High Cost of Living

Stories of people who choose not to live every moment to the fullest or smell the roses, and instead choose to withdraw from life, to make themselves numb. Prologue: Host Ira Glass with Robert Lundin, who talks about a time in his life when he felt too alive, and how much more sane he feels now, though his life is less exciting. (6 minutes) How To Avoid The Everyday Irritations Of Everyday Life: Jack Hitt tells the story of Charlene Riling, who nearly died, and who explains how life near to death can be better than everyday life. (21 minutes) How To Avoid The Difficulty Of Living With Someone: When adults talk babytalk to each other, it is precisely to avoid having real conversations and experiencing real moments with each other. People almost never discuss babytalk in public. This American Life producer Nancy Updike and her boyfriend—Chicago journalist Adam Davidson—agreed to step forward and speak the truth on the subject. (12 minutes) How To Avoid Everything: It's possible to turn off your emotions and go on autopilot for brief periods with the people you love, and it's possible to shut them down completely. Writer Dani Shapiro reads from her memoir Slow Motion: A True Story. (21 minutes)