Human relationships used to be easy: you had friends, boy- or girlfriends, parents, children, and landlords. Now, thanks to social media, it's all gone sideways. Susan Orlean boychildeasy Change image and share on social
They will be given as gifts; books that are especially pretty or visual will be bought as hard copies; books that are collectible will continue to be collected; people with lots of bookshelves will keep stocking them; and anyone who likes to make notes in books will keep buying books with margins to fill. Susan Orlean bookbookshelfbuy share on social
Writers like to write, and writing in different forms - short, long, bite-sized, done on the fly, done with painstaking attention - all interest me. Susan Orlean attentionbitefly Change image and share on social
Sometimes, the Internet can feel like a middle-school playground populated by brats in ski masks who name-call and taunt with the fake bravery of the anonymous. But sometimes - thank goodness - it's nicer than real life. Susan Orlean anonymousbratbravery share on social
I've always been afraid of video games - not afraid that I wouldn't like them, but that I would like them too much, and that after mere seconds in front of any particularly bright and absorbing game, I would abandon all ambition, turn into a mouth-breathing zombie, and develop a wide, sofa-shaped rear end. Susan Orlean abandonabsorbafraid share on social
When a machine can do something better and faster than a person can, I am happy to let the machine do it. Susan Orlean fasthappymachine Change image and share on social
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. Susan Orlean conversationdogexperience share on social
I am dismayed to realize that much of the advice I used to parcel out to aspiring writers has passed its sell-by date. Susan Orlean adviceaspiredate Change image and share on social
I love tearing things out of the ground. I love digging and discarding. I love pruning. In fact, I love pruning so much that I once gave myself carpal-tunnel syndrome because I attacked a trumpet vine with so much dedication. Susan Orlean attackcarpaldedication share on social
There are cultures that believe having your photograph taken steals your soul. I don't think there is a stolen soul in a picture, but still - why is it so hard to throw them away? Susan Orlean culturehardphotograph Change image and share on social