The Art of Living Alone & Loving It

By: Jane Mathews

Narrated by: Jane Mathews

Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

An inspirational toolkit for solo living - full of sound, practical advice, warmth and humour. Whether you view living alone as the ultimate compromise or the ultimate luxury, it presents daily challenges, such as cooking for one, organising holidays, juggling finances and avoiding the siren call of wine, Ugg boots and Netflix.

And there are the less tangible tests, like nailing the octopus of loneliness to the wall and holding your head high in a society where solo living is viewed (consciously or not) as the runner-up prize.

Author Jane Mathews believes that to be truly content living alone, it pays to examine every aspect of your life - relationships, health, home, finances, interests and spirituality - and then take action. No matter what your unique situation, there's something here for you. Jane provides the map, and you choose the route to a more joyful, contented life.

©2018 Jane Mathews (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

Very helpful affirmation. Helped me get through the hard days when I just started living alone

Very helpful affirmation. Helped me get through the hard days when I just started living alone

A Very Positive and Helpful Book for Living Alone

My spouse had a stroke and is now in a nursing home. It has been nearly 2 years now since that happened. I think I was sort of crazy for at least a year. It was so sudden and devastating for both of us. I found myself at 70 suddenly living all alone. Around the same time he had his stroke, I had to put down our beloved dog of 15 years and my brother with whom I was very close died of dementia.
In my trying to cope and adjust to my loss, I tried getting stoned, drinking and binge watching shows. None of these things have helped. I have slept way too much or barely slept at all. It's been very difficult.
I stumbled upon this audio book a couple of weeks ago and have listened to it twice already. (I never listened to books twice.) Jane Mathew is very open and honest about her struggles which obviously I could relate to and this was a comfort in itself. The most spectacular thing about this book, however, is that she has many great ideas on how to not only cope but to thrive.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Listen to it again and again and you will discover many ways to begin to enjoy living alone.
Thank you Jane for coming into my life.

Great book dedicated to the title

Lots of good reflections regarding why livimg alone is not bad at all.

Only part I didn't like was the recipe chapter.

Freshly Alone and Loving It

So much encouragement, wisdom, and helpful ideas, densely packed into the warm book. Treat yourself to this one; you deserve it and won’t be disappointed! Highly recommend to anyone living with themselves.

Very helpful and encouraging

I enjoyed this book. She made me feel less alone and covers every aspect of life from cooking for one, to traveling alone to just learning to enjoy life again by yourself.

Some good advice but thick in diet culture

I wish this author would read Intuitive Eating or Christy Harrison’s books, so much diet talk!!

Meh…

This was just okay. There were a few good nuggets of wisdom and inspiration, but a large part of it felt like an instruction manual of the very basics of adulting (meal prep, tidy home, structure & consistency, etc.) with mentions of many outside readings/resources. Overall, not life changing.

first half is good

First half of the book was good, the second half seemed to be filler and not much about living alone.

The simplicity and easy relation to the concepts

I truly great work. If you live alone, it is a must read! The context of the solo as a subculture in the world, against a world designed mainly for couples or families it is easy for the solo to feel a bit left out or judged. Jane’s masterful work certainly corrects that thinking.

So helpful!

I really like her ideas! I listen to this often for inspiration in living alone at 64.