Sensitive

The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World

By: Jenn Granneman, Andre Sólo

Narrated by: Patty Nieman

“This important book reframes the way we think about sensitivity—our own or someone else’s—and shines a light on the great power in being highly attuned to the world.”—Susan Cain, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet

A paradigm-shifting look at a long-undervalued yet hugely beneficial personality trait, from the creators of the world’s largest community for highly sensitive people

“Don’t be so sensitive!”

Everyone has a sensitive side, but nearly one in three people have the genes to be more sensitive than others—both physically and emotionally. These are the people who pause before speaking and think before acting; they tune in to subtle details and make connections that others miss. Whether introverted or extroverted, they tend to be bighearted, creative, and wired to go deep, yet society tells them to hide the very sensitivity that makes them this way. These are the world’s “highly sensitive people,” and Sensitive is the book that champions them.

From the creators of the world’s largest community for sensitive people, Sensitive teaches us how to unlock the potential in this undervalued strength and leverage it across the most important areas of our lives: friendships and intimate relationships, the workplace, leadership, and parenting. Through fascinating research and expert storytelling, Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo—sensitive people themselves—show us that the way to thrive as a sensitive person is not to hide our sensitivity but to embrace it, and how to do that in every area of life. Weaving together actionable advice, relatable anecdotes, and the latest scientific research, Granneman and Sólo demonstrate how leaning into sensitivity unlocks a powerful boost effect to propel us ahead in life. They hand us the tools and insights we need to thrive as sensitive people in a loud, fast, too-much world.

A powerfully validating, destigmatizing, and practical book, Sensitive plants a gently fluttering flag in the ground for sensitive people everywhere. This inspiring book has the power to change, once and for all, how we see sensitive people—and how they see themselves.

©2023 Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Offering a deft mixture of science reporting, manifesto, and advice, Granneman and Sólo make an urgent case for harnessing the power of the sensitive individual in an increasingly noisy world.”—Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Digital Minimalism and Deep Work

“Granneman and Sólo’s engaging and science-backed gem of a book is equal parts revelation, validation, and celebration. An absolute must-read for everyone who experiences this world with wholehearted deep feeling, conscience, and empathy.”—Ellen Hendriksen, PhD, author of How to Be Yourself

“A well-organized, thoughtful look at sensitivity by the devoted creators of a popular, information-rich online community for sensitive people.”—Judith Orloff, author of The Empath’s Survival Guide

One if the best books that I have read!

Every sensitive person or someone who knows a sensitive person should read this ! This is changing my life !

Will be sharing with my loved ones

I have never felt quite so seen and understood as I did listening to this audiobook. Thank you for taking the time to research and put this information, that I know in my bones to be true, into a form that can be digested even by those who are not “sensitive” and who believe claiming to be a highly sensitive person is akin to claiming to be a fortune teller or psychic.

SHHHHH!

30% of the population is sensitive, so odds are, you are, or know someone sensitive. You might not have the words or awareness to describe exactly what that means, but it’s not hard to figure out. Sensitive people feel more deeply. They absorb more of the sensory overload from this crazy world. They can sense what others are feeling. They see the world at a deeper, more colorful level. Granneman’s goal in this book is to help everyone identify and be aware of sensitive people, how they might be different from less sensitive people, and identify ways that being sensitive can be a superpower. She describes five gifts of sensitivity: empathy, creativity, sensory intelligence, depth of processing, and depth of emotion. These gifts are powerful when they are identified and leveraged. Unfortunately, sensitive people are often misunderstood and treated differently because of their reactions to our too much, too loud, too fast world. Sensitive people are especially drawn to narcissistic people because of their empathy. Transitions are hard for sensitive people because of the depth and engagement they experience. Granneman also talks about how to help sensitive kids, which I found to be particularly helpful and affirming because both of my kids are sensitive, though in different ways. Jet is deeply empathic, so I learned that I need to help him move from empathy to compassion. That helps him move from feeling the emotions strongly, to focusing on how to help. I learned and relearned a lot going through this book. I’m certainly more aware of what sensitive behavior looks like, and I intend to do better about helping my sensitive people cope instead of telling them to toughen up. Thanks, Aunt Sandra for recommending this book.

This is for everyone seeking to understand people better.

Validating!

Incredibly validating and also had a lot of great take-aways. I especially enjoyed the chapter on parenting kids who are highly sensitive — I’d like all of my childrens’ caregivers to read that chapter.

Did anyone else feel a bit exhausted while reading? The examples were overwhelming to this HSP but again, validating and important to read. It also took me a little longer than normal because I went back to re-read so many passages.

Recommend to all HSPs and I recommend chapter 8 to all caregivers of HSP children.

Personal accounts.

I loved the info, the delivery & the intertwined real-life stories. That made all the info very relatable.

Fantastic!

I loved listening to this book. This is the type of book that I will listen to again and again.

Wow!

This book is excellent.

I recently discovered that I am a highly sensitive person, and this book helped illuminate so many aspects of my life. It helped me feel validated and helped me understand the “why” behind my experience in the world.

The authors’ writing is masterful and compelling; you won’t want to put it down. The organization and flow of the content is very well-crafted.

The narration by Patty Nieman is superb. She does so well at expressing the tone behind the writing and is enjoyable to listen to.

Positive reframing

Nothing new on hsps since I already read up about it but appreciated the positive perspectives

Incredible book!

I wish I had this maturing up. It explains so much to me. And as I continue to grow in my personal work, definitely adds to my evolution, my understanding, and my self-love. So well written!

This Book Has Changed My Life

This book has completely changed my life. I am without a doubt, a Highly Sensitive Person. This book showed me the science behind the personality trait, examples of other people like myself, and how to move forward with this information to live my best life.

My entire life I've wondered WHY I feel and experience things so differently than others... and now I finally have answers.

Sensitive friends, I cannot recommend this book enough. I feel SO SEEN, validated, and free to be the passionate & emotional person that I am ❤️ Now I'm PROUD of my Sentitive Superpowers ✨️

Thank you endlessly to @sensitiverefuge for writing this book 📖