Name: The Lonely Century
ISBN: 9780593135839

Noreena Hertz

"An economist takes on the most urgent social issue of our time, exploring the evolution of the global loneliness crisis, the sweeping impact of social isolation during the coronavirus, and the opportunities a post-Covid world presents to reverse these trends-by finding new ways to reconnect with each other, our communities, and even our democracy"--

How to Restore Human Connection in a World That's Pulling Apart

The Lonely Century

Dani Pesayco

Rating: 4.5⭐ out of 5


"Coming Together in a World that's Pulling Apart"—there's something inherently intriguing to this one statement that really drew me to read this book. That, and the title itself is a big, fat hook for the whole book.

But maybe, it was really because just seeing the title resonated with me in a very subconscious way. Early on in the book, Hertz presents the UCLA Loneliness Scale as an objective measure of whether you are indeed lonely or not. I was genuinely shocked to see my score go two points over the baseline score to be considered lonely. Maybe I was just in denial.

Then again, maybe all of us are in denial. Hertz explains that her definition of loneliness is "not only as feeling bereft of love, company or intimacy. Nor is it just about feeling ignored, unseen or uncared for by those with whom we interact on a regular basis...It's also about feeling unsupported and uncared for by our fellow citizens, employers, our community, our government." To sum it up, she says that "it's about not only lacking support in a social or familial context, but feeling politically and economically excluded as well."

Well.

The book presents a thorough picture of how loneliness affects this current society and generation, how we are all disconnected from each other more than ever despite the several mechanisms already in place for us to "connect." Overall, the problem lies in the system that we are all subjected to and how it turns us into kind and caring people, to selfish and rude individuals. To paint a picture: you can't really blame that person who shouldered past you rudely for not apologizing if you knew that they were a caregiver who was late for work because they had to bring their kid to a school that was on the other side of town because they lived in social housing that was purposely separated from regular housing and if they were late, they wouldn't be paid their almost minimum wage salary. It pushes the point that you can't afford to be kind and caring if the system does not allow you to be kind and caring by default.

Published in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the book is a timely picture of how we, as a lonely generation, have been affected greatly by these mechanisms over the years and how they will be amplified with our forced social isolation. But by the end, Hertz offers possible solutions that range from the individual level to the industry level, up to the government, and then society as a whole.

Humans are naturally social beings. After the pandemic, we will always find ways to come together. But for now, it doesn't take too much to be a bit kinder every day. And if you read this book, you'll know why something as simple as looking up from your phone, smiling at a neighbor, and greeting them "good morning" can help transform a lonely society for the better.

The Lonely Century How to Restore Human Connection in a World That's Pulling Apart

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