Eric Klinenberg, NYU Sociologist & Author of “Going Solo”

You know how you’ve often thought — and, admit it, sometimes said — that you need some time alone? Turns out, you’re not alone. And a lot of people are acting on that notion — and they’re pretty happy about it. It has been called the biggest demographic shift since the Baby Boom, and the numbers tell the story: More than 50 percent of American adults are single, and 31 million—roughly one out of every seven adults—live alone. People who live alone make up 28 percent of all U.S. households, which makes them more common than any other domestic unit, including the nuclear family. Why might this lifestyle lead to personal happiness? Helping us understand is Eric Klinenberg, New York University Sociologist and author of “Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone.”  (Originally broadcast 4-14-12 on The John Batchelor Show)

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