I am alone: Introducing solitude -- I think I'm alone now: What solitude is (and is not) -- Why solitude gets a bad rap: I've got a theory -- Not only the lonely: Confronting the very worst of solitude -- Well enough alone? I've got a theory -- What solitude is 'just right': Aloneliness and the goldilocks principle -- Loners & homebodies & introverts, oh my! The memes versus relaities of preferring solitude -- Learning to play solo: How to do solitude better -- Making it alone: How solitude can enhance your creative side -- Me, myself, and AI: How to be alone with your phone -- Growing up alone: How to promote healthy solitude in children -- Being single or being alone together: How to navigate solitude in your relationships -- Ending up alone: Some final thoughts about solitude -- Acknowledgments -- Bibliography -- Index

"Solitude is part of the human experience. But just like other relationships, your relationship with solitude can be satisfying, intimate, and enhance your well-being, or it can leave you wanting, stuck in a cycle of sadness, anxiety, or anger. Regardless of whether you're starved for "me time" or struggling with loneliness, most of us have never thought carefully about how to get the most out of the time we spend by ourselves. As a result, we're missing out on what could be a deeply enriching aspect of our lives. But how can we unlock the positive power of solitude? In The Joy of Solitude, Robert Coplan draws from diverse fields including psychology, neuroscience, literature, and sociology to guide readers through solitude's many dimensions and its profound effects on mental health and well-being." --