Netta WeinsteinSolitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone

The data are in and they are beautifully written besides: Not only is alone time OK but it's to one's great benefit, as well as to the benefit of those around the person who takes time off to be with oneself. When I was a young mom, for example, I could have benefited from the authors' wise words. Now a middle-aged person, I reflect this book's overall message and commend it to anyone who either scoffs at the need to be alone or who worries that being alone is somehow not OK or even harmful. I also appreciate in "Solitude" that it ultimately is woman-centered; "we" need reminding that "we" don't need to be the life of the party and, if "we" are, stepping away from serving everyone and keeping everyone happy so that "we" can recharge on our own and in the company only of "our" own thoughts is very good for everyone in "our" orbit. I'll add, per my "deeply reported" 'headline' here, that everything in between this book's covers is based on authors' personal anecdotes; those of many folks of various ages around the world; the parsing of peer-reviewed study after study; and reporting from numerous books that previously had touched on an aspect of the topic of solitude. In other words, this books is a compendium of so very much that's already out there; this work puts it all in one incredibly well-organized and easy to follow spot.

Just started reading and so far, I like it. But getting old is tough. These eyes are not what they use to be and i struggle with the small size of the font. It seems too small and dainty (to me) and doesn't lend itself well to a long read. I mean, there seems to be ample room on the page for a larger and bolder font? But unfortunately (for ME) the publisher went with a little'bitty one. But, hey, if ur in ur twenties, and have 20/20 vision u might evn like the small font size? jst thought i'd mention it FOR THE REST OF US :)

I deeply enjoyed this book. It's a topic I knew I was interested in, as I often read psychology-related books, but I was amazed at how much I learned. The book covers many aspects of solitude that I never would have even considered. It really added value to my life and gave me a new perspective on the topic. It's well researched, in-depth, and an easy and engaging read. It's important for us to recognize the benefits of all kinds of solitude, and this gave me the language to help open up a whole new level of understanding. Definitely recommended!

This book does a wonderful job of making accessible, and making sense, of numerous studies on solitude and related topics. I particularly enjoyed the authors' personal stories infused throughout the book to bring life to those topics, as well as Chapter 7 on nature and solitude, which examines both the religious and spiritual power of being in nature and our relationship to it.

Helpful and easily relatable. Glad I ordered it.

I devoured this book in a week. Excellent points and left with tangible takeaways to apply to my everyday life.

A Great ReadThe authors explains what solitude is, and states that quite often Bill Gates goes to his secluded cabin deep within one of Washington state's fjords just to relax and do some problem solving quite a few times a year.They explain that solitude is not the same as loneliness, isolation, or withdrawal, even though those states are associated with the condition of being alone. They discuss the history of solitude, and some of the many types of solitude.The author provides data from a recent survey by researchers in Germany looked at epidemiological and experimental studies from 2007 to 2018 that found that noise from aircraft, road traffic, and rail traffic – and the chronic stress it causes – represents a significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. That state that these studies indicate that chronic noise exposure contributes to 48,000 new cases of heart disease in Europe each year (by promoting the development of vascular dysfunction and high blood pressure) and disrupts the sleep of 6.5 million people (causing an elevation of stress hormone levels and oxidative stress).This is a great book on the whys, types, and benefits of solitude. I highly recommend this book for those seeking all around well-being and a day to day way to escape stress and burnouts.

We live in a world in which we are hyper connected and seemingly available absolutely all the time. It can be exhausting. An antidote to this state of being is to actively seek out solitude. In this book that is written by academics, the average reader can also learn a great deal. The authors include a psychologist, a science writer, and an expert in studying solitude in lab conditions.The authors help readers to understand the benefits of alone time (as distinguished from loneliness) and the ways in which it can boost well-being. There are many advantages as becomes clear, even if it is sometimes tricky to be alone with one’s self.The authors note the limitations of their work in an emerging field of study. They acknowledge that most studies have been with college students or older adults and that more needs to be understood about other age groups. They also acknowledge their largely Western perspective. Despite this, there is much of value in this title.I found this book to be quite readable and informative. The reader is immediately drawn in with the description of Beryl Markham and her solo flight. There are many instances of people’s stories along with the information in this title. It is definitely worth a look and some thought.Many thanks to NetGalley and Cambridge University Press for this title. All opinions are my own.