The Unexpected Joy of Being Single: Locating happily-single serenity
Catherine Gray
Dec 2018 · Aster · Narrated by Catherine Gray
4.5star
6 reviewsreport
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10 hr 29 min
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* 'This refreshing, unusual book needs to exist. A culture shift which repositions a single person as someone who is relationship-free, complete, and not lacking is long overdue.' - The i *
* 'Absolutely f*cking brilliant' - Florence Given *
Having a secret single freak-out? Feeling the red, heart-shaped urgency intensify as the years roll on by? Oh hi! You're in the right place.
Over half of Brits aged 25-44 are now single. It's become the norm to remain solo until much later in life, given the average marriage ages of 35 (women) and 38 (men). Many of us are choosing never to marry at all.
But society, films, song lyrics and our parents are adamant that a happy ending has to be couple-shaped. That we're incomplete without an 'other half'*, like a bisected panto pony. Cue: single sorrow. Dating like it's a job. Spending half our lives waiting for somebody-we-fancy to text us back. Feeling haunted by the terms 'spinster' or 'confirmed bachelor.'
Catherine Gray took a whole year off dating to find single satisfaction. She lifted the lid on the reasons behind the global single revolution, explored the bizarre ways cultures single-shame, detached from 'all the good ones are gone!' panic and debunked the myth that married people are much happier.
Let's start the reverse brainwash, in order to locate - and luxuriate in - single happiness. Are you in?
*Spoiler: you're already whole
PRAISE FOR CATHERINE GRAY'S WRITING:
"Fascinating." Bryony Gordon.
"Not remotely preachy." The Times
"Jaunty, shrewd and convincing." The Telegraph
"Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying." The Guardian
"Truthful, modern and real." Stylist
"Brave, witty and brilliantly written." Marie Claire
"Haunting, admirable and enlightening." The Pool
(p) 2018 Octopus Publishing Group
* 'Absolutely f*cking brilliant' - Florence Given *
Having a secret single freak-out? Feeling the red, heart-shaped urgency intensify as the years roll on by? Oh hi! You're in the right place.
Over half of Brits aged 25-44 are now single. It's become the norm to remain solo until much later in life, given the average marriage ages of 35 (women) and 38 (men). Many of us are choosing never to marry at all.
But society, films, song lyrics and our parents are adamant that a happy ending has to be couple-shaped. That we're incomplete without an 'other half'*, like a bisected panto pony. Cue: single sorrow. Dating like it's a job. Spending half our lives waiting for somebody-we-fancy to text us back. Feeling haunted by the terms 'spinster' or 'confirmed bachelor.'
Catherine Gray took a whole year off dating to find single satisfaction. She lifted the lid on the reasons behind the global single revolution, explored the bizarre ways cultures single-shame, detached from 'all the good ones are gone!' panic and debunked the myth that married people are much happier.
Let's start the reverse brainwash, in order to locate - and luxuriate in - single happiness. Are you in?
*Spoiler: you're already whole
PRAISE FOR CATHERINE GRAY'S WRITING:
"Fascinating." Bryony Gordon.
"Not remotely preachy." The Times
"Jaunty, shrewd and convincing." The Telegraph
"Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying." The Guardian
"Truthful, modern and real." Stylist
"Brave, witty and brilliantly written." Marie Claire
"Haunting, admirable and enlightening." The Pool
(p) 2018 Octopus Publishing Group
Ratings and reviews
4.5
6 reviews
Jen coady
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December 8, 2022
Loved this book, so helpful to put a new perspective on things and really ask yourself some questions
Hallie Latos
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May 10, 2020
A much needed book
Pinku Jadhav
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September 13, 2020
Siddharth..
About the author
Catherine Gray is author of five books, including The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober. She's sold over half a million books in English-speaking territories, her work has been published in the likes of Stylist, Marie Claire, The Lancet Psychiatry and the Guardian, and her books have been translated into nine languages. In 2018, Catherine founded charitable campaign Sober Spring, a three-month sabbatical from alcohol, and she now runs it with Alcohol Change UK, for whom she is an ambassador. She's been sober since 2013. Catherine lives in Hove and when not writing she enjoys falling off a paddleboard, giving her plants names like 'Cassandra' and 'Miguel', and spamming Instagram with pictures of dogs.
Instagram.com/unexpectedjoyof
Twitter.com/cathgraywrites
Instagram.com/unexpectedjoyof
Twitter.com/cathgraywrites
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