Sensitive: The Power of a Thoughtful Mind in an Overwhelming World Paperback – 28 Mar. 2024

I had read Elaine Aron’s original book on the subject, The Highly Sensitive Person. Sensitive is its contemporary companion. Through a balance of research findings and practical advice this book provides useful insights into how sensitive people function and what their needs are.I’ve felt different from a young age, and reading this book gave me a greater understanding and respect for my neurodivergence as well as tools to take care of myself as a highly sensitive person.

If you've ever wondered why you feel things more deeply than your peers, why you cry at things that don't seem to affect others, or why you seem to know how someone is feeling even when they put on a mask, this book is for you. If you have ever been called 'too sensitive', or told to 'toughen up' or 'grow a thicker skin' when you were feeling overwhelmed, this book is also for you.As a sensitive person, this book made me feel seen and understood, and provided me with the science behind some of the ways I experience the world. It also made it clear that while sensitive people can find modern life more overstimulating and overwhelming than others, there are ways to manage this challenge and instead tap into the many gifts of sensitivity – such as empathy, attention to detail, selflessness and creativity.With practical tips on how to thrive at home, at work and in relationships, this interesting read provides a fantastic toolkit for sensitive people looking to embrace who they are rather than buy into the societal myth that they need to change to fit in or succeed. I recommend it to people who think they might be part of the 30% of the population that are genetically and experientially highly sensitive, and to those who have a highly sensitive person in their life (this would be a great way of learning to understand them better).

I suffer from hyper sensitivity to people’s emotions and the book made me feel seen & understood. Highly recommend this book

I’d heard the concept of ‘Highly Sensitive People’ before, but somehow felt it didn’t apply to me. Maybe it was because of the negative connotations of sensitivity or maybe because I thought being sensitive was a conscious behavioural choice.This book busts the myths and redefines what sensitivity is. Understanding that my brain is wired differently in a real, measurable way; that I’m in good company with a third of the population who are also sensitive; and that the things that I’ve always been good at are real gifts that are common to many sensitive people, is huge. Years of judgement from myself and others has lifted because it has all suddenly been made so clear.Put simply, this book resonates deeply with me and has been pivotal in explaining my experience of the world for as long as I can remember.

Sensitive: The Power of a Thoughtful Mind in an Overwhelming World (Jenn Granneman) (28/2/25-8/3/25)As a sensitive man myself, I got quite a lot of self-affirmation out of reading this book about how the 30% of the population that we represent see the world, are affected by it in both positive and negative ways, and how we can contribute to the world, for example by deeper and wider problem-solving skills and greater empathy with people we live, love and work with who are not like ourselves. There were lots of situations and case studies where I found myself nodding along and recognising myself. For me, my sensitivity manifests most clearly in a sharp reaction to over stimulation, especially when I feel too thinly spread in my responsibilities at work (though I am blessed with great bosses and wonderful colleagues), or my need for downtime after a succession of meetings at work or after a social event, especially if it involves more than one or two other people. I am also sensitive to extraneous noise, which I find very hard to block out (though not to particular smells, I don't think). The temptation to feel guilty, or to feel less capable than others for feeling like this is often a strong one I have to work hard at to overcome - it's not a fault or disability that needs to be fixed. I need a lot of calm and an even emotional atmosphere in which to thrive, though I struggle to find this with some of my family relationships. I am interested in the intersection between being an introvert (which I also am) and a sensitive person. They are not the same thing, although another sensitivity expert Elaine Aron is quoted here as saying that some 70% of sensitive people are introverts, and 30% extrovert. This is a very self-affirming book for me, perhaps especially as a male, given that traditionally men are not expected to show what has often been seen as excessive sensitivity (though I think this is slowly changing). I will be returning to this (along with Susan Cain's wonderful book Quiet).

This book was really "talking" to me. It was a pleasure to read it, I felt understood. I already read 3 books about the subject and this one is by far the best one. It is a very complete book. I learned new things.

I am thoroughly enjoying the book, but I’m disappointed in the seller; I paid for a “New” book, yet the book has pencil marks throughout. I don’t mind buying used books; I do mind not being told that is what I am purchasing.

I enjoyed reading this books as it was full on new and different information when compared to its spiritual prequel, Quiet, by Susan Cain.It also made me search for more information on self-compassion and I bought Kristin Neff's book on the topic.