New Cambridge book on power of solitude
We celebrate National Solitude Day with a book that explores the benefits of time spent alone
The Science and Power of Being Alone
The average adult spends nearly one third of their time alone – yet learning how alone time can boost wellbeing, and putting theory into practice, isn’t always intuitive. Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone, by Netta Weinstein, Heather Hansen and Thuy-vy T. Nguyen, is a new release from Cambridge University Press that translates key research findings about solitude into actionable facts and advice.
Buy Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone
By Netta Weinstein, Heather Hansen, and Thuy-vy T. Nguyen | ISBN 9781009256605 | Price £20 GBP (Hardback)
“As psychologists and science communicators, we stand at the intersection of science, maths, and the mind. The narratives [in Solitude] show us that the pursuit of solitude has long been an inherent aspect of our shared humanity.”
About the book
Solitude explores the science of alone time and how individuals can better boost their wellbeing through spending time by themselves. The book:
- clearly defines ‘solitude’ and demonstrates how it plays a role in the move toward our best possible selves;
- showcases different perspectives, traditions, stories, and research methods on solitude from people around the world;
- explains how we can balance our social and solo needs;
- highlights some of the research conducted by the Solitude Lab and others before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exciting insights from the Solitude Lab
The Solitude Lab, pioneered by Thuy-vy T. Nguyen, exists to study solitude – whether it be a life choice, a spontaneous desire or a momentary experience. The Lab’s current projects include a project on understanding experiences of living-alone adults; a project exploring resilience in solitude; and a project studying solitude as an opportunity for rest in everyday life.
Solitude in the media
The Guardian
“…a new book is asking us to reconsider solitude. In Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone, authors Netta Weinstein, Heather Hansen and Thuy-vy T Nguyen argue that time spent by ourselves is not necessarily a threat to our wellbeing, nor an inherent good.”
Publishers Weekly
“Interweaving their research with captivating historical titbits, the authors discuss extreme solitude embraced by 19th-century Antarctic explorers, sketch profiles of such famous loners as Emily Dickinson, and analyze the fraught experience of dining out solo… It’s an illuminating take on a fundamental aspect of being human.”
New Scientist
“In Solitude, a book I co-wrote with researchers Netta Weinstein at the University of Reading and Thuy-vy Nguyen at Durham University, both in the UK, we set out to understand how everyday solitude affects people’s lives. Together, we wanted to know whether these moments are beneficial, and possibly essential to living a balanced, happy life.”
Further reading on self and society
Planning to set aside some time to yourself to read a book or two? Here are some other recent books from Cambridge exploring social dynamics.
Unaging: The Four Factors that Impact How You Age
Aging is a subject of concern to everyone but is widely misunderstood. If we view it as inevitable, we miss the fact that not everyone is able to grow to an old age. Realization of this reality helps us to understand that aging presents a wonderful opportunity – an opportunity to make choices about how we live which can enhance the aging process and offer a chance to live to our potential.
How one spends time with other people and alone can have a strong influence over the aging process. This book presents the four factors (cognitive, physical, psychological and social) which impact our ability to have healthy responses to the stresses of aging. Readers will learn the steps to take in activities, diet and mental outlook to grasp the opportunity that aging offers.
Social Media and Mental Health
In an age when social media is a part of life, there has been much debate about whether it is a force for good or evil. This book focuses on research findings to deliver a sorely needed account of the relationship between social media and mental health. Beginning with research on the nature of social media platforms and their use, the book explores how social media influences mood, body image and general health, and how we can use social media positively. It also explores the link between social media use and specific mental health disorders. A must-read for professionals in social care, education and mental health, as well as interested general readers.
The Cambridge Companion to Rousseau's Social Contract
What is freedom? What is equality? And what is sovereignty? A foundational text of modern political philosophy, Rousseau's The Social Contract has generated much debate and exerted extraordinary influence not only on political thought, but also modern political history, by way of the French Revolution and other political events, ideals, and practices. Few texts have offered more influential and important answers to research questions than The Social Contract, and in this new Cambridge Companion, a multidisciplinary team of contributors provide new ways to navigate this masterpiece of political philosophy – and its animating questions.
For more books from Cambridge University Press, visit our online bookshop.
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