If You're Curious About These Questions...
You should listen to this audiobook
- How did the historical shift from the spiritually fulfilling state of 'oneliness' to the modern concept of 'loneliness' fundamentally change how we experience being alone?
- In what way does the romanticized cultural ideal of the 'soulmate' actually exacerbate our modern feelings of isolation and inadequacy?
- How have modern economic values, such as neoliberalism and the demand for constant productivity, fueled the current 'epidemic' of loneliness among the elderly?
Listen to A Biography of Loneliness — Free Audiobook
Key Takeaways from A Biography of Loneliness
- Loneliness is a surprisingly new idea, and today it’s often described as an epidemic.
- The meaning of “lonely” has changed over two centuries, mirroring shifts in society.
- The modern soulmate ideal remains as alluring – and as risky – as it has ever been.
- Losing a partner is deeply life-changing – but only recently has it been seen as “lonely.”
- Social media is widely blamed for millennial loneliness, but the truth is more complex.
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A Biography of Loneliness — Full Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Recommendation
Chapter 2: Loneliness is a surprisingly new idea, and today it’s often described as an epidemic.
Chapter 3: The meaning of “lonely” has changed over two centuries, mirroring shifts in society.
Chapter 4: The modern soulmate ideal remains as alluring – and as risky – as it has ever been.
Chapter 5: Losing a partner is deeply life-changing – but only recently has it been seen as “lonely.”
Chapter 6: Social media is widely blamed for millennial loneliness, but the truth is more complex.
Chapter 7: We must do much more to address loneliness among older people.
Chapter 8: Loneliness affects many different people, and in many different ways – some even positive.
Chapter 9: Loneliness is a distinctly modern phenomenon, and we must rethink how we understand it.
A Biography of Loneliness Summary & Overview
We tend to think of loneliness, like any emotion, as something universal. But its history is surprisingly recent. In A Biography of Loneliness, cultural historian Fay Bound Alberti traces the development of the modern concept of loneliness since its origins around 1800, and addresses the question of how it has gained such prominence in contemporary society.
Who Should Listen to A Biography of Loneliness?
- People interested in cultural history
- Anyone interested in emotions
- Those concerned by the prevalence of loneliness today
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