Solitude
"Solitude was seminal in challenging the established belief that "interpersonal relationships of an intimate kind are the chief, if not the only, source of human happiness." Indeed, most self-help literature still places relationships at the center of human existence. Lucid and lyrical, Storr's book cites numerous examples of brilliant scholars and artists -- from Beethoven and Kant to Anne Sexton and Beatrix Potter -- to demonstrate that solitude ranks alongside relationships in its impact on an individual's well-being and productivity, as well as on society's progress and health. But solitary activity is essential not only for geniuses, says Storr; the average person, too, is enriched by spending time alone."--Back cover.
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5recommend
7mentions
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2009–2023years
71% recommend29% neutral
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What Hacker News says
- Solitude: A Return to the Self, by Anthony Storr was a good read, but it's been over 15 years, so maybe worth a revisit. I am sociable, but I don't do much socializing. Rollerskating and motorcycles have punctuated my life with social groups and a sense of doing things with a group. I engage with people, but only if it's right there; I don't plan or reach out much. Fortunately, I have older kids, and I have some younger ones too that add all the socialization I could ever want. Family has been the key throughout my life. I do love my solitutude and reading and hiking and looking at stars though. Growing up in Brooklyn in the 60s/70s with street gangs and violence made me stay with my small group of tight friends. I've lived and worked all over the world, but I've never felt compelled to plan, attend, or create anything beyond the day-to-day life and the new MC club I am a member of (and skydiving with my older son for the third time!). Doing stuff.
- I recommend the book Solitude by Anthony Storr for a strong counter-argument.
https://www.amazon.com/Solitude-Return-Self-Anthony-Storr/dp...
- As a counterpoint to this, see the many excellent articles on The Hermitary.[1]
Also see Anthony Storr's Solitude: A Return to the Self.[2]
Many people have historically chosen solitude for religious or spiritual reasons, to focus on something they wanted to achieve, because they just preferred being alone, or for many other reasons.
Many societies have stigmatized solitude and those who choose it, but on the other hand there have been social movements which have praised and advocated solitude.
[1] - http://www.hermitary.com/articles/
[2] - https://www.amazon.com/Solitude-Return-Self-Anthony-Storr/dp...
- On a similar note, I found this book http://www.amazon.com/Solitude-Return-Self-Anthony-Storr/dp/... to be quite interesting. It discusses about solitude, its necessity and other related issues like depression in detail.
- Not being around people does not equate to loneliness.
There are some good books on the subject. Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr was one of the first I read and had a strong focus on psychology. For a more opinionated text, Party of One: The Loners' Manifesto by Anneli Rufus was good at building confidence in living this way.
- Solitude: A Return to the Self, Anthony Storr
https://bookshop.org/books/solitude-a-return-to-the-self-rei...
Metaphors We Live By, George Lakoff
https://bookshop.org/books/metaphors-we-live-by-revised/9780...
Confessions And Other Religious Writings, Tolstoy
https://bookshop.org/books/a-confession/9780486438511
The Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod, Henry Beston
https://bookshop.org/books/the-outermost-house-a-year-of-lif...
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, Alfred Lansing
https://bookshop.org/books/endurance-shackleton-s-incredible...
