The Happy Introvert: A Wild and Crazy Guide to Celebrating Your True Self

by Elizabeth Wagele

BE YOURSELF
BE INTROVERTED
BE HAPPY

All your life you’ve heard the myths . . .
•Introverts are depressed and lonely.
•Introverts wish they were more outgoing.
•Introverts lack self-confidence.

These stereotypes about introverts have been propagated by the people who do all the loud talking—the extroverts. To counter these (and many more) common misconceptions, author Elizabeth Wagele, a self-proclaimed introvert, offers a book that delivers the truth: The Happy Introvert.
This compassionate guide explores the rich inner world you as an introvert enjoy. The insightful advice—presented in a fun format of provocative quizzes wacky cartoons and inspiring quotes—will help you better appreciate your uniqueness.
With The Happy Introvert, you’ll learn to navigate the extroverted world without compromising your creative, independent self.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Mental Health, Reference, Personal Development, Sociology

182 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 2006

About the author

Elizabeth Wagele was an American artist, musician, and author best known for her engaging and accessible works on the Enneagram of Personality and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Raised in Salt Lake City before moving to Berkeley at age 10, she was drawn to creative expression early in life, spending her time drawing, playing piano, and inventing stories. A talented pianist and composer, she studied under Bernhard Abramowitsch and Andrew Imbrie, graduating cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1961. Music remained a central part of her life, both personally and professionally.
Wagele began writing books in her mid-fifties, often infusing humor and self-drawn cartoons into her work. Her 1994 collaboration with Renee Baron, The Enneagram Made Easy, became a bestseller and was translated into 17 languages. She continued to explore the Enneagram through various lenses, including parenting (The Enneagram of Parenting), relationships (Are You My Type, Am I Yours?), and even the experience of grief (The Enneagram of Death). A champion of introversion, she authored The Happy Introvert, blending psychological insight with personal reflection.
Beyond writing, Wagele produced music CDs like The Beethoven Enneagram and Enneagram Variations, where she interpreted personality types through musical performance. Her multidisciplinary approach brought psychological concepts to life in a uniquely creative and compassionate voice. She passed away in 2017 in Berkeley, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, insight, and wit through her books, music, and art.

Reviews

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'm a complete introvert, so this book at the library caught my eye and I had to get it. If you are an introvert and throughout your life have been made to feel embarrassed or ashamed because of it, get this book. We are the way we are, and this world would be chaotic if only extroverts existed. Someone needs to be calm, cool and collected! Not sure if you're an introvert or extrovert? (some people are a little of both, but not me), there is a test in the book to determine that.

This wasn't in the book, but my psychologist friend gave the BEST explanation of introverts and extroverts: An introvert has their energy drained by being around people and is re-energized by being alone, and an extrovert's energy is drained by being alone and is re-energized by being around people. So how do YOU get your battery re-charged? Being with people or being alone?

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was horribly organized and not well written. the last half was very blahblahblah. but the beginning was great. it offered a lot of information about the introvert/extravert dichotomy that i was unaware of. it definitely made me feel more proud of and comfortable with my introverted self and understand myself better. i wish i could send parts of this book to my high school and college teachers who gave me bad grades in class participation. discrimination!!! it also helped me understand the extraverts in my life better.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning: this is not at all a "guide," let alone to "celebrating your true self." The writing was all over the place, lacked coherency and depth. It was full of unrelatable anectodes, empty, unexplained references to enneagram types and a tedious, uninformative part about the Briggs-Meyers Type Indicator. Extraverted preferences are always worded negatively, as if extraverts are a bit silly.

And there are quizzes in there, that are idiotic and redundant. Don't believe me? Here are some (typical!) questions:

True or False?
- Introverted adolescents thrive in large groups, especially when they are put on the spot and asked 'embarrassing' questions (false)
- Introverts always feel relaxed on dates (false)
- Raising adolescents is like nailing jell-o to a tree (true)
- People might have trouble being creative if they're too obsessed with themselves (true)
- It's good to paint, draw or make up cartoons--even if the result is kind of silly (true)

Speaking of silly cartoons: the book is filled with nonsensical cartoons that do little more than distract from the topic. The book is written as if to cater to teens or pre-teens, but then there are parts about how to raise introverted kids. So, also in that respect it seemed to lack focus or a clear goal.

Still want to read the book? Go ahead. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I may not read the whole book it is such a good reminder
of the fact that I am the way I am and that's okay!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A basic book with decent information on introversion (and some info on extroversion), including its expression in children and adolescents. Some information on relationships, Jung, and Myers-Briggs. A short but good appendix with listings of introvert and extrovert characteristics at their best and worst (both as their personality is experienced from the inside and how it appears to others on the outside).

I almost hate to mention the book's drawings, because they're done by the author. On one hand, I appreciate that she creatively and courageously expressed herself; on the other hand... well, the style and point of many of the drawings will not be to everyone's liking and, in my opinion, they did not add to the volume.

Not the best of the many books on introversion now available, but with enough rudimentary information to interest someone who would like to know the basics. For most, it will be a quick read, and you might consider borrowing it from the library or through interlibrary loan rather than purchasing the book.

[Lesli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book, I kept skipping the end of chapters, until I realized this is not what I was looking for, and stopped reading. I thought it would help me to get my introvert happy again, instead of crying at me every time he walked in the door. But instead it was filled with reasons on why its ok to be introvert. Its full of silly cartoons, and comments of being happy with not being the life of the party. I didn't need a pat on my back, I was looking for something meatier. Since I'm already proud to be introvert and to have one as a child, this was not the book for me. I just didn't need such fluff to pat me on the back.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really that great. The first third of the book is very helpful, but I've had too many psychology classes in my life to be impressed with any of the science. I mainly read this to be able to better explain introversion to someone who doesn't believe in it. I may have gleaned a few tidbits for my argument. Time will tell.

And the cartoons are screamingly obnoxious.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positive, reassuring and self-affirming.

[LemontreeLime]

Okay, i admit it. When i do finally find and read this, it really is because of the cover photo..

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I expected but still good. A light hearted and interesting read about introversion and extroversion. I probably would have liked it more if I hadn't already read Introvert Power, plus I was more impressed by some of Wagele's enneagram books.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first few chapters but quickly lost interest after that

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read. She explains the MBTI rather well.

[Starfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh... the first couple of chapters of this book were OK, but I got distracted by real life meltdowns and stuff, and just never ended up going back to it.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad. A bit repetitive, but it's a good primer for people who don't understand how to interact with introverts.

[Rosa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is interesting with different quotes and illustrations. As an introvert, reading this book is like reading myself.

[Ashley Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proud introvert!

[Elyse P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This book did not deliver on its title or its potential. As an introvert, I was interested to know how I could better understand my personality type and navigate my strengths and weaknesses both personally and professionally. The section on enneagrams and Myers Briggs personality tests was helpful, but overall it was a fast read, with very little substance.

[Malloy Tootle]

Includes insights into extroverts and how their behavior differs from introverts.

[Shannon Wyss · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably a great book if you're new to thinking about introversion vs. extroversion or new to thinking about yourself as an introvert.

As someone who's known hirself as an introvert for 10+ years, i got a lot more out of "The Introvert Advantage." Also, Myers-Briggs, on which Wagele's book relies, has been roundly discredited as an accurate indicator of personality types by the psychology community.

"The Happy Introvert" might be more relevant for someone new to this and/or a youth reader.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly interesting book. I would have to rate it 3.5 to be exact. It gives a good overview of introverts - their personality, how introverts may have come about including a biological explanation which I found intriguing.
Overall, the book was a fairly short, straight to the point read. It didn't make me feel any better or how to deal with life as an introvert...so the title was a bit deceiving. It simply states that you should be happy being whoever you are.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great title. It just disappointed me when I read this book after seeing how exciting the title sounds. There were some good parts in this book. Though, there were some chapters that didn't interest me. The way the writer explains things were confusing or just choppy. I will not recommend you to read this book. There are other better books about introverts and introversion.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This book felt thrown together, and it didn't really give a lot of insight. I literally gave it an extra star because there is an entire chapter about Napoleon Dynamite. I mean, Napoleon Dynamite makes everything better.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book caught my eye, but didn't keep my attention as well.

[Alaina Cyr · Rating 2 out of 5]

mercifully a quick read. it is more of an intro to introversion rather than a "wild and crazy guide".