What's funny is that the idea of popularity - even the use of the word 'popular' - is something that had been mostly absent from my life since junior high. In fact, the hallmark of life after junior high seemed to be the shedding of popularity as a central concern. Susan Orlean absentcentralconcern share on social
I'm very excited about my new Spotify account, which gives me access to twenty gazillion songs any time, all the time. The day I opened my account, though, I sat there perplexed. How would I figure out what I wanted to hear? Susan Orlean accessaccountday share on social
I don't care that much about rote memorization. An old boyfriend of mine used to get into lacerating arguments with his parents over facts, and I used to watch on in mute astonishment. How could anyone actually argue about something that could be looked up? Susan Orlean argueargumentastonishment 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
When I still lived in Manhattan, people-watching was my hobby, and I spent many Sunday afternoons eating up the scene from a window seat at a Starbucks on Broadway. Susan Orlean afternoonbroadwayeat Change image and share on social
My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity for remembering birthdays. I worked at it. Whenever I made a new friend, I made a point of finding out his or her birthday early on, and I would record it in my Filofax calendar. Susan Orlean acebirthdaycalendar share on social
Sometimes I'm dazzled by how modern and fabulous we are, and how easy everything can be for us; that's the gilded glow of technology, and I marvel at it all the time. Susan Orlean dazzleeasyfabulous Change image and share on social
When I wonder what the future of books will be, I often think about horses. Before automobiles existed, everyone had a horse. Then cars became available, and their convenience, compared to horses, was undeniable. Susan Orlean automobilebookcar share on social
It is hard to imagine Thomas Kinkade as anything less than supremely self-assured. Susan Orlean assurehardimagine Change image and share on social
The genius of a folk melody or story is not the feeling that it's original but quite the opposite - the feeling that it has existed all along. Susan Orlean existfeltfolk Change image and share on social