A Life Less Lonely

by Nick Duerden

'The practical advice in this book is gold dust not only for lonely people, but for those who long to help them.' - Joanna Lumley

Loneliness is an epidemic on the rise. It has long been documented that older people suffer from social isolation, but teenagers do too, likewise new parents, those with disability or illness, and anybody going through a significant life change.

As more people work full-time, and we interact via social media rather than face-to-face, we need to stop and ask what can we do to ensure all our futures are more connected and socially satisfying?

This book will help to share stories of loneliness to increase our empathy and understanding of it, and to look for possible solutions. Using the research the Jo Cox Commission undertook following the MP's senseless death in 2016, it offers a wealth of practical how to spot the symptoms in yourself and in others; how to ease them; how to seek help and, ultimately, how to understand this most fundamental of human emotions. Its aim is to provide us all with the tools we need to lead kinder, more connected lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Relationships, Mental Health, Self Help

224 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2018

Reviews

[Ann T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Duerden is a journalist form the UK and has written this book “to continue the conversation Jo Cox started”. Jo Cox was an MP who, prior to her murder, was campaigning to reduce loneliness.

Loneliness is as dangerous to our health as smoking cigarettes, and sadly as portrayed throughout this book no one seems immune from its grasp.

Thankfully though the conversation has started, and there are many people and organisations that are working really hard to reach out to the most vulnerable in society.

The book has likened the loneliness movement to those of suicide and mental health, stating that it is not a quick fix, but like previous connections that began through long conversations and lots of open campaigns, people are now taking the elephant out of the room and talking about these subjects, which in turn offers hope and help,to those who need most.

Each chapter in this book focuses on different groups of people affected by loneliness, including but not limited to refugees, new mothers, the elderly, the ill or disabled.

The book is an enjoyable and easy book to read. Nick covered so many groups of people who are affected by loneliness and has clearly researched this book really well to invite the reader into people’s lives and see how initiatives have had such positive impacts, however great or small.

Reading this book can’t help but arouse empathy and arouse ideas in how I could help, however small in my daily life.

There are so ways people are affected by loneliness and this wonderful book has indeed met its aim and gone beyond, in continuing the conversation that was started by Jo Cox.

I do hope, not only for the author, but for humanity that this fabulous book is well received in all corners of the globe.

[Mahmoud Aghiorly · Rating 4 out of 5]

هذا الكتاب الذي كتبه الصحفي البريطاني نيك ديردن , كتاب حياة أقل وحدة , يتحدث عن مرض جديد ينتشر بسرعة كبيرة في المجتمعات المتقدمة ولن يلبس طويلاً قبل ان يصل إلى دول العالم الثاني والثالث و هو مرض الوحدة , و الوحدة هناك باتت تشكل خطراً موازيا لخطر التدخين , بل تفوقه لقدرتها على الاستشراء في فئات كبيرة من المجتمع بصمت تام وقسوة شديدة , ويستعرض الكتاب مجموعات مختلفة من الأشخاص المصابين بالوحدة ، بما في ذلك على سبيل المثال لا الحصر ، اللاجئين ، الأمهات الجدد ، المسنين ، المرضى أو ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة و يقابل و يحاور الكثير منهم , والكتاب مليء بالاقتباسات المباشرة من هؤلاء الفئات مما يعطي للقارىء انطباعاً بأنه جزء من حوار كبير وغني مع تلك الفئات , و من ثم يستعرض الكاتب بصورة خاصة طريقة المملكة المتحدة في معالجة الوحدة و كيف انها تأخذ الأمر على محمل الجد لدرجة أن هناك اليوم وزير خاص بالوحدة له اجندة وبرنامج عمل و من مثل هذه الطرق التي تعتمدها المملكة المتحدة هي خدمات ارسال رسائل من 4 صفحات لكبار السن على فترات دورية , وجود صالات مخصصة للحرفيين المتقاعدين يقدمون فيها خدمات بأسعار رمزي لسكان الحي , رقم هاتف يعمل على مدار الساعة يستقبل مكالمات من كبار السن و من يشعر بالوحدة لكي يتحدثوا إلى شخص ما , والكثير الكثير , صحيح ان هذا الكتاب كان هدفه اثارة التعاطف والافكار اكثر من كونه قدم حلولاً , الا انه قادر على تحفيز و تشجيع القارىء على القيام بشيء مهما كان صغيراً من اجل محاربة الوحدة في محيطه , هذا من جهة و من جهة اخرى الكتاب يشدد و ينوه و يحث جيل الشباب على مكافحة الوحدة ومحاربتها قبل ان تصبح مزمنة لديه ويقول في احدى صفحاته ان التخطيط لوحدة آخر العمر لا يجب ان تقل اهمية عن التخطيط لمصاريف تلك الفترة و على الانسان ان يدرك تماما ماذا سوف يفعل في وقت فراغه قبل ان يصل إليه , في الختام أظن أن الكتاب حقق غايته واستطاع ان يقدم نظرة شامة عن انواع الوحدة التي تواجه فئات مختلفة في المجتمع وكيف يمكن معالجتها , تقيمي للكتاب 4/5

[Jessica Tenney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some charming anecdotes and practical advice for connecting with others and tapping into communities.

[Laura Ghitoi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too anecdotal, too UK and US focused (which is not necessarily a bad thing, but for readers outside of these countries, more context is necessary in order to increase relevance) and not rooted enough in social and behavioural studies painting a larger picture of the loneliness epidemic. I feel like this book barely scratches the surface of the topic.

[Anna Wand · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Kama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information into loneliness across the globe.

[Mils · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow paced and interview-style narrative with different people in each chapter. Eye-opening and related to ongoing issues which moved me. A heart-warming and sometimes sad read.