Bibliograph

Bittersweet, how sorrow and longing make us whole, Susan Cain

Type

Label

Bittersweet, how sorrow and longing make us whole, Susan Cain

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 313-368) and index

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Bittersweet

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1313123787

Responsibility statement

Susan Cain

Sub title

how sorrow and longing make us whole

Summary

"With Quiet, Susan Cain urged our society to cultivate space for the undervalued, indispensable introverts among us, thereby revealing an untapped power hidden in plain sight. Now she employs the same mix of research, storytelling, and memoir to explore why we experience sorrow and longing, and how embracing the bittersweetness at the heart of life is the true path to creativity, connection, and transcendence. Cain shows how a bittersweet state of mind is the quiet force that helps us transcend our personal and collective pain. If we don't acknowledge our own heartache, she says, we can end up inflicting it on others via abuse, domination, or neglect. But if we realize that all humans know--or will know--loss and suffering, we can turn toward one another"--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

Introduction: The power of bittersweet -- Part I. Sorrow and longing: how can we transform pain into creativity, transcendence, and love?. What is sadness good for? ; Why do we long for "perfect" and unconditional love? (And what does this have to do with our love of sad songs, rainy days, and even the divine?) ; Is creativity associated with sorrow, longing -- and transcendence? ; How should we cope with lost love? -- Part II. Winners and losers: how can we live and work authentically in a "tyranny of positivity"?. How did a nation founded on so much heartache turn into a culture of normative smiles? ; How can we transcend enforced positivity in the workplace, and beyond? -- Part III. Mortality, impermanence, and grief: how should we live, knowing that we and everyone we love will die?. Should we try to live forever? ; Should we try to "get over" grief and impermanence? ; Do we inherit the pain of our parents and ancestors? And, if so, can we transform it generations later? -- Coda: How to go home

Classification