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How to Be Alone (The School of Life Book 15) by [Maitland, Sara, School of Life, The]
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How to Be Alone (The School of Life Book 15) Kindle Edition

by Sara Maitland (Author), The School of Life (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 23 customer reviews
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Length: 176 pages Word Wise: Enabled Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 5703 KB
  • Print Length: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Macmillan; Main Market Ed. edition (2 Jan. 2014)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00FWPNGQ8
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray:
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Screen Reader: Supported
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars 23 customer reviews
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #125,430 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsAn enjoyable and interesting read
By Annemarie Rammo on 25 Mar. 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
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.
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5.0 out of 5 starsAre You Comfortable with Your Own Company
By clahain on 5 Oct. 2014
Format: Paperback
In How to Be Alone, Sara Maitland offers an interesting historical/cultural view of solitude and considers its place in modern life. She presents the meaning and value of being alone as a sort of pendulum that has swung back and forth in popularity through time. I'm not sure I agree with a conclusion based on such limited evidence. Just because ancient Romans valued public life to excess doesn't mean the same was true of other cultures in existence at the time. What about China and the Near East?

I'm also not sure Maitland makes her case that a strong preference for solitude is seen as a huge eccentricity in modern western culture. Rather, we seem to be living in an era when widely differing modes of living are acceptable. A lot, of course, may depend on profession and age. In the corporate world, being reclusive might indeed get someone pigeonholed as sensitive or introverted or a "deep thinker." School-age kids and young adults who like to be alone probably run a greater risk of peer and parental backlash than older people do. Also, Maitland doesn't really address how modern technology has blurred the lines of what constitutes "being alone." People can now carry on active social lives without ever leaving their homes. Yet, physically, they are still alone.

Maitland does admit that her previous memoir/cultural history A BOOK OF SILENCE suffered a bit from the confusion of the terms "alone" and "silence." The same confusion is present in HOW TO BE ALONE, but I don't think it's a flaw. Rather, the two concepts naturally share the same space. Kind of like conjoined twins, you can't easily tease them apart or examine one without considering the other.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsGood introduction to the topic
By paola on 10 Mar. 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This book met my expectations. I was expecting a short, basic, well written and well-researched book about this topic and I've found all these things in it. It's really good if you're first approaching this subject as it gives you a lot of ideas and facts, and it's very easy to read too!
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3.0 out of 5 starsOutlines first steps to enjoying solitude
By K. Logan on 3 Mar. 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
‘Loner' has become a dirty word, serving as polite code for loser, weirdo and even potential serial killer (‘I'm not surprised they found all those bones in his back garden, he was always a loner … ’). But at the same time, we revere the solitary genius, the hermit, the artist musing in a garret. This is why the first step to enjoying solitude, says Sara Maitland, is to let go of stereotypes and accept that, to some extent, we all need time alone.

Like many self-help books, How to be Alone initially focuses less on the how and more on the why. Although an uncomfortable idea to accept, it's hard to argue with Maitland's point that perhaps we fear solitude because we don't want to know how empty our heads really are. More encouragingly, she points out that while we may initially fear time alone, it certainly won't do us any harm – and will probably do us good. Whether you're looking for some quiet in a busy life or trying to deal with solitude due to break-up or bereavement, this is a good place to start.

(Review from <a href="http://www.list.co.uk/article/57696-sara-maitland-how-to-be-alone/">The List</a>.)
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4.0 out of 5 starsThe Joys of Solitude
By Amina Ado on 12 Jan. 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Written in an easy style, it was a joy to read. Also at less than 200 pages, it took only a few hours to go through it. The first few chapters delved into why solitude is frowned upon these days. This was followed by chapters on how to be alone. The final part of the book focused on the joys of solitude. Indeed there is a lot to be gained from being alone and this book reminded us of the need and benefits of solitude. Being alone is empowering and allows one to tackle creative work more efficiently. This book is thus a timely reminder of the benefits of solitude in a noisy world.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsLIVING WITH MYSELF

I found the book really helpful. It made me look at living alone in a more positive light. It's good.

Published 4 months ago by Miss Debra J Hudson
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat book

It really is food for thought and a great read! The way she uses historic examples really does put things into context.

Published 6 months ago by Dilima N.
5.0 out of 5 starsvery good

Inspire me

Published 9 months ago by Teresa
5.0 out of 5 starsYou should read this.

Amazing a very helpful little book. A pleasure to read and so, so important as well. Should be mandatory in schools!! :)

Published 10 months ago by Barbara
4.0 out of 5 starsa fascinating read.

a fascinating read.

Published 11 months ago by Mr. Leslie C. Acklam
5.0 out of 5 starstool for life

Having heard about this book, I bought it for a friend whose husband had recently died. She absolutely loathed being alone. Hope that the book gave her some comfort. Read more

Published 12 months ago by 666albertastarr
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

interesting points made about cultural attitudes to loneliness v solitude

Published 14 months ago by Ms R. Metcalfe
4.0 out of 5 starsAll good

All good

Published 15 months ago by Gary Walsh
5.0 out of 5 starsfantastic book

This is a fantastic book. If you live alone you need too read this it's really inspiring and lots of fun a must read

Published 16 months ago by boerab
3.0 out of 5 starsnot quite what I was expecting

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. Read more

Published 18 months ago by John Hopper
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