Singles Society

Going solo: the extraordinary rise and surprising appeal of living alone

Douban

NeoDB

In The Single Society, Klinenberg clearly points out that people who live alone are more likely to visit friends or join social groups, and they are more likely to gather or create lively and vibrant cities. More precisely, our society has changed from one that protects people from harm to one that allows people to maximize their talents.

—The New York Times

Eric Klinenberg has written a remarkable study of the single society. He reveals both the joys and pains of living alone in modern society. The Single Society offers a fresh perspective on urban planning and demonstrates the need for in-depth research into the psychology of single people. Klinenberg wrote this book not to sensationalize but to share his insights. A must-read.

—Richard Snart, author of "Being Together: The Ritual, Pleasure, and the Politics of Cooperation"

"A fascinating and even-handed account of the rise of the single society, illuminating the challenges it presents for individuals but, more importantly, the profound implications for our society. Incredibly illuminating."

—Stephanie Coontz, author of Marriage Is History: How Love Triumphed Over Marriage

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In the 1950s, only 22% of the American population lived alone. Today, more than half of Americans are single, and 31 million of them live alone—nearly one-seventh of the adult population. Solo households now account for 28% of all U.S. households, making them the most common household type in the country, surpassing even nuclear families. In this book, Eric Klinenberg demonstrates that these figures are not just a passing trend; in fact, they represent the most significant societal shift since the baby boom—we are learning to be single, and with it, a whole new way of living.

Drawing on his pioneering research, Klinenberg explores the rise of singles and their profound impact on our society, culture, economy, and politics. Despite conventional wisdom that living alone leads to loneliness and isolation, Klinenberg reveals that the vast majority of singles actively participate in social life, actively dining out, exercising, attending art and music classes, public events, speaking engagements, and philanthropic causes. There's even evidence that singles are healthier than married people, and that their urban apartment lifestyles are more environmentally friendly than suburban single-family homes.

Klinenberg expertly analyzes the challenges and opportunities facing these individuals living alone: ​​young professionals who pay exorbitant apartment rents for freedom and privacy; singles in their 30s and 40s unwilling to sacrifice their careers or lifestyles for less-than-ideal partners; divorcees who no longer trust marriage as a foundation for happiness and stability; and seniors who prefer living alone to sharing with friends or children. Based on in-depth interviews with over 300 men and women of all ages and backgrounds, Klinenberg arrives at a surprising conclusion: in today's media-centric, hyperconnected society, living alone allows us to better understand ourselves and appreciate the company of a partner.

In this book, Klinenberg uses refreshing statistics, first-hand information, and vivid portrayals of people living alone to overturn people's traditional perceptions of singleness, and gives a conclusive evaluation of the changing form of single society in the United States: single society is becoming an unprecedentedly powerful and inevitable social change.

2015-02-01

上海文艺出版社

99 Readers

264

9787532155224