For me, it all started with John Cacioppo. It was around 2010 when I first read his work on loneliness. Back then, I was just your standard psychology nerd, geeking out, not realising that I would eventually have a loneliness experience of my own.

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I regard Professor Cacioppo as the 'Elvis' of social neuroscience, and Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad as the 'Beyonce'. Their contributions have been revolutionary in this field and in my own learning journey.

 

I'm beyond grateful for them and for other early scientists and philosophers who devoted themselves to this topic.​ For newer thinkers, researchers, and advocates, they are the giants upon whose shoulders we stand.

 

More recently, some excellent resources have helped bring the topics of loneliness and social wellbeing out of the ivory towers of academia and into our everyday lives. I've listed some below for you to explore.​ 

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Please note that if I've mentioned a resource here, it means that I personally recommend that content. It is not intended to imply mutual endorsement from the creator.

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First, check out this evidence-packed report from the WHO Commission on Social Connection:​

From loneliness to social connection: charting a path to healthier societies

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You can find TedX talks online from Holt-Lunstad and Cacioppo. 

 

Dr. Holt-Lunstad continues to lead the charge on understanding loneliness and how it affects us. Visit her website to learn more about her amazing body of work.

 

Sadly, Prof. Cacioppo has passed, but leaves the legacy of a book (co-authored with William Patrick) entitled Loneliness.

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Here are a few other books that I've found interesting:

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Belonging by Owen Eastwood

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Friendship in the Age of Loneliness by Adam Smiley Poswolsky

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The Art and Science of Connection by Kasley Killam

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The Village Effect by Susan Pinker

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Lost Connections by Johann Hari

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Together by Vivek H. Murthy

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Platonic by Marisa Franco

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The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

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 Billy No-Mates  Billy No Mates by Max Dickins

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Together: Te Oranga o te Katoa by Amanda Wallis & Gaynor Parkin

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Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr

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This Exquisite Loneliness by Richard Deming

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Project Unlonely by Jeremy Nobel

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Awkward by Ty Tashiro

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 The Good Life  The Good Life by Robert Waldinger & Marc Schulz

     

Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam

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If you don't have time for a book, here are a few articles you might find interesting:

 

The Power and Prevalence of Loneliness (Harvard Health Blog)

America Is Getting Lonelier and More Indoorsy (The Atlantic, Hannah Seo)

How to Scale Sideways (Excerpt from Fragile Neighborhoods by Seth D. Kaplan)

1 in 5 Employees Worldwide Feel Lonely (Gallup)

We're Still Lonely at Work (Harvard Business Review, Constance Noonan Hadley and Sarah Wright)

NZ-led study: Social isolation can age your brain faster (NZ Herald, Jamie Morton)

The Lonely Statistics: Age Concern calls for Ministry for Loneliness to support elderly New Zealanders (NZ Herald)

If You're Lonely, You're Not Alone (1 News)

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If you're not a reader, but love to listen, check out the Humans:Connecting podcast, hosted by the wonderful Phil McAuliffe. available via Spotify, Apple or Youtube.

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