Bittersweet: how sorrow and longing make us whole

Introduction: The power of bittersweet

Part I. Sorrow and longing: how can we transform pain into creativity, transcendence, and love? What is sadness good for? ; Why do we long for "perfect" and unconditional love? (And what does this have to do with our love of sad songs, rainy days, and even the divine?) ; Is creativity associated with sorrow, longing

and transcendence? ; How should we cope with lost love?

Part II. Winners and losers: how can we live and work authentically in a "tyranny of positivity"? How did a nation founded on so much heartache turn into a culture of normative smiles? ; How can we transcend enforced positivity in the workplace, and beyond?

Part III. Mortality, impermanence, and grief: how should we live, knowing that we and everyone we love will die? Should we try to live forever? ; Should we try to "get over" grief and impermanence? ; Do we inherit the pain of our parents and ancestors? And, if so, can we transform it generations later?

Coda: How to go home.