Author(s): Eric Klinenberg

Politics & Society

In 1950, only 22 percent of American adults were single. Today, more than 50 percent of American adults are, and 31 million - roughly one out of every seven adults - live alone. Eric Klinenberg explores the dramatic rise of solo living, and examines the seismic impact it's having on our culture, business, and politics. Though conventional wisdom tells us that living by oneself leads to loneliness and isolation, most 'solo dwellers', compared with their married counterparts, are more likely to eat out and exercise, sign up for art and music classes, attend public events and lectures, and volunteer. Drawing on over three hundred in-depth interviews with men and women of all ages and every class, Klinenberg reaches some startling conclusions. With eye-opening statistics, original data, and vivid portraits of people who go solo, Going Solo upends conventional wisdom to deliver the definitive take on how the rise of living alone is transforming modern society.