The Lonely Stories: 22 Celebrated Writers on the Joys & Struggles of Being Alone

A collection of essays about the joys and struggles of being alone by 22 literary writers including: Lev Grossman, Jhumpa Lahiri, Lena Dunham, Jesmyn Ward, Yiyun Li, and Anthony Doerr

If you're feeling lonely or if you've ever felt unseen, if you're emboldened by solitude or secretly longing for it: Welcome to The Lonely Stories. This cathartic collection of essays illuminates an experience that so few of us openly discuss. Some stories are heartbreaking, such as Jesmyn Ward's reckoning with the loss of her husband and Dina Nayeri's reflection on immigrating to a foreign country. Others are witty, such as Lev Grossman's rueful tale of heading to the woods or Anthony Doerr's struggles with internet addiction. Still others celebrate the clarity of solitude, like Claire Dederer's journey toward sobriety and Lidia Yuknavitch's sensual look at desire. Thoughtful and affirming, The Lonely Stories reveals the complexities of an emotion we've all felt-reminding us that we're not alone.

Contributors include:

8. Megan Giddings
9. Claire Dederer
10. Imani Perry
11. Jeffery Renard Allen
12. Maggie Shipstead
13. Emily Raboteau
14. Lev Grossman
15. Lena Dunham
16. Yiyun Li
17. Anthony Doerr
18. Helena Fitzgerald
19. Maile Meloy
20. Aja Gabel
21. Jean Kwok
22. Amy Shearn
23. Peter Ho Davies
24. Maya Shanbhag Lang
25. Jhumpa Lahiri
26. Jesmyn Ward
27. Lidia Yuknavitch
28. Dina Nayeri
29. Melissa Febos