Seek You

A Journey Through American Loneliness

By: Kristen Radtke

Narrated by: Kristen Radtke

From the acclaimed author of Imagine Wanting Only This—a timely and moving meditation on isolation and longing, both as individuals and as a society. • One of Lit Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2021

There is a silent epidemic in America: loneliness. Shameful to talk about and often misunderstood, loneliness is everywhere, from the most major of metropolises to the smallest of towns.

In Seek You, Kristen Radtke's wide-ranging exploration of our inner lives and public selves, Radtke digs into the ways in which we attempt to feel closer to one another, and the distance that remains. Through the lenses of gender and violence, technology and art, Radtke ushers us through a history of loneliness and longing, and shares what feels impossible to share.

Ranging from the invention of the laugh-track to the rise of Instagram, the bootstrap-pulling cowboy to the brutal experiments of Harry Harlow, Radtke investigates why we engage with each other, and what we risk when we turn away. With her distinctive, emotionally-charged, and deeply empathetic prose, Kristen Radtke masterfully shines a light on some of our most vulnerable and sublime moments, and asks how we might keep the spaces between us from splitting entirely.

great story, could do without some parts

Like: great story, good narrator, relatable, thought-provoking.

Dislike: mentions of animal cruelty to discuss loneliness students in primates, lab experiments descriptions.

It's tough to go through it, but it was worth it

I really enjoyed the facts shared in this book. The studies applied in different fields felt enlightening...almost comforting. It's not just me, It's all of us. It's science.

It has hard to go though this book in more than one way. Specially with the author's narrative style. It was too fast for the harshness of the topic. It need time and depth. It was painful but it was worth it in the end.

I would have like to see photos of the characters mentioned, or persona photos of the author of what was shared.

Loneliness

Everyone feels it. Some of us acknowledge it. And many of us hide it. It seems technology has provided a cure and worsened the prevalence at the same time. The web was supposed to connect us but it seems to have isolated us. We are so siloed now that loneliness is just part of everyday life.

Read twice. Will read again

Although I remembered the scientific work, I still wanted to read again for the companionship.

Terrible narration

Terrible narration. Info was alright but the narration made everything sound extremely depressing and boring.