DeepSummary
Gretchen Rubin and her sister Elizabeth Craft are hosting a book club episode of their podcast, Happier, where they interview renowned author Anne Lamott about her new book 'Somehow: Thoughts on Love.' Lamott discusses how the book originated as a personal project for her son and grandson but evolved into a professional work exploring different forms of love - familial, romantic, self-love.
The conversation delves into Lamott's unique writing style, her ability to balance humor with profound themes, and her journey as both a novelist and non-fiction writer. She shares insights on her writing process, the challenges she has faced, and the role of community and feedback in her craft.
Lamott also reflects on the most difficult aspect of writing about love - cultivating self-love and self-forgiveness. She offers practical advice for writers, such as dealing with writer's block and drawing inspiration from personal experiences while protecting privacy. The episode concludes with Lamott's 'try this at home' suggestion of stepping outside to find beauty in nature.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Anne Lamott's writing style strikes a unique balance between exploring profound themes and injecting humor, making her work accessible and relatable.
- Cultivating self-love and self-forgiveness is often the most challenging aspect of exploring the theme of love in writing.
- Drawing inspiration from personal experiences while respecting privacy is a common dilemma for writers, which Lamott suggests can be navigated through fictionalization.
- Building a supportive writing community is crucial for overcoming challenges like writer's block and receiving valuable feedback.
- Stepping away from our busy lives and reconnecting with nature can provide inspiration, solace, and a fresh perspective.
- Lamott's seminal work 'Bird by Bird' remains a timeless resource for writers, encapsulating her practical wisdom and advice.
- Finding love and companionship later in life can offer unexpected joys and idiosyncrasies that enrich the human experience.
- Lamott's honest and introspective approach to exploring themes like love, family, and forgiveness resonates with readers seeking depth and authenticity.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I could probably write about that, I think, self love, you know, in the book. And somehow I write about finding Neil at the ripe old age of. And we got married three days after I started getting Social Security. He's a year and a half younger, and. Which comes up, you wouldn't believe how often in conversation.“ by Anne Lamott
- “My go to suggestion is to just keep going outside no matter what, no matter how busy and important you think you are, and to look up and to look around.“ by Anne Lamott
- “I have to say, I don't have much to add to what I already tried, because it was originally called every single thing I know about writing.“ by Anne Lamott
- “And the answer, the easy answer is fiction. And in my experience, if you change people's hair color and height, they never, ever recognize themselves.“ by Anne Lamott
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Episode Information
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project
6/19/24