Only You: The Unexpected Gift of Being Alone

by Dr Marny Lishman

208 pages, Paperback

Published May 11, 2026

Reviews

[Megan]

The core insight for me in this book is the importance of being able to be alone. Not lonely, which is the presence of connection with others and of feeling like you belong, but alone as in content to hang with yourself.

I went to a yoga class on the same day I was reading this and the instructor said “stillness reveals what busyness hides” and that resonated.

We can be lonely in a room full of people or inside a marriage. I wonder if the loneliness epidemic is exacerbated by our need to be busy and entertained all the time such that when that element is missing our loneliness is enhanced. Could this feeling be reduced if we could all learn to be comfortable being alone at least for periods of time and then focus on building connection not just cohabitation.

[Jay Martin]

This is a clear and simple read including a range of ideas for how to think about, deal with, and act on being 'alone', when that isn't your preferred relationship state. Some useful things to think about - and while I think most of it isn't rocket science, I think most people would also find something to think about in it.