe she was ever cripplingly shy I feel getting into the mind of an outgoing person who has felt shyness and overcome it sort of resets you and puts you in the mind of success. Also, if you look her up online a young Leil Lowndes looks like a blonde Katherine Hepburn, too hot to be shy (one of her anecdotes was about attracting more men than the bunnies at a Playboy Club).

The book is organized into small parts so you can digest in bite sized mini-listen sessions. I listened to it in the car or when I am working. I will re-listen a few times with some emphasis on different sections to allow the "Shybusters" to soak in more, also feel like to get the most out of it you should take notes, journal, do the exercises she says and ultimately set SMART goals with them and take the real-world actions. One downside to audio format though is the lost value of having the written list in front of you to reference, wish she had something like a cheat sheet published somewhere with notes for audiobook listeners.