Emotional rescue: essays on love, loss, and life-- with a soundtrack

What songs have made up your life’s soundtrack? Which have captured your every mood and deepest sentiments? Pop music, like no other form of entertainment or art, is capable of articulating our feelings, desires, joy, and pain. In a few soul-grabbing minutes, artists from every genre—from Little Richard to Lou Reed, Willie Nelson to Wu-Tang Clan, Sly and the Family Stone to the Rolling Stones—can help us understand our place in our own lives.This collection of short, sharp essays by New York Times bestselling author Ben Greenman (Mo’ Meta Blues), organized around a thematic playlist of songs, serves as a reminder of the lyrical power of songwriting & the sonic ability of pop to capture the human experience. Greenman’s wit, insight, & honesty are as sweet and satisfying as the hits (and the deep cuts) at the center of each essay.Review“Reading Emotional Rescue is like peeking into a stranger's playlist when he's not around, and then talking to him about it when he is around. Music is the kind of thing that should be felt, discussed, & digested, & Ben Greenman does that here—all the while making the case that pop music (all kinds of it, from hip-hop to country, from power-pop to blues) teaches us everything we know about human relationships. I have always known how much he cares about pop music, & now I know why.” — QuestloveBen Greenman is an editor at The New Yorker. He is the author of the story collections What He's Poised to Do; Superbad; & A Circle Is a Balloon & Compass Both: Stories About Human Love, & the novels Superworse & Please Step Back. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife & two children. What songs have made up your life’s soundtrack? Which have captured your every mood and deepest sentiments? Pop music, like no other form of entertainment or art, is capable of articulating our feelings, desires, joy, and pain. In a few soul-grabbing minutes, artists from every genre—from Little Richard to Lou Reed, Willie Nelson to Wu-Tang Clan, Sly and the Family Stone to the Rolling Stones—can help us understand our place in our own lives. This collection of short, sharp essays by New York Times bestselling author Ben Greenman ( Mo’ Meta Blues ), organized around a thematic playlist of songs, serves as a reminder of the lyrical power of songwriting and the sonic ability of pop to capture the human experience. Greenman’s wit, insight, and honesty are as sweet and satisfying as the hits (and the deep cuts) at the center of each essay. Review “Reading Emotional Rescue is like peeking into a stranger's playlist when he's not around, and then talking to him about it when he is around. Music is the kind of thing that should be felt, discussed, and digested, and Ben Greenman does that here—all the while making the case that pop music (all kinds of it, from hip-hop to country, from power-pop to blues) teaches us everything we know about human relationships. I have always known how much he cares about pop music, and now I know why.” —Questlove What Songs Have Made Up Your Life S Soundtrack? Which Have Captured Your Every Mood And Deepest Sentiments? Pop Music, Like No Other Form Of Entertainment Or Art, Is Capable Of Articulating Our Feelings, Desires, Joy, And Pain. In A Few Soul-grabbing Minutes, Artists From Every Genre From Little Richard To Lou Reed, Willie Nelson To Wu-tang Clan, Sly And The Family Stone To The Rolling Stones Can Help Us Understand Our Place In Our Own Lives. This Collection Of Short, Sharp Essays By New York Times Bestselling Author Ben Greenman (mo Meta Blues), Organized Around A Thematic Playlist Of Songs, Serves As A Reminder Of The Lyrical Power Of Songwriting And The Sonic Ability Of Pop To Capture The Human Experience. Greenman S Wit, Insight, And Honesty Are As Sweet And Satisfying As The Hits (and The Deep Cuts) At The Center Of Each Essay. Introduction. Why songs mean everything if you let them Communication/Miscommunication Friendship/Self-interest Effort/Ease Like/Love Trust/Distrust Pain/Pleasure Distance/Nearness Sadness/Happiness Generosity/Selfishness Fear/Bravery One/None Optimism/Pessimism Stuff/Unstuff Sense/Nonsense Articulation/Inarticulation Up/Down Lies/Truth Text/Voice Secrets/Revelations Questions/Answers Attention/Inattention Location/Dislocation Originality/Imitation Cliché/Inspiration Loneliness/Company Childhood/Adulthood Novelty/Convention Craziness/Sanity Learning/Unlearning Publicity/Privacy Beginnings/Ends Silence/Conversation.