A positive and confidence-boosting look at what it means to be quiet – and why we should love and embrace it as part of being YOU!
Drawing on the narrative of his own life growing up as a painfully shy child, Ben Brooks explores what it is to be ‘quiet’ – what it means, what it can feel like and how we can embrace it – and debunks some of the myths about what it means to be a shy person.
Around 60% of adults identify as shy. This is just one of the facts that Ben uses to normalise shyness, outlining stories of famously shy people from the past and the present, such as Charles Darwin, David Bowie, Greta Thunberg, Rosa Parks, Beyonce and Emma Watson. This is but a small number of famous figures who grew up shy but didn’t let it get in the way of their passion and creativity.
Shy kids often have great innate skills – listening, creativity, kindness, compassion and problem-solving – so being shy or quiet is not something to outgrow but something to embrace and be proud of.
Ben Brooks is known for his bestselling and award-winning Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different and Dare To Be Different (I’ll link to the review here), which shed a light on unhelpful gender stereotypes and shared great role models for young boys. Safe to say, Brooks is an expert on helping kids understand themselves better, and his latest book, You Don’t Have to be Loud, is no different.
In this meticulously researched book, Brooks offers readers an engaging and personal look into what it means to be shy. He examines a wide variety of topics, such as how online use can affect shyness, what it means to be an introvert and even the benefits of meditation. Brooks gives the reader many different tools, tips and tricks for making even the quietest voice shine. As a former shy child, I wish I’d had this book when I was younger.
If you have a kid who’s having trouble finding their voice, You Don’t Have to be Loud is an engaging book that gives quiet kids the tools they need to help them live up to their potential. Full of fun and interesting tips and tricks, this is an amazing asset for shy people everywhere. Recommended for ages 9+.
Leave a Reply