Reviews tagging 'War'

Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain

6 reviews

clarabooksit's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Slavery, Racism, Antisemitism, Chronic illness, War, Genocide, Cancer, and Suicide

elybakouche's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

I enjoyed this book, with some slow parts in the middle. Overall, it resonated with me; I’m definitely one of those “bittersweet” people.

I found the story of Susan Cain’s relationship with her mother and the bittersweet in these complex relationships touching, and I loved the chapter on genetics and how trauma is passed down through generations. 

I did not like the chapter in immortality, it was a bit far-fetched, or maybe a testament to my tendency for bittersweetness. I couldn’t connect with those who want to live forever; it reminds me of the way we dismiss the natural cycles of life also present in nature, including how we exploit the earth. I don’t think it deserved an entire chapter.

Speaking of, I lost a lot of respect for Susan Cain when she used the example of an oil rig, where a manager struggled with his relationship with his team and his son, to discuss vulnerability and its key role in creating understanding and intimacy in relationships.

An oil rig? Really? When we know that the extraction of fossil fuels is currently destroying the earth, and impacting the lives of millions around the world? On out to the 6th mass extinction, but this time human-made? To me it sounds as horrible as mentioning an example with Hitler in it. I found it shocking and almost stopped listening. It doesn’t matter how interesting it is. It’s wrong.

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Content Warnings

Minor: War, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape

juliethere's review against another edition

hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, War, Dementia, Racism, Slavery, Antisemitism, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

amandaformby's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Slavery, Dementia, War, and Terminal illness

sjanke2's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Dementia, Grief, Medical content, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and War

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism, Chronic illness, War, Grief, Death, Dementia, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Genocide, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Abortion, and Slavery