New book out supporing loner lifestyle

[dixiegrrrrl]

Eric Klinenberg - Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone

With eye-opening statistics, original data, and vivid portraits of people who live alone, renowned sociologist Eric Klinenberg upends conventional wisdom to deliver the definitive take on how the rise of going solo is transforming the American experience.
Klinenberg shows that most single dwellersΓÇöwhether in their twenties or eightiesΓÇöare deeply engaged in social and civic life. There's even evidence that people who live alone enjoy better mental health and have more environmentally sustainable lifestyles. Drawing on more than three hundred in-depth interviews, Klinenberg presents a revelatory examination of the most significant demographic shift since the baby boom and offers surprising insights on the benefits of this epochal change.

Just got it, have not read it yet.

[angstlessk]

1. My theory

If you live alone you get lonely and depressed...and it passes

If you live with an asshole...you get lonely and depressed and it NEVER passes

[steve2470]

3. so true nt

[IrishAyes]

4. As Dear Abby said, better to be alone than to wish you were.

[1dogleft]

14. maybe theres a middle ground

like living with someone who is not an asshole. just a thought

[bemildred]

2. Thanks. I'll check it out. nt

[IrishAyes]

5. I'll try to get a copy to read.

Sometimes it bothers me the way too many people who are afraid to be alone themselves, malign those of us who prefer it. As if we're the dangerously maladjusted ones. When I lived in AZ at the end of a 5-mile dirt road on a little ranch bordering state land, one of the awful women at work told everybody I lived in a Kazenski shack and the boss said bad things about me as a result. I offered to drive her out there to show her my place, which had been custom built by a contractor for his retirement so you can bet it was no shack - but she preferred to believe what the devil woman told her.

A book I found at a sale at the little library here is called 'The Joy of Solitude'. But I want to read the other one too. Thanks for the post. I like reading stuff that makes me feel normal!

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. "normal" just means "average", actually.

and I am glad I am not like "most people"!

[IrishAyes]

7. I'll try to find a copy of something I read about the solitary lifestyle and post it here;

It's buried somewhere on my FB timeline. Up to my ears in work right now, but expect it within the week at least. Very poetic.

[NJCher]

8. this culture

Is just predisposed toward extroversion. It's too bad that introverts have to view their natural selves through this filter.

There are a couple books out about this but I can't think of the names off the top of my head. If I do, though, I'll be back to post them.


Cher

[llmart]

10. I read a good one.....

called "Conscious Creatives" (or some such title) which talked about how there are many people who are not mainstream who live very fulfilling lives. I read it awhile back, so don't remember specifics, but do remember that it made me feel better about not being mainstream.

[llmart]

9. Is "The Joy of Solitude" written by May Sarton?

Or am I confusing her with another author? I read May Sarton's books ten years ago. Loved them, but she can be a bit depressing too since I think she suffered from depression.

[IrishAyes]

11. I think that was the book.

It's hard to explain to some people how you can love them but not miss them either when they're not there. I believe people who don't place undue expectations on others are actually practicing more agape-love. I've just never confused clinginess with affection. Insecure people don't like that because they can't manipulate you emotionally.

[Lifelong Protester]

12. Wow! I didn't even know this group existed

The book sounds very good.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Pls. feel to post here...

This group could use some input.

( guess we are all so busy being alone we don't drop in very much... )