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

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This is definitely one I want to get my own copy of to go back and reference parts of. Similar to Cain's other book Quiet (which I am part-way through) she talks about the history of melancholia and how those of us who are in touch with these parts of ourselves often feel out of sync with the "Tyranny of Positivity" culture in America specifically. I think if you are at all interested in this subject then this is a good place to start.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Dementia, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Antisemitism

author is jewish and talks a bit about her family's holocaust trauma mentions of animal testing