Susan Orlean Quotes

A collection of quotes by Susan Orlean.

Susan Orlean is an accomplished American journalist and author known for her captivating storytelling and in-depth reporting. Born on October 31, 1955, in Cleveland, Ohio, she embarked on a successful career that spans over four decades. Orlean graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in literature and later pursued a career in journalism.

She began her career writing for newspapers, including The Boston Phoenix and The Boston Globe, before becoming a staff writer for The New Yorker in 1992. Orlean's engaging writing style and ability to make seemingly ordinary topics captivating quickly gained her recognition.

One of Orlean's most notable works is her book "The Orchid Thief," published in 1998. This critically acclaimed non-fiction book delves into the fascinating world of orchid enthusiasts while exploring larger themes such as passion, desire, and obsession. "The Orchid Thief" was adapted into the 2002 film "Adaptation," directed by Spike Jonze.

Orlean has also authored several other books, including "The Library Book," published in 2018. This work delves into the devastating 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, ultimately weaving together a love letter to libraries and the impact they have on communities.

With her unique ability to find extraordinary stories in ordinary places, Susan Orlean continues to captivate readers with her insightful and thought-provoking writing. N/A

My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity f

My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity for remembering birthdays. I worked at it. Whenever I made a new friend, I made a point of finding out his or her birthday early on, and I would record it in my Filofax calendar.

Buying a car used to be an experience so soul-scorching, so

Buying a car used to be an experience so soul-scorching, so confidence-splattering, so existentially rattling that an entire car company was based on the promise that you wouldn't have to come in contact with it.

The first thing I think about when I wake up most mornings i

The first thing I think about when I wake up most mornings is the fact that I'm tired. I have been tired for decades. I am tired in the morning and I am tired while becalmed in the slough of the afternoon, and I am tired in the evening, except right when I try to go to sleep.

Living in a rural setting exposes you to so many marvelous t

Living in a rural setting exposes you to so many marvelous things - the natural world and the particular texture of small-town life, and the exhilarating experience of open space.

When I wonder what the future of books will be, I often thin

When I wonder what the future of books will be, I often think about horses. Before automobiles existed, everyone had a horse. Then cars became available, and their convenience, compared to horses, was undeniable.

There will always be vain, obsessive people who want to own

There will always be vain, obsessive people who want to own rare and extraordinary things whatever the cost there will always be people for whom owning beautiful, dangerous animals brings a sense of power and magic.

I once had a boyfriend who couldn't write unless he was wear

I once had a boyfriend who couldn't write unless he was wearing a necktie and a dress shirt, which I thought was really weird, because this was a long time ago, and no one I knew ever wore dress shirts, let alone neckties it was like he was a grown-up reenacter or something.

You may never learn the names of any of the people you talk

You may never learn the names of any of the people you talk to in a dog park, even after many, many hours spent there with them, and many hours of conversation. But if - knock on wood - anything should ever happen to your dog, these nameless non-strangers will rally, sympathize, offer to help, and hold your hand. I know this from experience.

I wish I had coined the phrase 'tyranny of choice,' but some

I wish I had coined the phrase 'tyranny of choice,' but someone beat me to it. The counterintuitive truth is that have an abundance of options does not make you feel privileged and indulged too many options make you feel like all of them are wrong, and that you are wrong if you choose any of them.

I want a chainsaw very badly, because I think cutting down a

I want a chainsaw very badly, because I think cutting down a tree would be unbelievably satisfying. I have asked for a chainsaw for my birthday, but I think I'll probably be given jewelry instead.

The thing is, I have a zillion apps, and I'm always looking

The thing is, I have a zillion apps, and I'm always looking for the perfect arrangement for them, so scrambling my home screen is part of that eternal quest.

When my son was born, and after a day of lying-in I was told

When my son was born, and after a day of lying-in I was told that I could leave the hospital and take him home, I burst into tears. It wasn't the emotion of the moment: it was shock and horror.

Recently, I have come to assume that any call to my landline

Recently, I have come to assume that any call to my landline is from a telemarketer or an automated call from Terminex, letting me know that our regularly scheduled pest-extermination service will occur on its regular schedule. So I usually ignore my home phone.

Knowledge is a beautiful thing, but there are a few things I

Knowledge is a beautiful thing, but there are a few things I wish I didn't know.

Sometimes I'm dazzled by how modern and fabulous we are, and

Sometimes I'm dazzled by how modern and fabulous we are, and how easy everything can be for us that's the gilded glow of technology, and I marvel at it all the time.

You can find out anything you want about a car now, and espe

You can find out anything you want about a car now, and especially every bit of information about the price, without relying on the dealers.

I remember, when I was a kid, watching my mother jam herself

I remember, when I was a kid, watching my mother jam herself into her girdle - a piece of equipment so rigid it could stand up on its own - and I remember her coming home from fancy parties and racing upstairs to extricate herself from its cruel iron grip.

I went to a football school, which meant that I went to a un

I went to a football school, which meant that I went to a university that served up education and was simultaneously operating a sports franchise.

I can imagine a future in which real books will exist but in

I can imagine a future in which real books will exist but in a more limited, particular way.

One of my favorite activities as a teen-ager was to watch te

One of my favorite activities as a teen-ager was to watch television over the phone with my best friend.