How to Be Alone (The School of Life)
How to Be Alone (The School of Life) book cover

How to Be Alone (The School of Life)

Paperback – September 2, 2014

Price
$14.68
Format
Paperback
Pages
240
Publisher
Picador
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1250059024
Dimensions
4.75 x 0.75 x 7.25 inches
Weight
5.8 ounces

Description

Review “In an age of moral and practical confusions, the self-help book is crying out to be redesigned and rehabilitated. The School of Life announces a rebirth with a series that examines the great issues of life, including money, sanity, work, technology, and the desire to alter the world for the better.” ― Alain de Botton, The School of Life Series Editor “Self-Help Books for the Rest of Us.” ― The New York Times About the Author Sara Maitland is the British author of numerous works of fiction, including the Somerset Maugham Award-winning Daughter of Jerusalem , and several nonfiction books, including A Book of Silence . Born in 1950, she studied at Oxford University and lives in Galloway, Scotland.

Features & Highlights

  • IN THIS AGE OF CONSTANT CONNECTIVITY, LEARN HOW TO ENJOY SOLITUDE AND FIND HAPPINESS WITHOUT OTHERS.Our fast-paced society does not approve of solitude; being alone is antisocial and some even find it sinister. Why is this so when autonomy, personal freedom, and individualism are more highly prized than ever before? In
  • How to Be Alone
  • , Sara Maitland answers this question by exploring changing attitudes throughout history. Offering experiments and strategies for overturning our fear of solitude, she helps us practice it without anxiety and encourages us to see the benefits of spending time by ourselves. By indulging in the experience of being alone, we can be inspired to find our own rewards and ultimately lead more enriched, fuller lives.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(90)
★★★★
25%
(75)
★★★
15%
(45)
★★
7%
(21)
23%
(70)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Pretty good. She sounds a bit bitter about her ...

Pretty good. She sounds a bit bitter about her ex-husband, but maybe that's expected of failed relationships. She spends a sizable chunk of the book defending solitude, which kind of thing doesn't really persuade me. I'm already in love with solitude. I felt a slightly combative tone, too, which is probably needed given the audience she writes for, but I think it's an unfortunate necessity. All these are minor criticisms from a sensitive reader, but overall it's a good book. It's a great companion to a person who needs a little nudge in the right direction.
22 people found this helpful
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Two Stars

The title seems misleading to me. Perhaps it's there, but the promise it seems to offer evaded me.
5 people found this helpful