What’s more, three in five Americans consider themselves to be lonely, feel left out, or misunderstood. These numbers continue to rise, with young adults being hit the hardest. If you can relate, know that you are not alone. Reading can provide comfort and companionship through turbulent times. Whether seeking counsel or an escape, find comfort in our roundup of best books about loneliness. Throughout the book, Brown addresses what she calls the “current spiritual crisis of disconnection.” She believes we live in a world that has lost the art of meaningful interaction, and we no longer know what it means to belong or how to connect with our peers. Through timely research, intertwined with personal anecdotes, Brown guides the reader on a path toward reconnecting with oneself and each other. Brown illustrates the journey of braving the wilderness—the place that is feared, the unknown—and how to navigate feelings of loneliness, discomfort, and division through authenticity and vulnerability. Price at time of publication: $18 Shining a light on self-discovery and independence, his insights widen our view of the relationship we have with ourselves and others, as well as how we define loneliness. Through examining the minds of prominent figures who lived in solitude—Beethoven, Kant, and Kipling—Storr pronounces his belief that there are other means of fulfillment and satisfaction. Without dismissing the importance of human interaction, Storr views solitude as being equally responsible for cultivating creativity and good health. Price at time of publication: $18 Her tale of self-discovery paints a picture of paralyzing loneliness, engulfed in a bustling metropolis. Through dissecting prominent works of art, from Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” and Andy Warhol’s “Time Capsules”, to Henry Darger’s hoarding and the depredations of the AIDS crisis, Laing examines what it means to truly feel alone. Price at time of publication: $19 Addressing the feelings of loneliness and isolation, Shumway’s teachings aim to give readers the tools to master the art of cultivating authentic relationships and fulfilling human connection. Throughout this book, he presents us with relevant research, scenarios, and discussion questions. Shumway addresses topics like communication styles, personality traits, and habits to help us discover our own psychological self and the purpose of friendship. Price at time of publication: $12 Through a collection of Rogers’ personal stories, scripts, interviews, and insights, this book explores universal themes addressing love, courage, inner discipline, and unity. Through an unfiltered lens, Rogers discusses the realities of life—from the hardships to the high points—that connect us all as human beings, and most importantly, as neighbors. “Solitude is different from loneliness, and it doesn’t have to be a lonely kind of thing,” Rogers said. His guidance and wisdom serve as comfort to readers, letting us know that our feelings of loneliness are valid and that we are truly not alone. Price at time of publication: $17 “Unlonely Planet” dives into the root of feeling alone and how to overcome this steep obstacle. Richardson provides readers with seven actionable steps toward finding a community and one’s own people. By shifting your mindset and view of community, this book provides a road map for fostering meaningful relationships. Richardson is the founder of The Joy List, a weekly newsletter inviting people to meet at events, highlighting facilitated moments of connection. Price at time of publication: $16 Stemming from a period of self-doubt, Nichols channeled her insecurity into creativity and connection. By inviting people to share their stories, she finds inspiration for her art and poetry. Her book is described as, “A celebration of hope. An encounter with grace. A restoration of the heart. A healing of wounds. An anthem of freedom.” By reading her book, Nichols hopes the reader will feel both spoken to and heard. Price at time of publication: $19 Also inspired by the idea of social awkwardness, Honeyman combined the two themes in her story about Eleanor Oliphant. The young adult lives a simple life, rarely straying from her normal routine. Whether it’s her choice of clothing, brand of vodka, or how she spends her weekends, Oliphant chooses to live her life in a highly regimented manner. The uplifting story follows the quirky and socially awkward young woman as she navigates loneliness and meets a coworker who eventually changes her life forever. Price at time of publication: $27 Relationship coach Kira Asatryan helps us cultivate closeness in all areas of our lives—with family, friends, romantic partners, and at work. Her simple and effective techniques give us the tools to form stronger relationships and conquer loneliness in social situations. Price at time of publication: $19 Sparked by feeling homesick in her own home, Rubin examines her life—including possessions, parenthood, marriage, body, neighborhood, and time—and discovers which factors influence her personal happiness the most. Dedicating a school year to her self-discovery project, Rubin dissects every aspect of her life at home. She explores the meaning behind her decisions, actions, and needs, and implements ways to enrich her home with comfort, love, and simplicity. Throughout her one-year experiment, Rubin recounts the details of her journey: what she tried, what worked, and the lessons learned. Price at time of publication: $16 Comfort is subjective, so ask yourself what makes you feel most supported and seek that out in a book. This could be a story that makes you laugh or feel seen, a book filled with imagery or frameworks to build upon, or one that offers kind words and affirmations. Audiobooks are another great option for feeling less physically alone. If a book’s summary doesn’t give much away about its contents, looking up reviews online can be helpful.
Relatable Stories
Everyone feels lonely at some point in their lives—it’s only natural. In fact, a 2020 survey of 10,000 adults found that 61% felt lonely. And thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to find stories that mirror our own experiences. When seeking out a book to help cope with loneliness, finding a story you relate to can actually help you feel less alone. It’s important to do your research when seeking out stories on loneliness. Just because a book is trendy or popular doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you. A book in which you relate to the author, their experience, the setting, or some other aspect of the story will have a greater impact and more staying power than one that’s randomly selected.
Inspirational
It’s important to seek out a book that will ultimately help you to feel better about life, not worse. By choosing a story that inspires you to be kinder to yourself or to go out in search of new connections and experiences, you’re giving yourself something to work toward and look forward to. This alone can help combat loneliness. Inspirational books on this topic can look like a memoir of someone who overcame loneliness or found healthy ways of coping, or a guide filled with tips and strategies for putting yourself out there. A book that can help you better understand your own goals and aspirations will do more than just make you feel less lonely. Keep in mind that too much time spent on social media can negatively impact alone time by actually increasing feelings of loneliness and causing FOMO, or “fear of missing out.” Instead, fill your time with more beneficial habits and deepen your understanding of yourself and what matters to you. Even though reading is a solitary activity, diving into a book that’s dedicated to dealing with loneliness can help you feel less alone in the moment while also providing tools to cope with those feelings in life.
