How to be alone and absolutely own it, by founder of the Alonement blog and podcast, Francesca Specter.
Being alone has a serious branding issue. We’ve only ever had negative language to talk about flying solo – but what about when time spent alone is restorative and joyful? What if it’s something you crave? What if it’s even just an hour you’ve carved out yourself in the middle of a hectic week?
Enter: Alonement, Francesca Specter’s empowering new word to express valuing your own company and carving out time to spend with yourself, whoever you are and whatever your relationship status.
Between open-plan offices, two-for-one vouchers and co-habiting with partners and friends, most of us don’t know how to be alone – yet our life-long relationship with ourselves is the most important one we’ll ever have. A reformed ‘extreme extrovert’ who struggled to spend even an hour alone, Francesca made the resolution in January 2019 to improve her solitude skills. Having spent two months of lockdown by herself, Francesca knows better than most how to optimise the quality of time spent alone.
Packed with practical tips, insights from key experts and lessons from guests of the Alonement podcast – including Alain de Botton, Florence Given, Konnie Huq and Camilla Thurlow – Francesca reveals how we can all thrive alone, whatever our circumstances, and harness the untapped power of some meaningful time with me, myself and I.
(P)2021 Quercus Editions Limited
Being alone has a serious branding issue. We’ve only ever had negative language to talk about flying solo – but what about when time spent alone is restorative and joyful? What if it’s something you crave? What if it’s even just an hour you’ve carved out yourself in the middle of a hectic week?
Enter: Alonement, Francesca Specter’s empowering new word to express valuing your own company and carving out time to spend with yourself, whoever you are and whatever your relationship status.
Between open-plan offices, two-for-one vouchers and co-habiting with partners and friends, most of us don’t know how to be alone – yet our life-long relationship with ourselves is the most important one we’ll ever have. A reformed ‘extreme extrovert’ who struggled to spend even an hour alone, Francesca made the resolution in January 2019 to improve her solitude skills. Having spent two months of lockdown by herself, Francesca knows better than most how to optimise the quality of time spent alone.
Packed with practical tips, insights from key experts and lessons from guests of the Alonement podcast – including Alain de Botton, Florence Given, Konnie Huq and Camilla Thurlow – Francesca reveals how we can all thrive alone, whatever our circumstances, and harness the untapped power of some meaningful time with me, myself and I.
(P)2021 Quercus Editions Limited
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Reviews
Just because you are alone, it doesn't mean that you are lonely. Such is the premise behind Specter's fascinating book, both a celebration and a practical guide towards how to make being by yourself work for you.
A kind, wise celebration of solo living - a joyous invitation to make your own declaration of independence
Thoughtful and thought provoking, it made me genuinely excited about spending time in my own company
A hugely generous and thoughtful book which reminds us of the distinction between loneliness on the one hand and solitude on the other - and emphasises the dignity and adventure of a life lived on one's own terms