“One reason we rush so quickly to the vulgar satisfaction of judgment, and love to revel in our righteous outrage, is that it spares us from the impotent pain of empathy, and the harder, messier work of understanding.” —from “How They Tried To F&#k Me Over (But I Showed Them!)”
pickIn this book of personal essays, cartoonist Kreider covers topics ranging from surviving a stabbing, supporting a friend through transition, meeting biological family as an adult, and so much more. He brings thoughtful introspection and nuance to each essay. I just loved this. #literati
“I have never even idly thought for a single passing second that it might make my life nicer to have a small rude incontinent person follow me around screaming and making me buy them stuff for the rest of my life.”
As a childless by choice person, I love this sentence! 😂
What someone‘s lies reveal about them (aspirations to being an accomplished writer, fantasies of an exotic history and a cosmopolitan family) are always sadder than the fact of the lies themselves. These inventions illuminate the negative spaces of someone‘s self-image, their vanity and insecurities and most childish wishes, as we can infer from warped starlight the presence of a far vaster mass of dark matter.
Often you don‘t know whether you‘re the hero of a romantic comedy or the villain on a Lifetime special until the restraining order arrives.
We Learn Nothing: Essays | 
