Our score
Excellent
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Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) Audiobook— narrated by Susan Cain
How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole
Susan Cain's Bittersweet argues that sorrow, longing, and an ache for beauty aren't flaws to fix but a source of creativity and connection, for readers drawn to reflective psychology over quick-fix positivity.
Why the audiobook wins
Susan Cain reads Bittersweet herself, and for a book arguing that longing is a legitimate way of being in the world, that matters. Cain is making a personal case, not reporting one, and hearing her make it in her own voice, quietly, without the lift a professional narrator would put under the encouraging passages, is what keeps it from turning into the self-help it is arguing against.
The book is also full of music. Cain keeps returning to minor-key songs, to why sad music consoles rather than deepens sadness, and that argument is easier to follow with a voice in your ears than with a page in your hands.
Seven and a half hours on sorrow, beauty and what the ache is for. One Audible credit covers the recording.
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Audiobook questions
- Who narrates the Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) audiobook?
- Susan Cain narrates the audiobook edition of Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club).
- How long is the Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) audiobook?
- The audiobook runs 7 hr 35 min.
- Is the Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) audiobook worth listening to?
- We scored Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) 4.4 out of 5. Susan Cain reads Bittersweet herself, and for a book arguing that longing is a legitimate way of being in the world, that matters. Cain is making a personal case, not reporting one, and hearing her make it in her own voice, quietly, without the lift a professional narrator would…
- Can I listen to Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) free with an Audible trial?
- Eligible new Audible members can use a free-trial credit to listen in the Audible app. Eligibility and current offer terms are set by Audible.Listen to Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) free with an Audible trial
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- Is Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) on Kindle Unlimited?
- No. Bittersweet (Oprah's Book Club) was not included with Kindle Unlimited when we last checked on July 17, 2026.
