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Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone Paperback – January 29, 2013

by Eric Klinenberg (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 343 ratings
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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 dwellers—whether in their twenties or eighties—are 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.
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  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    January 29, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    5.4 x 0.74 x 8.4 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0143122770
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0143122777
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A book so important that it is likely to become both a popular read and a social science classic. . . . This book really will change the lives of people who live solo, and everyone else . . . thorough, balanced, and persuasive.” — Psychology Today

“Fascinating and admirably temperate . . . [Going Solo] does a good job of explaining the social forces behind the trend and exploring the psychology of those who participate in it.” — Daniel Akst, The Wall Street Journal


“Klinenberg convincingly argues that the convergence of mass urbanization, communications technology, and liberalized attitudes has driven this trend.” — Slate

“Going Solo examines a dramatic demographic trend: the startling increase in adults living alone. Along the way, the book navigates some rough and complicated emotional terrain, finding its way straight to questions of the heart, to the universal yearning for happiness and purpose. In the end, despite its title, Going Solo is really about living better together—for all of us, single or not.” — The Washington Post

“Thought-provoking . . . Mr. Klinenberg argues that singletons comprise a kind of shadow population that’s misunderstood by policymakers and our culture writ large. Going Solo is an attempt to fill in the blanks— to explain the causes and consequences of living alone, and to describe what it looks in everyday life. . . . Klinenberg renders [these] stories vividly but also with nuance.” — The Christian Science Monitor

"Today, as Eric Klinenberg reminds us in his book, Going Solo, more than 50 percent of adults are single . . . [he] nicely shoes that people who live alone are more likely to visit friends and join social groups. They are more likely to congregate in and create active, dynamic cities." — David Brooks, The New York Times

About the Author

Eric Klinenberg is a professor of sociology at New York University and the editor of the journal Public Culture. He is the author of Heat Wave, which won several scholarly and literary prizes and was declared a "Favorite Book" by the Chicago Tribune, and 2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed. His research has been heralded in The New Yorker and on CNN and NPR, and his stories have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and on This American Life.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; 1st edition (January 29, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143122770
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143122777
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 0.74 x 8.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 343 ratings

About the author

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Eric Klinenberg

Eric Klinenberg

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Eric Klinenberg is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. He's the author of Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life, and co-author, with Aziz Ansari, of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Modern Romance.

Klinenberg's previous books include Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone, also published by the Penguin Press. Time Magazine featured Going Solo as the #1 Idea That is Changing Your Life in the March 12, 2012 cover story. Vanity Fair called it "trailblazing." Psychology Today called it "so important that it is likely to become both a popular read and a social science classic." The New Yorker argued that the book "suggests that our usual perceptions about life alone get things backward." And the Washington Post explained that "Going Solo is really about living better together--for all of us, single or not."

Klinenberg's first book, Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago, won six scholarly and literary prizes (and was a Favorite Book selection by the Chicago Tribune), and was praised as "a dense and subtle portrait" (Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker); "a remarkable, riveting account" (American Prospect); "intellectually exciting" (Amartya Sen); and a "trenchant, persuasive tale of slow murder by public policy" (Salon).

Professor Klinenberg's second book, Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America's Media, was called "politically passionate and intellectually serious," (Columbia Journalism Review), "a must-read for those who wonder what happened to good radio, accurate reporting and autonomous public interest" (Time Out New York), and "eye-opening ...required reading for conscientious citizens" (Kirkus). Since its publication, he has testified before the Federal Communications Commission and briefed the U.S. Congress on his findings.

In addition to his books and scholarly articles, Klinenberg has contributed to popular publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, Fortune, The London Review of Books, The Nation, The Washington Post, Mother Jones, The Guardian, Le Monde Diplomatique, Slate, and the radio program This American Life.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
343 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, informative, and entertaining. They say it's worth reading and enjoyable. Opinions are mixed on the writing quality, with some finding it well-written and articulate, while others say it's horrible and difficult to read.

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InsightReadabilityWriting qualityPacing
43 customers mention "Insight"40 positive3 negative

Customers find the book insightful, informative, and interesting. They say it provides a great overview of a common situation in the United States and Europe. Readers also mention the data presented is eye-opening and raises serious questions.

"I loved reading this heartfelt and thorough investigation of a rather unexplored phenomenon as living alone...." Read more

"I loved this book .. it was informative and interesting. I had no idea about some of the statistics on people living alone. Especially the elderly...." Read more

"...No more. The data presented here was very eye opening. Many things I had guessed were true have been confirmed...." Read more

"...It's very thought provoking for anyone who still believes you have to have someone living in your home to make your life complete...." Read more

33 customers mention "Readability"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, entertaining, and worth reading. They say it presents valuable findings and is well-written.

"...to finally, for the first time, read such an articulate and entertaining discussion of the many facets of living solo...." Read more

"...in some SRO or nursing home, but who are instead enjoying an excellent quality of life, living independently in apartments and cottages that are..." Read more

"I loved this book .. it was informative and interesting. I had no idea about some of the statistics on people living alone. Especially the elderly...." Read more

"...Living alone can be immensely rewarding and fullfilling...." Read more

17 customers mention "Writing quality"11 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book. Some mention it's well-written, articulate, and straight to the point. However, others say the text is horrible and makes for a difficult read.

"...America, I was pleased to finally, for the first time, read such an articulate and entertaining discussion of the many facets of living solo...." Read more

"...The way it's written is also very straight to the point while keeping it entertaining and interesting. :)" Read more

"...But the book is all over the place! It focuses mostly on the PROBLEMS some elderly people have living by themselves and growing completely isolated...." Read more

"The book is well written and the subject is interesting but it has too many examples which makes the reader get lost...." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some mention it provides a well-rounded look into the ways single people live. Others say it's disappointing and depressing, saying it gives a depressing vision of their future.

""Going Solo" is a disappointing and rather depressing read. I bought it because "The Surprising APPEAL of Living Alone" caught my eye...." Read more

"Overall, a very well-rounded look into the ways single people live in many countries...." Read more

"...from this book, but what the author gave me was a depressing vision of my future where I'll die alone and unloved...." Read more

"...This is a thoughtful look at a lifestyle becoming more and more common, more and more acceptable in Europe and North American among those who can..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Ela
5.0 out of 5 stars Going Solo Rocks!
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2012
Verified Purchase
I loved reading this heartfelt and thorough investigation of a rather unexplored phenomenon as living alone. I enjoyed very much the way the plot unfolds. I could not put the book down until the end, something that never occurs.

As in Heat Wave, the account unfolds through the eloquent use of academic literature, the compelling stories of informants, and the author's candid observations. Without revealing too much, I enjoyed how Klinenberg convinced me of the appeal of living alone. I often found myself wondering how the author, a married man with two kids, could explain with crystal clarity the thrill of making it alone of many women like me - buying a home on your own, finding your path, falling in love with your higher self. What I loved the most was how the author employed the "appeal" of the "social experiment" of living alone as the foundation for the discussion of the other side of the coin - the hardships and hazards of living alone in societies not yet equipped to serve legions of one-head householders.

As social scientist who studied for the last four years the condition of living alone in older age in America, I was pleased to finally, for the first time, read such an articulate and entertaining discussion of the many facets of living solo. I appreciated how Klinenberg draws the line between loneliness and living alone, how he highlights the issues of studying social isolation and the importance of proper housing policies. I was taken by the author's account of his grandmother's experience in a high-end assistive living facility (we know so little about life in these spaces!), his reflection on horrific nursing homes and unaffordable services for older adults, as well as his discussion of best practices in New York and in Sweden.

Finally, whereas Heat Wave was a serious book as "social autopsies" should be, Going Solo surprised me with some very funny paragraphs where I found myself laughing hard. It was a joy to finally immerse myself into a sophisticated analysis founded on unforgettable ethnographies, clear arguments, and even humor. What an inspiration!
149 people found this helpful
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Jay Gilbertson
4.0 out of 5 stars This is the wave of the Future---NOW!
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2012
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Going Solo
The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone

By Eric Klinenberg

Who doesn't know someone who lives alone--who has for years and seems happy--is happy?

This new trend is setting an entirely new paradigm for how we live, where we live and the amenities this growing population demands. The statistics surrounding this relatively new phenomenon are staggering since for the first time in history, huge numbers of humans have started to settle down as what author Klinenberg refers to as Singletons. (Singleton is an author-created term that refers to those who live alone--no children, no romantic partner, no roommates.)

"Today, more than 50% of American adults are single--roughly one out of every seven adults--live alone."

Since living alone is so new to our society as a whole, we have no clear cut rationale to deal with it in a positive and supportive way. The old-fashioned premise, especially for women, that living alone is only a stage before landing that romantic partner is just that--old! Author Klinenberg is quick to point out that his entire study only deals with the culture of modern cities which allow for the expression of individual eccentricities and permit experiments with new ways of living.

The author's extensive research came to light and was later funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation after the publication of Heat Wave. This new social arrangement came into the public interest after the 1995 heat wave left hundreds of people in America's inner cities so isolated that they ultimately died alone. To understand how this could have happened, the best thing to do was go backwards to find the source.

"Today more that 5 million Americans under 35 have places of their own. Many of the young adults who live alone were brought up to do so. Not explicitly...they developed the capacity and desire to live independently through another, historically novel experience: growing up in a room of one's own."

Today, in many middle-class communities parents feel negligent if they don't provide a private bedroom for each of their children. This was once considered a luxury, but in recent times it's an entitlement of the middle-class and it usually begins around the age of eight. The rise of Latchkey Kids and private rooms within the home is an international experience.

And then there came this new trend that has literally changed everything--the digital age. In many cases, those living alone are socially overextended, and hyperactive use of digital media keeps them ever busier.

"Singles and people who live alone are twice as likely as married people to go to bars and dance clubs. They eat out in restaurants more often, are likely to take art or music classes, attend public events, and go shopping with friends."

Fast forward to Americans over 65, one in three--live alone--and the numbers living alone only increase with age and are primarily women. The book suggests we should no longer continue our journey through life solely supporting the concept of marriage being the end-all and that being single is something to abhor. Instead, we need to come to the realization that it's here to stay and that we need to create places for all to flourish.

Here-in lie the many faces of independence--isn't it time we celebrate all of them?
12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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IlBara
5.0 out of 5 stars In inglese
Reviewed in Italy on February 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Libro in inglese ma di facile comprensione, contenuti intuitivi, ben documentato.
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E
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
Always enjoyed my solo time and wanted to explore more with a book.
I found it interesting,well written and with the the power to challenge one's thoughts in a very intellectual way.
Must read for everyone who still has question on singledom/solitude/loneliness
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Wolverine
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in India on June 27, 2017
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Just a book of statistics.
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Sir Thomas
4.0 out of 5 stars A new look at living alone
Reviewed in Australia on August 5, 2018
Verified Purchase
An interesting and well-researched book. Easy to read and quite entertaining. Unfortunately it looks almost exclusively at the American environment and this does not readily translate to other parts of the world - despite the author's visit to Sweden. Still, a very worthwhile reference source for people living alone. As a recent 'singleton', I found this an enlightening read.
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lucy ravinsky
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing eye opener
Reviewed in Canada on November 25, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is, more than anything else, incredibly interesting for people of all ages especially the elderly. I haven't finished it yet but I think there should be forums on the book; as in discussions about the ramifications of this situation, especially the financial ones.
I would recommend it to everyone.
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