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At a glance
- Condition
- New
- Dimensions
- 6.44 x 1.16 x 9.51 in
- Weight
- 1.2 lb
- Publisher
- Crown
- Publication date
- April 5, 2022
- Language
- English
- Print length
- 352 pages
Description
1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • The author of the bestselling phenomenon Quiet explores the power of the bittersweet personality, revealing a misunderstood side of mental health and creativity while offering a roadmap to facing heartbreak in order to live life to the fullest. “Bittersweet has the power to transform the way you see your life and the world.”—OPRAH “Grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go.”—BRENÉ BROWN, author of Atlas of the Heart “Susan Cain has described and validated my existence once again!”—GLENNON DOYLE, author of Untamed “The perfect cure for toxic positivity.”—ADAM GRANT, author of Think Again LONGLISTED FOR THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Wall Street Journal, Mashable Bittersweetness is a tendency to states of longing, poignancy, and sorrow; an acute awareness of passing time; and a curiously piercing joy at the beauty of the world. It recognizes that light and dark, birth and death—bitter and sweet—are forever paired. If you’ve ever wondered why you like sad music . . . If you find comfort or inspiration in a rainy day . . . If you react intensely to music, art, nature, and beauty . . . Then you probably identify with the bittersweet state of mind. 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, whether from a death or breakup, addiction or illness. 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. At a time of profound discord and personal anxiety, Bittersweet brings us together in deep and unexpected ways. Read more
Specs 8
| Publisher | Crown |
|---|---|
| Publication date | April 5, 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 352 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0451499786 |
| ISBN-13 | 83 |
| Item Weight | 1.2 pounds |
| Dimensions | 6.44 x 1.16 x 9.51 inches |
No specs match.
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Top Amazon Reviews
This book speaks to my entire being
Format: Hardcover
Bittersweet resonates on the deepest of levels. Though I’ve only reached Chapter 3, this book is not merely a read; it’s an experience that touches my essence. When a friend mentioned it in passing, I felt an immediate pull. Within minutes of listening to the Audible version, I needed the hard copy to hold in my hands, underline, and linger over each paragraph. This book doesn’t just engage the mind; it engages the body, the emotions, and the spirit. It invites you to explore the full spectrum of what it means to be human—our joys, sorrows, and profound connections to one another. The music and videos referenced throughout are more than mere suggestions; they are companions on this journey, each one deepening the experience. Listening to the "Band of Brothers" as I navigate the chaos of a bustling city brings unexpected joy and a shift in perspective that lingers long after the music fades. Bittersweet is more than a book; it’s a gift. I’m eager to share it with friends and family. This is a book to be savored, shared, and remembered. As someone who has always been drawn to the beauty of melancholy, Bittersweet resonates with me on the deepest of levels. Though I’ve only reached Chapter 3, I can already tell that this book is not merely a read; it’s an experience that touches the very essence of who I am. When a friend mentioned it in passing, I felt an immediate pull. Within minutes of downloading the Audible version, I knew I needed the hard copy to hold in my hands, to underline, to linger over each word. This book doesn’t just engage the mind; it engages the body, the emotions, and the spirit. It invites you to explore the full spectrum of what it means to be human—our joys, sorrows, and profound connections to one another. The music and videos referenced throughout are more than mere suggestions; they are companions on this journey, each one deepening the experience. Listening to the "Band of Brothers" as I navigate the chaos of a bustling city brings unexpected joy and a shift in perspective that lingers long after the music fades. Bittersweet is more than a book; it’s a gift. I’m eager to share it with friends and family, knowing that it will touch them just as deeply as it has touched me. This is a book to be savored, shared, and remembered.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2024 by CK
An interesting and revealing book that is a great read.
Format: Hardcover
As someone well into their senior years, I have been very fortunate to have had a full life filled with happiness, joy, adventure, danger, unbearable sorrow, and of course lots of love. One of the things that have kept me sane was my voracious love of books. After I read this author’s book “Quiet” and liked it, I decided to also read Susan Cain’s Bitter-sweet, which I purchased on Amazon. I enjoyed and liked her book “Quiet” but I really loved this book, Bitter-sweet. Even though more women will probably like this book than men readers; however, as someone who is inside my consciousness a true romantic, I related too many of the emotions and feelings this book invokes within your soul. Indeed, songs can often make me both sad and happy depending on the memories that are imprinted on my mind and heart. I think many times that some people might find me strange because I look forward to cloudy, cool, rainy days of autumn more so than the hot, sweaty days of summer. I admit finding this book very revealing and interesting when it comes to some of the hidden emotions, we sometimes have that often come spilling out at various times. I have learned to accept the simple truth in the saying, “do not expect life to be fair, because life just is.” As flawed human beings, as the famous song (Sunrise Sunset) says, “one season following another, filled with happiness and tears.” I loved this book and if you are a fan of Susan Cain’s books you should checkout this one. Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Zen Poetry Moments: Haiku and Senryu for special occasions).
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Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023 by Joseph J. Truncale
This book is for people with a melancholic temperament
Format: Hardcover
I listened to this book using audible and am now reviewing the physical copy and am reminded of how this book spoke to my heart. As many have mentioned, this book is a bit all over the map. However, that was one thing I really liked about it. I have read plenty of books on grief in the last several months, and if you're looking for a book that speaks to your immediate loss of a loved one, I wouldn't recommend this book. But if you are someone who is constantly living the in between, creative life that recognizes beauty and pain as wrapped together, this book may be for you. I personally recognize myself as a creative person and personality tests have confirmed that, showing that I am an INFP, Enneagram 4 and melancholic personality. With that in mind, this book was incredibly validating for points that people have used against me in the past; telling me to cheer up, be positive, or encouraging me to change who I am at the core. This book spoke to my core and showed me the beauty of living in the bittersweet middle of life. If you do not fall into this camp, you will likely struggle to connect with this book.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2022 by Hether W.
A truly thoughtful book with insights backed by research and experience
Format: Hardcover
I thought I might find this book interesting rather than actually thought provoking, but I was wrong: the author explores concepts and topics in ways I had not considered, and more than that she backs up a great deal of it with research and objective data. She also learned a great deal in the writing of the book itself, and even shifts her focus a bit as she explores the ideas she uncovers. Personally I find this to be a strength because it backs up her conclusions with the path of how she got there. And No: It is most certainly "not" a book written for the "privileged." As if thoughtful introverts don't exist in every color and at every economic level. It's sad that a reader would come away with such a narrow take the book...
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Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2024 by Doug Bowker
Quiet was life-changing for me, and Bittersweet is visionary for the road ahead.
Format: Hardcover
I read 8 chapters of this book in one afternoon/evening because I couldn’t put it down. It connected with me on so many levels, as it forced me to really think, and thread this idea of how my longing for “what was” has impacted several aspects of my life. I was reminded of a couple romantic relationships, friendships and even my favorite job many years ago. This book made me think about how I continue to long for those experiences. I’ll probably never have those identical experiences again, but that feeling I once held has shaped me to try and create as much of that magic as possible since then - just differently. So, it’s as if, I’m creating a different kind of magic at this age and at this place in my life. That longing is a beautiful thing. It’s bitter, but also sweet as I reflect on it. For those who think this book is sad and may bring you down, you are wrong. This book is uplifting and inspirational. It helped me think about the ups and downs of my journey, and what blossoms after each turn - the creativity, the new desires, the purpose! Susan Cain shares the interesting and unthinkable stories of many, on the upsides of their experiences which gave me hope and more understanding of my own. True to form, you see her curiosity and honesty as she gets both sides, positives and negatives, all while exposing her own personal story. A must-read.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2022 by Jeri Bingham, Podcaster and Founder, HushLoudly
Tone deaf
Format: Kindle
I am in the middle of reading this book,and so far the author comes off as just another ivy league educated privileged woman who enjoys advising sad people on how to not be so sad. There are some good passages however, I feel like a woman who has lived the type of life she has is not the right person to address the overall topic of suffering. And the fact that she conducted some of her interviews at Princeton (her alma mater) of all places, which is like the epitome of American privilege, shows how tone deaf she really is. I also downloaded her other book, "quiet...," Because I was interested in reading a book by another introvert like myself, but she comes off as self-centered and even uppity at times, with a "woe is me" attitude...when I am pretty sure this woman wouldn't know true woe if it smacked her in the face. She is a gifted writer, but should use her talents to address topics more appropriate to herself and her lifestyle.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2022 by Danielle
Moving and beautiful
Format: Hardcover
I picked this book up after reading a testimonial by Brene Brown, but wasn't entirely sure what to expect. From the very first words, I fell in love with both this book and the author's writing style. I lost track of how many times my arms broke into goosebumps while reading a passage, how many times I felt seen and understood, how many times I teared up, how many times I was fascinated by something new I'd just learned that felt it was unlocking a piece of that deep understanding for life that we all long for. The author has a warm, engaging, intimate style of writing that makes you feel that instead of reading the words on the page, you are listening to her speaking softly right next to you. You can feel her passion for the subject with every word, as well as the emotion within every anecdote she shares. And when you're done, you're left with a new appreciation for the intensely bittersweet moments of sorrow and longing you experience and, consequently, a deeper and richer perspective on life. This book deserves ten stars or more and should be on everyone's reading list. I'm excited to know it's not the only one the author has written; I'll definitely be reading everything else she publishes.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2022 by K. Turner
A Tender Consideration of a Tender Topic
Format: Hardcover
The use of sadness, coping with lost love, mortaliy and grief, and the "tyranny of positivity": these and other forbidden subjects are opend wide by Susan Cain in this refreshing work. in one important sense it is a salubrious, un-American book: since its inception, the country's ethos has been infused with a ridiculous, burdensome optimism. Ms. Cain pulls back the curtain and shows us how unhealthy and finally unavailing it all is. The result is a thoughtful, honest consideration of life's ineluctable ache. It is not a pessimistic book. It is a truthful, humane book, which should be read with care and shared with those whose "thousand natural shocks" cannot be cured bt applying a deceitful Band-Aid.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2024 by C. C. Black