This chapter explores the concept of longing as a powerful force for creativity and love, contrasting it with our culture of normative positivity. It delves into the connection between sadness and beauty in music, and discusses the power of bittersweet emotions and the paradox of tragedy in art. The chapter also highlights the role of influential figures like Leonard Cohen in inspiring and shaping our lives.
Have you ever been brought to tears by a TV commercial? Do you relish rainy days? Are your favorite songs sad ones? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you, dear listener, know the power of the bittersweet. It’s a feeling, an emotion, a way of being that Susan Cain explored in her #1 New York Times bestseller “Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole.” She spoke with Rufus about the book in April 2022, and it remains one of our favorite conversations — certainly one of the most moving — so today we’re sharing it again. We hope it gives you goosebumps.