Episode · EconTalk · 2024-10-28
Books mentioned on Susan Cain on Bittersweet and the Happiness of Melancholy
Why do we like sad music or that poignant feeling that comes from attending a funeral? Author Susan Cain talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book Bittersweet and the seductive and sometimes deeply satisfying power of melancholy.
Russ Roberts recommended Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman, and discussed Bittersweet by Susan Cain. Susan Cain discussed The descent of man by Charles Darwin.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Bittersweet
Bittersweet by Susan Cain is a nonfiction exploration of melancholy, sorrow, and longing, examining how these emotions can serve as sources of creativity, connection, and healing.
Discussed“her first book was quiet her most recent book and the subject of today's conversation is Bittersweet how sorrow and longing make us whole”
Where to get it
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The descent of man
The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin is an 1871 scientific work that expands on evolutionary theory by focusing heavily on sexual selection, human ancestry, and the development of social and moral faculties.
Discussed“Darwin also noticed this and he actually called this the strongest I I don't remember the exact words but it's in his book The Descent of Man he calls it the the strongest impulse in animals is to react in this way to noticing the suffering of other animals”
Where to get it
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Life and Fate
Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman is a sweeping masterpiece depicting the brutality and human ramifications of the Eastern Front, the Holocaust, and totalitarianism during World War II.
Recommended“and I want to remind listeners by the way that we're going to be reading um life and fate together by basil grman oh wow uh if you want to uh read it before I talked to Tyler Cowen about it that will be”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“her first book was quiet her most recent book and the subject of today's conversation is Bittersweet”
“her book is Bittersweet Susan thanks for being part of econ talk”