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Bittersweet
- How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole
- Narrated by: Susan Cain
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Essays
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
From the author of the international mega-seller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.
In this inspiring masterpiece, best-selling author Susan Cain shows the power of 'bittersweetness'—a tendency towards sorrow and longing, an acute awareness of passing time and a piercing joy when beholding beauty. But what are the powers of a bittersweet, melancholic outlook?, she asks. And why has our culture been so blind to its value?
Bittersweetness recognises that light and dark, birth and death—bitter and sweet—are forever paired. As Bittersweet shows, our obsession with happiness is not making us happy, healthy or whole. It's only by embracing our darker emotions—as well as the light—that we discover our deepest meaning and connection, love and joy. It can change the way we work, the way we create and the way we love—for it is the hidden source of our love stories, moonshots and masterpieces.
With over four million copies sold worldwide, Susan Cain's Quiet explored the quiet riches of the introverted half of the population. In Bittersweet, Cain employs the same mix of research, storytelling and memoir. Following a trail of centuries-old artistic and wisdom traditions as well as contemporary psychology and management research, and reflecting on the emotional shifts of recent times, Cain reveals how bittersweetness is the key to leading a full and satisfying life. Using examples ranging from music and cinema to parenting and business, she shows how understanding bittersweetness will allow us to weather life's transitions; yet, until now, its power has been hiding in plain sight.
At a time of profound discord and personal anxiety, Bittersweet brings us together in deep and unexpected ways. Most of all, it shows us how to transform our personal and collective pain into creativity, transcendence and connection.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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What listeners say about Bittersweet
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mr G A Fereos
- 15-05-22
Therapy through words
Another booked bagged for my remaining 500 books I’ve been estimated to read for the time I have left on this Earth.
And what a book it was.
One of my ambitions in life as a service provider is to try deliver a feeling similar to what I get when I’m reading a book like this.
Educated. Heard. Learned. Enriched. Enlightened. Empowered. Transient. Assured. Reassured. Counselled, and ultimately Aware.
Beautiful words sequenced in harmonious and beautiful ways transcending me to a life identified as well lived.
My coaching practice identifies “escape” practices, but I do not have the psychological academic background to understand what people are escaping from.
I just know this book escaped me from my lived reality (privileged, entitled, flawed) to experience a reality my future self will see.
@susancainauthor you are higher ground air, and I’m grateful I was able to breath deep having you read this book to me 💜
2 people found this helpful
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- jules79hob
- 06-05-22
This will be a life-changer for me.
I'm already looking at life through a different lens.
I understand myself so much more, and for the first time really in my life, I feel understood. and ok.
Thankyou Susan, you've given many of us a gift, with this book. this enlightenment.
I feel so much more at peace.
2 people found this helpful
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- Happy Reader
- 16-06-22
Interesting Stuff
I enjoyed this - possibly more because the author read it adding poignancy and relevance
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- Mrs Weasley
- 08-05-22
The importance of melancholy
This is a book on the acceptable of feelings and why being authentic is probably the answer.
A thoroughly recommendable read/listen.
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- Adail Retamal
- 10-06-22
Great complement to Quiet!
I read “Quiet” many years ago and that was a great revelation and support to me. Now Susan did it again, and I can deeply relate to “Bittersweet” in many ways. Although both subjects are not necessarily dependent, there is a strong connection between them, which made me even more aware of who I am and how to deal with life’s difficult and awesome moments. Give yourself this gift!