• Bittersweet

  • How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole
  • By: Susan Cain
  • Narrated by: Susan Cain
  • Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,692 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Bittersweet  By  cover art

Bittersweet

By: Susan Cain
Narrated by: Susan Cain
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.08

Buy for $19.08

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • Sadness is your superpower. In her new masterpiece, 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 road map to facing grief in order to live life to the fullest.

Bittersweet 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.

*Includes a downloadable PDF containing a Bittersweet quiz from the book

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Random House (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

2022, Porchlight Business Book Awards - Big Ideas and New Perspectives, Long-listed

“A thoughtful examination of the melancholic disposition . . . a unique blend of psychology, biography, spirituality, musical references and pop culture. For those feeling sorrowful or dealing with a loss, the idea of transforming pain into creativity, transcendence and love is a compelling one. Cain does an excellent job of using research, case studies and personal stories to justify her argument. It is a unique view in a culture that tends to medicate strong feelings rather than welcome them.”The Wall Street Journal

Bittersweet is astonishing—one of the most gracefully written, palpably human books I’ve read in years. Its powerful case will reshape how you think about yourself and those you love. Its sheer beauty will linger in your heart long after you turn the final page.”—Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When, Drive, and A Whole New Mind

“Susan Cain does it again! As the author of the worldwide phenomenon Quiet, she changed how the world sees introverts. Now she has written a book that will change how the world sees sorrow and longing. This book is an absolute triumph: It’s for anyone who has ever really lived, loved, or lost.”—Greg McKeown, host of the What’s Essential podcast and the author of the New York Times bestsellers Effortless and Essentialism

Interview: Susan Cain on Why It’s Good to Feel Sad

'Follow your longing where it's telling you to go.'
-0.00
  • Bittersweet
  • 'Follow your longing where it's telling you to go.'

Editor's Pick

Why it’s good to feel sad
In a culture that is so focused on staying positive and being productive, we’ve lost sight of the benefits of the other side of our emotional spectrum. Sadness and longing, Susan Cain argues, are the emotions that make us the most human. These emotions make us reach out to others for connection. Also, no person goes through life without loss, and so we must learn to embrace that loss and see that it allows us to experience the beauty of the world more deeply. Think about it: when listening to sad music or a sad story, do you ever get that feeling in your chest that is sadness, yes, but also a little bit like joy, or an overwhelming awe at the beauty of it all? This is the bittersweet tradition, and as a melancholic person myself, listening to Bittersweet has freed me to be kind to my sadness. Just as Cain armed and empowered the introverts of the world with Quiet, she is now giving melancholics the tools we need to embrace our underappreciated emotions in Bittersweet. —Melissa B., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Bittersweet

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,369
  • 4 Stars
    221
  • 3 Stars
    70
  • 2 Stars
    26
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,248
  • 4 Stars
    161
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,164
  • 4 Stars
    200
  • 3 Stars
    50
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Emotional understanding :)

Loved it! Just wonderful. Grateful to have discovered my values that I own. Already shared with my friends.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Though Provoking Journey

I am a long-time gatherer of interesting ideas and during the course of listening to this book I was continually pausing the recording to jot down compelling ideas and thoughts for future reference!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

what an awesome book!

I loved the words and the voice! I will definitely listen again as there was so much new material for me to absorb. I love her honesty and gentle and respectful way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Susan knocks it out of the park again!

wow! I appreciate the detail of attention to the experience of melancholy and it's ultimate gifts! what a journey to be on with Susan!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Highest recommendation

Inspiring. Solid work Down my alley as a jungian analyst. The thorough investigation is admirable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating from start to finish

I loved this book. My first read with this author. It was enjoyable, educational and made a lot of sense to me in light of my and probably May peoples life experiences. I am going to buy the book in hardback for my library. 📕

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

One of the best books I’ve read. Thoughtful, reflective and poignant! Thank you Susan for this gift.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thought provoking

I was sad when it ended; I wanted to keep learning more from the author. I have shared parts of the book with my students.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A book that explains so much

I loved this book. It really explained so much about some of the things ga a reasons behind feelings I have. Enlightening, informative, thoughtful and engaging. This book hit so close to my heart. Will be relistening to it and recommending it to everyone I know.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Probably the best audiobook ever

A fascinating, thoughtful, and well researched book for anyone who wants to feel less alone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!