Alone Time

Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude

By: Stephanie Rosenbloom

Narrated by: Stephanie Rosenbloom

"In Paris (or anywhere else, really) a table for one can be a most delightful place." --Alone Time, as seen in The New York Times

A wise, passionate account of the pleasures of traveling solo

In our increasingly frantic daily lives, many people are genuinely fearful of the prospect of solitude, but time alone can be both rich and restorative, especially when travelling. Through on-the-ground reporting and recounting the experiences of artists, writers, and innovators who cherished solitude, Stephanie Rosenbloom considers how being alone as a traveller--and even in one's own city--is conducive to becoming acutely aware of the sensual details of the world--patterns, textures, colors, tastes, sounds--in ways that are difficult to do in the company of others.

Alone Time is divided into four parts, each set in a different city, in a different season, in a single year. The destinations--Paris, Istanbul, Florence, New York--are all pedestrian-friendly, allowing travelers to slow down and appreciate casual pleasures instead of hurtling through museums and posting photos to Instagram. Each section spotlights a different theme associated with the joys and benefits of time alone and how it can enable people to enrich their lives--facilitating creativity, learning, self-reliance, as well as the ability to experiment and change. Rosenbloom incorporates insights from psychologists and sociologists who have studied solitude and happiness, and explores such topics as dining alone, learning to savor, discovering interests and passions, and finding or creating silent spaces. Her engaging and elegant prose makes Alone Time as warmly intimate an account as the details of a trip shared by a beloved friend--and will have its many readers eager to set off on their own solo adventures.

Critic reviews

"[An] evocative, observant new book."
—Time

"In a society that increasingly values connectivity, moments of solitude are hard to come by . . . In Alone Time, Stephanie Rosenbloom reflects on her solo trips to Paris, Florence, Istanbul, and New York and offers even the most social of social butterflies strategies to reap the benefits of being alone."
—Real Simple

"[Alone Time] will make you want to be a tourist in your own city, and to stay logged out while you explore."
—Bustle

"[Rosenbloom's] enthusiasm and eagerness are like that of a friend warmly reliving their favorite moments from a recent life-changing trip. And her happiness with her serendipitous discoveries along the way is infectious."
—Popmatters

"Rosenbloom offers a leisurely look at the simple treasures waiting to be uncovered by the solo traveler . . . She also unpacks research on the benefits to approaching the world with a willingness to try something new, and a commitment to staying in the present moment. The combination makes for a richly rewarding guide for any explorer, whether of distant lands or one's own backyard."
—Booklist

"Alone Time is both a paean to its title and an invitation to anyone who has ever longed to explore a new city á seul."
—Shelf Awareness

"A joyous, erudite new book that is sure to delight both travelers and armchair travelers, Alone Time is a shapeshifter. Much of it is an elegant and insightful travel memoir . . . but what gives the book its heft and intellectual grounding is the way Rosenbloom is able to use her own experiences as a jumping off point for discussions of the latest psychological and sociological studies into the nature of happiness. . . . It's a deeply satisfying mix for the reader, part travel guide, part guide to living."
—Pauline Frommer, co-president, Frommer's Guidebooks and Frommers.com

An enchanting and uplifting book

I enjoy this book so much that I listened to it twice. I just came back from my solo trip to Switzerland. I had a fabulous time. I thought about the author’s experience in the book during my trip, especially when I scrolled down the alleyway in the old town of Zurich in a beautiful summer night. I immensely enjoyed my solitude and try to let it linger as long as it can. This book shows you how to live a happy and meaningful life. Appreciate it in every little way. Thank you, Stephanie.

Excellent topic and writing

It was easy to select this book since it includes two of my favorite cities Paris and especially Florence. I was impressed by the amount of research that went into each section—not only about the city but about all the studies that show how valuable alone time can be. I love to travel with my family and with friends but there is a special feeling that comes with exploring on your own in a new place.

For everyone out there

Whether you are thinking about going on a solo trip, have already planned it, or just want to begin dreaming about it, this book is for you! An empowering and refreshing listen as to what being alone (never lonely) really means. It also includes lots of great tips, webpages, apps and books to refer to if you wish to embrace the adventure, or just start savouring a little bit more of what every day life offers.

I listened to this book during the fires.

I had family members who were in the recent active fire areas and were subsequently evacuated. Listening to this book was calming and empowering for me. I actually bought the book for future reference.

Meh

She does a lot of citing studies, which is fine, but it gets a little repetitive. I expected more about her actual travel experiences and less about what other people have documented in a study. Also, her pronunciation of every Italian word was tough to get through. I don’t speak French, so I’m not sure if that was better, but the Italian was rough to hear.