"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain

In "Quiet," author Susan Cain deftly shows the healthy differences between introverts and extroverts and makes a compelling case for how American society tends to admire extroverted traits and set up many aspects of our lives - education, work environments, and even religious institutions - in ways that can be detrimental to introverts.

One of out every 2 or 3 Americans is introverted, according to Cain, but yet this is ofen ignored when establishing patterns of working together and fostering creativity. For example, in most public education systems today, students are grouped in clusters in the classroom, working on group projects almost non-stop. In workplaces, offices are being abandoned in favor of open floor plans. Such structures can hinder introverts, many of whom require quiet, uninterrupted time to formulate ideas and develop responses.

Cain also makes compelling arguments against group brainstorming and shows, through studies and other evidence, how people brainstorming together and "groupthink" scenarios can actually hinder creativity and idea generation.

Cain is not arguing that introverts are superior or that every aspect of life should be geared toward their preferences. However, she does make the case, quite superbly, that ignoring the differences between introverts and extroverts can have a damaging effect on relationships, businesses, and society. A great read for introverts and anyone who interacts with them - teachers, parents, spouses, bosses and pretty much everyone.

 - Cari Cusick

"Howard Raid - Man of Faith and Vision" by Elizabeth Raid

New to the Hesston Public Library, this biography is one of the Mennonite Reflections Series published by Pandora Press, Kitchener, Ontario. Robert S. Kreider, North Newton, wrote the forward.

Written with a daughter’s love and devotion pouring from every page, her admiration demonstrates how his firmly planted faith led him to unimagined purposes. When Howard witnessed his own father’s slide into despondency over insurmountable debts, causing him to leave his family, Howard said, “This was not the role model I wanted to follow. Rather it made me strongly determined to prove that we could make a success of our lives.

From his mother, Clara, he learned to face life’s problems squarely and go forward to find time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and, most of all, to stay close to and support family members.

“Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” James 1:22 became the cornerstone of Howard’s faith. Steps along the way included becoming a Boy Scout Leader, President of Intermediate Endeavor Society, a teacher of the Intermediate Sunday School Class followed by becoming S.S. Superintendent at Zion Mennonite Church, Donnelson, Iowa. He thought of entering Bluffton College in Ohio as a ministerial student, but instead, entered Parsons College where he had an opportunity work and study.

He began teaching at Sharon Center, Iowa, in 1938 and married Pauline Krehbiel in 1940. He then took a summer pastorate at Bethel Mennonite Church in Fortuna, Missouri, leading him into both teaching and preaching. Daughter Elizabeth was born in 1944. He read of an opportunity to teach at Bluffton College, where Pauline had attended previously.

But as he pursued this lead, he first found another challenge which would support his mother and brothers by developing Raid Brothers Construction Company in Iowa. This stone quarry company challenged Howard and his brothers’ business skills. It established programs for farmers to apply limestone to enrich the soil as well as improve roads with gravel. Later, as a teacher at Bluffton, Howard brought his students back to the quarry for a “hands on” understanding of business principles and practices – risks and rewards. In Bluffton, he established a business management lab for students at the local Slaw Cutter Factory, which he and several other business people purchased.

During his 32 years of teaching and service to Bluffton College (now Bluffton University), Howard participated in forming Mennonite Mutual Aid (which later became Everence), Menno Travel, Association of Mennonite Aid Societies, and Goodville Mutual Casualty Co.

Howard retired from Bluffton College in 1979 and was granted professor emeritus status. He also was bestowed the Howard Raid Endowed Chair of Business, providing a yearly salary for a “fulltime faculty member in business and/or accounting.”

I think you will enjoy reading about this man true to his convictions according to his faith, a man focused on his family, college and community. I particularly appreciated his quote made when planning the centennial celebration of the founding of the General Conference Mennonite Church in 1960: “To participate in the Centennial means standing between the centuries looking backward with nostalgia and forward with hope.”

-         - Bonnie Scheid