“I'm much more willing to buy a novel electronically by someone I don't know. Because if halfway through I think, I don't really like this, I can just stop. I can't throw books out, even if I think they're crummy. I feel like I've got to give it to the library. I've got to loan it to somebody, or I keep it on my shelf. It's like a plant.” IfsThinkingKnowsGivingFeelsI CanBookNovelWillingPlantLibraryShelvesLoanHalfway Author:Susan Orlean
“I think the responsibility of running a huge business, which happens if you become a successful designer, probably makes you more careful.” IfsThinkingHappensRunningResponsibilitySuccessfulHugeCarefulDesigner Author:Susan Orlean
“I am of mixed minds about the issue of privacy. On one hand, I understand that information is power, and power is, well, power, so keeping your private information to yourself is essential - especially if you are a controversial figure, a celebrity, or a dissident.” IfsMindWellsHandsIssuesFiguresInformationEssentialsPrivacyControversialDissidentsInformation Is Power Author:Susan Orlean
“I wish I had coined the phrase 'tyranny of choice,' but someone beat me to it. The counterintuitive truth is that have an abundance of options does not make you feel privileged and indulged; too many options make you feel like all of them are wrong, and that you are wrong if you choose any of them.” IfsFeelsDoeChoicesWishTruth IsBeatsTyrannyPhrasesAbundanceYou ChoosePrivileged Author:Susan Orlean
“I've loved some gadgets that were not worthy, and I've loved gadgets that I would have loved more if I had waited for their developers to figure out how to really make them work, but I loved them anyway.” IfsFiguresWorthyGadgetsDevelopersNot Worthy Author:Susan Orlean
“I've noticed lately that it seems most intimate to not use any closing on your e-mail at all, because it seems to make it feel like you are engaged in an ongoing conversation - as if this one e-mail doesn't represent the beginning and end of the interaction but is just part of a perpetual loop of friendly back-and-forth.” IfsFeelsEndsUseSeemsLike YouConversationIntimateEngagedFriendlyMailInteractionPerpetualOngoingClosingBack And ForthLoopsBeginnings And Ends Author:Susan Orlean
“Most fourth graders can't say why Abraham Lincoln is an important historical figure? Wow. This is far more distressing than if the news had been that fourth graders were bad at reciting multiplication tables, because you can, in fact, Google that.” IfsImportantFactsFiguresNewsTablesHistoricalWowFourthGoogleAbrahamDistressingMultiplicationRecitingHistorical Figure Author:Susan Orlean
“You may never learn the names of any of the people you talk to in a dog park, even after many, many hours spent there with them, and many hours of conversation. But if - knock on wood - anything should ever happen to your dog, these nameless non-strangers will rally, sympathize, offer to help, and hold your hand. I know this from experience.” PeopleIfsKnowsShouldMayHelpingHandsHappensNamesHoursDogOffersConversationStrangerWoodsParksNameless Author:Susan Orlean
“If you had really loved something, wouldn't a little bit of it always linger?” IfsLittlesBitsLittle Bit Book:The Orchid Thief Source: The Orchid Thief
“I really believed that anything at all was worth writing about if you cared about it enough, and that the best and only necessary justification for writing any particular story was that I cared about it.” IfsWritingEnoughStoriesParticularJustificationIf You Care Author:Susan Orlean
