The Lonely Century audiobook cover - How Isolation Imperils Our Future

The Lonely Century

How Isolation Imperils Our Future

Noreena Hertz

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Categories:
Society & CulturePolitics

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The Lonely Century
Root Causes of Loneliness+
Consequences of Loneliness+
Modern Coping Mechanisms+
Solutions & Reconnection+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
Why does the author argue that neoliberal capitalism has fueled the 'Lonely Century'?
  • A. It heavily regulated technology companies, preventing them from creating community platforms.
  • B. It forced people to move out of cities and into isolated rural areas.
  • C. It championed self-interest and hyper-competitiveness over communal values and the collective good.
  • D. It caused a rapid decrease in wealth gaps, leaving the upper class feeling marginalized.
Question 2 of 8
What surprising insight does the Haredim community in Israel reveal about health and longevity?
  • A. A strict, healthy diet is the only proven way to combat the physical toll of loneliness.
  • B. Wealth and high socioeconomic status are the primary drivers of a long life expectancy.
  • C. Isolation from secular society naturally protects communities from modern diseases like dementia.
  • D. A tight-knit, supportive community can lead to a longer life expectancy despite high rates of poverty and obesity.
Question 3 of 8
How does the book connect loneliness to the rise of right-wing populist movements?
  • A. Totalitarian and populist movements attract lonely individuals by offering them a community, a sense of purpose, and reclaimed self-respect.
  • B. Right-wing movements primarily recruit followers through lonely, isolated online chat rooms.
  • C. Populist leaders promise universal basic income to alleviate the financial stress of lonely individuals.
  • D. Lonely individuals tend to vote for populist candidates out of a desire for more contactless commerce and automation.
Question 4 of 8
What is a potential drawback of transactional relationships, such as hiring a 'RentAFriend' or watching 'mukbang' streams?
  • A. They are highly regulated by local governments, making them inaccessible to most city dwellers.
  • B. They require very little emotional input, which can make developing real, mutual friendships feel burdensome.
  • C. They force viewers to engage in deep, exhausting emotional conversations with strangers.
  • D. They primarily appeal to the elderly, leaving young urban professionals without options for connection.
Question 5 of 8
According to a University of British Columbia study at a Starbucks, what is the value of 'microinteractions'?
  • A. They speed up the economy by making consumer transactions highly efficient.
  • B. They prove that contactless commerce is the most emotionally satisfying way to shop.
  • C. Engaging in friendly small talk with strangers measurably increases our overall happiness and sense of connection.
  • D. They show that forced small talk actually increases cortisol and stress levels in urban environments.
Question 6 of 8
What does the author suggest governments should do to protect children from the negative social effects of excessive screen time?
  • A. Enact laws regulating addictive social media, potentially banning it for children under the age of consent.
  • B. Subsidize the cost of smartphones so all children have equal access to online communities.
  • C. Ban all digital devices in public schools and public libraries.
  • D. Replace traditional teachers with AI social robots to better engage tech-savvy children.
Question 7 of 8
What is identified as a primary risk of relying on highly advanced social robots for companionship?
  • A. They are likely to become physically dangerous to elderly owners due to software malfunctions.
  • B. As the technology improves, humans may become less inclined to invest the necessary time and energy into real human friendships.
  • C. They will make it impossible for humans to use basic household appliances like vacuum cleaners.
  • D. They will rapidly replace human workers in the tech industry, causing massive economic collapse.
Question 8 of 8
What real-world example does the author use to demonstrate how governments can give citizens a more active voice and foster a collective mindset?
  • A. Japan's program of giving free helper robots to elderly citizens in Saijo.
  • B. The United States' expansion of Amazon Go stores to replace defunded public libraries.
  • C. Israel's mandate requiring secular citizens to adopt the lifestyle practices of the Haredim.
  • D. Taiwan's system of regularly polling hundreds of thousands of residents on civic issues and implementing their recommendations.

The Lonely Century — Full Chapter Overview

The Lonely Century Summary & Overview

The Lonely Century (2021) explores the loneliness that characterizes the twenty-first century. Drawing on a decade of research, it reveals how neoliberal policies, new technologies, and mass migration to cities have contributed to us becoming so lonely – and what shifts need to occur for us to reconnect.

Who Should Listen to The Lonely Century?

  • Isolated individuals interested in understanding our current crisis of loneliness
  • Political thinkers who want to understand the roots of far-right movements
  • Community leaders looking for ways to bring people together

About the Author: Noreena Hertz

Noreena Hertz is an English academic, economist, author, and host of the Sirius XM show MegaHerz: London Calling. Named by the Observer as “one of the world’s leading thinkers,” she has published opinion pieces in publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Guardian. She has a PhD from Cambridge University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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