A revelatory
examination of the most significant demographic shift since the Baby
Boom—the sharp increase in the number of people who live alone—that
offers surprising insights on the benefits of this epochal change
In 1950, only 22 percent of American adults were
single. Today, more than 50 percent of American adults are single, and
31 million—roughly one out of every seven adults—live alone. People who
live alone make up 28 percent of all U.S. households, which makes them
more common than any other domestic unit, including the nuclear
family. In Going Solo, renowned sociologist and author Eric Klinenberg
proves that these numbers are more than just a passing trend. They are,
in fact, evidence of the biggest demographic shift since the Baby Boom:
we are learning to go solo, and crafting new ways of living in the
process.
Klinenberg explores the dramatic rise of solo
living, and examines the seismic impact it’s having on our culture,
business, and politics. Though conventional wisdom tells us that living
by oneself leads to loneliness and isolation, Klinenberg shows that most
solo dwellers are deeply engaged in social and civic life. In fact,
compared with their married counterparts, they are more likely to eat
out and exercise, go to art and music classes, attend public events and
lectures, and volunteer. There’s even evidence that people who live
alone enjoy better mental health than unmarried people who live with
others and have more environmentally sustainable lifestyles than
families, since they favor urban apartments over large suburban homes.
Drawing on over three hundred in-depth interviews with men and women of
all ages and every class, Klinenberg reaches a startling conclusion: in a
world of ubiquitous media and hyperconnectivity, this way of life can
help us discover ourselves and appreciate the pleasure of good company.
With eye-opening statistics, original data, and
vivid portraits of people who go solo, Klinenberg upends conventional
wisdom to deliver the definitive take on how the rise of living alone is
transforming the American experience. Going Solo is a powerful and
necessary assessment of an unprecedented social change.
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