The Book Depository How to Be Alone by Sara Maitland
206 ratings
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Price: £9.99
Brand: The Book Depository
Description: How to Be Alone : Paperback : Pan Macmillan : 9780230768086 : : 02 Jan 2014 : Learn how to enjoy solitude and find happiness without others. The Book Depository How to Be Alone by Sara Maitland - shop the best deal online on thebookbug.co.uk
Category: Books
Merchant: The Book Depository
Product ID: 9780230768086
MPN: 9780230768086
GTIN: 9780230768086
Author: Annemarie Rammo
Rating: 5
Review: I'm not one for selfhelp books. I've always thought that why read them when you can get all the same thoughts out of any of the classics - with a little bit more effort and a better reading experience. I stumbled across Sara Maitland's How to Be Alone in braingpickings.org and found the topic to be interesting. Since I'm currently single and living alone and find myself enjoying it and struggling with it at the same time, I decided to see what this woman who lives in the Scottish Highlands has to say about the topic. I simply loved the book. I haven't really finished it yet, because when I find something I enjoy reading as much as I enjoy this, then I tend to linger and read super slowly, because I just don't want the experience to end. The book is very well written. English isn't my native language, so some books can be difficult for me to read, but this one has a very simple yet very enjoyable and beautiful language. The book is more a cultural account of being alone with some suggestions on how to learn to enjoy being alone then a real self help book. Since I studied cultural theory in college then this is very interesting for me to read. It also has some exercises that should help you enjoy being alone more. I must say that some of this I had already taken into practice before reading the book. Generally I agree with the author. I think being alone can be a very enjoyable experience and it is something that everyone should at least try. Whole different dimensions of life open up when you do even the simplest things like going to the theater or for a walk on your own instead of looking for a companion to do everything. And it's surprising how many people find even these simple 'exercises' intimidating.
Author: John Hopper
Rating: 3
Review: I wasn't quite sure what to expect in this short book, but it wasn't quite the self help/personal development book I anticipated. It is largely a history and contemporary description of societal attitudes towards solitude, albeit leavened by some tips for how to seek solitude for those unable through personal circumstances or a fear of societal disapproval to try to do it. While I love and am usually energised by solitude myself, and recognise some of the negative societal attitudes she describes ("mad, bad or sad"), I think she overstates somewhat her case that we seekers of solitude are effectively an oppressed minority. An interesting read.
