A review by val_eris
Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone by Eric Klinenberg

2.0

For all that this book cites statistics, it continually mentions things that aren't true for the generational demographics it describes. Its general tone is that younger people who live alone are doing so to enjoy a "second adolescence", playing kickball and having sex. It's not true. Based on recent surveys, Gen Z and millennials are having later and less sex than any of the generations before. While discussing urban life, he constantly brings up the social trends in New York-- Brooklyn's kickball leagues, Greenwich village's bohemian, Manhattan beach surfers... the perspective is biased towards proportionally wealthy urban people. It creates a narrative of young adults that are immature or at least pleasure and independence motivated. The truth is that the majority of traditional markers of adulthood are not within reach for many people in these generations, whether they desire them or not. By the end of the introductory chapters, I was expecting to be told to just stop eating so much avocado toast and buying Starbucks.