Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise And Surprising Appeal Of Living Alone (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Fascinating book. Klinenberg paints broad picture of a world divided into people who are isolated and forced to live alone and people who are well connected who choose to live alone. On the one hand you have people who die in isolation and are buried in mass graves, and on the other hand you have the growth of urban life, where cities are being designed for communities for single living. All of this in the US as well as Europe and Asia. interesting and easy read. the topic itself is already very interesting, given that it's a field that hasn't been explored much. as the author puts it, " After all, our experiment with going solo is still in its earliest stages, and we are just beginning to understand how it affects our own lives, as well as our families, communities, cities, and states." this book holds special significance to me as I'll be moving out from one family to another family in a few years, and often I wonder if that's the right path to take, that perhaps I should consider having some solo time before settling down. this book explores (but only in the first few chapters) what I'm wondering actually, and after reading, I do feel that being solo for a few years will be an energizing and revealing experience. but I suppose, if I don't have a chance to do so, then learning from other's testimonies will be better than nothing.reading this book has forced me to consider a few things. firstly, my attitude towards single friends. I have quite a few friends who are single (but not necessarily singletons, as Singapore isn't a very single-friendly city, I feel). I admit that many times while chatting I'll enter the topic of finding a partner, and encouraging them to do so. after reading the book I realized that there isn't a need for me to do so, many who are single choose to be so, and are perfectly happy with their current stage, and those who didn't are already doing what they can to get out of that stage. So I have consciously stopped myself from approaching the "other half" topic with single friends.Another thing will be how I wish to age. from young we have been taught that we have to "serve" our parents when they age and we have to inculcate our children with the same belief so they will do the same when we age. I find it surprising that many elderly prefer to live on their own, but when I reflected, i think when the time comes I would prefer to age alone too. preferably with a spouse of course, but even without I think living by myself will be a lot relaxing than with my future family. that said, I think the most important take away will be to respect my parents' decision as to how they wish to age, rather than assume that everybody would want to stay with their children.
What do You think about Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise And Surprising Appeal Of Living Alone (2012)?
I don't really have much praise or criticism for this book. It was just a bit too dry for me.
—ancsi
Of course I read this just as I am preparing to move in with my boyfriend.Of course I did.
—Susan
