Dogs really are perfect soldiers. They are brave and smart; they can smell through walls, see in the dark, and eat Army rations without complaint. Susan Orlean More Quotes by Susan Orlean More Quotes From Susan Orlean We do a lot of bird-watching up in the country, but we almost never have a chance to people-watch. There simply aren't enough human beings up here: there is nowhere you can park yourself with a cup of coffee and observe the species on parade. Susan Orlean coffee country people Every corny thing that's said about living with nature - being in harmony with the earth, feeling the cycle of the seasons - happens to be true. Susan Orlean corny earth feelings I think coexisting with another life form is a very rich experience. It's why people keep plants and animals. Susan Orlean animal people thinking I don't turn to greeting cards for wisdom and advice, but they are a fine reflection of the general drift of the culture. Susan Orlean reflection advice culture I was never any good at remembering dates, but now I hardly have to. When the first bulb catalogs get delivered and the hens start laying again, that's all the notice I'll need to know that winter has passed. Susan Orlean hens winter needs I'm happy to be reminded that an ordinary day full of nothing but nothingness can make you feel like you've won the lottery. Susan Orlean ordinary-days like-you feels We're fascinated by animals because it's almost like having Martians living among us. We can see some familiarity in them, but they're entirely different creatures. Susan Orlean creatures different animal I teach a non-fiction writing class at New York University, and one of my great pleasures is deciding on the syllabus. Susan Orlean new-york writing class 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. Susan Orlean cutting birthday thinking Human relationships used to be easy: you had friends, boy- or girlfriends, parents, children, and landlords. Now, thanks to social media, it's all gone sideways. Susan Orlean girlfriend boys children Being a good designer certainly doesn't guarantee that you're good at business. It's probably more surprising when the two talents coexist in one person. Susan Orlean guarantees-that talent two What's funny is that the idea of popularity - even the use of the word 'popular' - is something that had been mostly absent from my life since junior high. In fact, the hallmark of life after junior high seemed to be the shedding of popularity as a central concern. Susan Orlean juniors use ideas Dog parks are more cliquish than any other human gathering with the possible exception of seventh grade. Deal with it. Susan Orlean parks dog gathering I want to let my friend Buster know that I would like to have dinner with him tonight. Does Buster work at home? Then how likely is he to have his cell phone on? Is he one of those people who only turns on his cell when he's in his car? I hate that. Susan Orlean phones hate home Sense of smell, of course, is only one of those dog qualities that can't be replicated or improved upon. I've been researching dogs in warfare for my book about 'Rin Tin Tin,' and I've read many accounts of their heroics: carrying messages through battle, alerting troops to enemy planes, and even parachuting behind enemy lines. Susan Orlean smell dog book It is hard to imagine Thomas Kinkade as anything less than supremely self-assured. Susan Orlean assured imagine self I've tried a lot of different apps to manage Twitter on my phone (I use Hootsuite on my laptop), but I think the official Twitter app is really good. Susan Orlean phones different thinking When I was a kid, Halloween was strictly a starchy-vegetable-only holiday, with pumpkins and Indian corn on the front stoop; there was nothing electric, nothing inflatable, nothing with latex membranes or strobes. Susan Orlean halloween holiday kids Borders had lousy management and made bad corporate decisions, so its fate is less like a terrible accident than a slow-motion slide into a ditch, but it's hard to be happy about a bookseller's demise. Susan Orlean fate borders decision I feel somewhat responsible for the Borders Books bankruptcy. Susan Orlean responsible borders book
