A quiet triumph: opening the unwanted gift of shyness

Shrewdly observed, invariably compassionate and unexpectedly poignant

Psychology, Shrinking Violets: A Field Guide to Shyness, By Joe Moran, Profile Books, €19.95

Before dialling a new phone number, Joe Moran writes down what he is going to say when the person picks up. He keeps a notebook of conversation topics in case he runs out of small talk with people, and he is perplexed by whether he should stop and chat – and if so, for how long – when he ...