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A wise, passionate account of the pleasures of traveling solo
In our increasingly frantic daily lives, many people are genuinely fearful of the prospect of solitude, but time alone can be both rich and restorative, especially when travelling. Through on-the-ground reporting and recounting the experiences of artists, writers, and innovators who cherished solitude, Stephanie Rosenbloom considers how being alone as a traveller—and even in one's own city—is conducive to becoming acutely aware of the sensual details of the world—patterns, textures, colors, tastes, sounds—in ways that are difficult to do in the company of others.
Alone Time is divided into four parts, each set in a different city, in a different season, in a single year. The destinations—Paris, Istanbul, Florence, New York—are all pedestrian-friendly, allowing travelers to slow down and appreciate casual pleasures instead of hurtling through museums and posting photos to Instagram. Each section spotlights a different theme associated with the joys and benefits of time alone and how it can enable people to enrich their lives—facilitating creativity, learning, self-reliance, as well as the ability to experiment and change. Rosenbloom incorporates insights from psychologists and sociologists who have studied solitude and happiness, and explores such topics as dining alone, learning to savor, discovering interests and passions, and finding or creating silent spaces. Her engaging and elegant prose makes Alone Time as warmly intimate an account as the details of a trip shared by a beloved friend—and will have its many readers eager to set off on their own solo adventures.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 5, 2018 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780399562310
- File size: 1010 KB
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780399562310
- File size: 1031 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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May 15, 2018
Gathering information from studies, writings from poets and philosophers, and from her on-the-ground reporting, New York Times travel columnist Rosenbloom presents an argument in support of traveling alone. She visits four cities, each during a different season--Paris, Florence, Istanbul, and New York. Although a chapter offers practical advice for the solo traveler, with tips on safety, health care, and useful apps, most of the book is more meditative. The author contemplates the importance of alone time for creative activities and pursuing knowledge, and the joys of visiting museums and dining out unfettered by the schedules and pressures of others. The concept of the flâneur, the solitary walker, is used to encourage travelers to amble with no destination in mind, savoring one's surroundings. To boost spirits in advance of the trip, the author advises a dip into the culture of the destination; read novels and blogs, watch films. VERDICT Appealing for travelers who are considering solo trips, or those who already enjoy adventures on their own.--Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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May 15, 2018
Gathering information from studies, writings from poets and philosophers, and from her on-the-ground reporting, New York Times travel columnist Rosenbloom presents an argument in support of traveling alone. She visits four cities, each during a different season--Paris, Florence, Istanbul, and New York. Although a chapter offers practical advice for the solo traveler, with tips on safety, health care, and useful apps, most of the book is more meditative. The author contemplates the importance of alone time for creative activities and pursuing knowledge, and the joys of visiting museums and dining out unfettered by the schedules and pressures of others. The concept of the fl�neur, the solitary walker, is used to encourage travelers to amble with no destination in mind, savoring one's surroundings. To boost spirits in advance of the trip, the author advises a dip into the culture of the destination; read novels and blogs, watch films. VERDICT Appealing for travelers who are considering solo trips, or those who already enjoy adventures on their own.--Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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