LoveReading Says
Loneliness has become a significant health risk in the UK. When We Become Strangers explores the impact of loneliness, isolation, disconnection and estrangement on our lives, and our (over)reliance on devices and the impact of social media. We live in a society where we don’t need to see another human for days but can still remain connected to the world. Sending a message to family and friends isn’t the same as a face-to-face encounter, though, and many relationships are struggling. We don’t even need to live alone to feel lonely. People can feel isolated in a busy household, surrounded by technology and retreating from the world around them. Loneliness may be caused by feeling little, or no, sense of belonging in a crowded room. When We Become Strangers is a thought-provoking look at the modern world. It’s an easy read and makes a lot of sense, with practical suggestions to combat loneliness, not just as individuals but as a society, connecting with nature, better building and city design, and more. This is a book of hope – that making changes to our lives now can reduce the impact of loneliness in the future.
Victoria Goldman
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When We Become Strangers Synopsis
After decades of affluence, we're now busy renovating our homes, buffing and botoxing our bodies, and losing ourselves in passive entertainment and shopping, as depression and anxiety soars. And with the arrival of Netflix and Uber Eats, there's less and less incentive to leave home. Could our constant need for connection be messing with our brains? Is this why we're losing our ability to strike up a conversation with anyone we don't know? And given that so many of our kids lack one-on-one attention and regular touch, are we raising this new generation to be profoundly lonely?
Right now, many of our relationships at home and at work, as well as in our communities are struggling. What, then, are the best ways back to belonging, and what might a more engaged community look like? Maggie Hamilton, author of What's Happening to Our Boys? and What's Happening to Our Girls? explores our growing loneliness and proposes practical solutions and an uplifting vision to combat the increasing social isolation in our families and communities.
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Maggie Hamilton Press Reviews
'A timely warning shot over our collective bows...reminds us that awareness without action is worthless. A thought-provoking and challenging look into our future.' - Michael Carr-Gregg, psychologist and bestselling author
'As a therapist and social worker; I know firsthand the impact of estrangement on children, teenagers, families, communities and workplaces. Maggie restores hope and gives simple, practical steps we can all take to feel safe and connected; as we build a new way of living and turn around the estrangement we all feel.' - Katrina Cavanough, CEO, The Kindness On Purpose Movement
'Maggie's Book encapsulates the workings of our modern world. It's an intuitive read examining issues of our time, consumerism, loneliness, social media fixation, greed and the rule of technology on our kids. It prompts the reader to behold the future with eyes wide open, enjoying a sense of wisdom and faith.' - Lisa Friedlander, Executive Coach & Facilitator
'Maggie has again done what she does best; placed a microscope over modern society and looked closely at who, what and how we are. Her wisdom, research and interviews uncover the complex realities of life in the 2020s. But rather than being a tale of despair, Maggie's reflections and myriad strategies create a vision of hope... a book every human should read.' - Andrew Lines, The Rite Journey
'An invaluable roadmap for envisioning a new society that builds connection back into community. It calls us to slow down, to rethink the frenzied pace, and reignite the power of the human spirit.' - Aimee Davies, author of Imperfect
