Solitude: In pursuit of a Singlular Life in a Crowded World

Solitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World by Michael Harris

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

I think this book might be better suited to a younger audience. For me, the author was pretty much preaching to the converted. The principle thesis is that a world exists outside of the internet where the latter includes digital technology in general. He suggests that people need to periodically get away from their phones, their computers and all the noise and bustle of daily life and spend some time alone. Since I spend probably 80% or more of my time alone, his words of wisdom fell just a little flat. I think he has done his research correctly and I agree that there is something to be said for solitude but one thing he missed was relating it back to extroversion and introversion - something I think would probably affect his argument. Not only did he fail to do that, but he neglected to perform any research as to the breakdown in degree of self-containment by age and demographic. He noted accurately and early that individuals who have grown up surrounded by digital technology are heavily reliant on it and he cites himself as an example; however, I suspect that older people - those who have not been exposed to it throughout their entire lives - are not nearly as dependent as those who are younger. For example, when I was growing up, we didn't even acquire a television set until I reached the age of 11. As a result, I was forced to read or make up stories for myself - something that has served me well over the course of the years.

The book was well-written and there's nothing specific I can complain about but for me, it just sort of seemed self-evident.



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