What is *The Lonely Century* by Noreena Hertz about?

*The Lonely Century* examines the global loneliness epidemic, linking it to factors like digital technology, urbanization, neoliberalism, and political polarization. Noreena Hertz argues that systemic shifts—from algorithms prioritizing engagement over connection to free-market policies eroding community—have fractured social bonds. The book proposes solutions to rebuild empathy, from urban redesign to ethical AI, urging a collective reconnection.

Who should read *The Lonely Century*?

This book is essential for policymakers, sociologists, and readers concerned about societal fragmentation. It appeals to those interested in technology’s societal impacts, mental health advocates, and individuals seeking actionable strategies to combat isolation. Hertz’s blend of research and real-world examples makes it accessible for both academic and general audiences.

Is *The Lonely Century* worth reading?

Yes, particularly for its rigorous research and actionable solutions. While some critics note its broad scope and occasional bleak tone, the book’s analysis of loneliness’s ties to populism, workplace alienation, and digital culture offers critical insights. The final chapter’s systemic reforms, like corporate responsibility initiatives, provide a hopeful counterbalance.

What are the main causes of loneliness discussed in *The Lonely Century*?

Hertz identifies digital platforms fostering superficial connections, urban design prioritizing efficiency over community, neoliberal policies commodifying relationships, and workplace automation. She also highlights political divides deepened by social media echo chambers and the decline of shared public spaces.

How does Noreena Hertz propose to combat loneliness?

Solutions include reimagining cities with communal spaces, regulating tech to prioritize human connection, and corporate reforms like 4-day workweeks. Hertz advocates for policies fostering intergenerational interaction and grassroots movements to rebuild local networks, emphasizing collective action over individual fixes.

What role does technology play in *The Lonely Century*?

Technology is portrayed as a double-edged sword: while enabling global communication, algorithms often amplify division and replace meaningful interaction with transactional engagement. Hertz critiques gig economy apps and social media for monetizing isolation, urging ethical redesigns to prioritize user well-being.

How does neoliberalism contribute to societal loneliness according to Hertz?

Neoliberal policies prioritize profit over community, eroding public services and fostering hyper-individualism. Hertz links privatized healthcare, precarious gig work, and deregulated markets to declining social trust, arguing that market-driven agendas have dismantled safety nets essential for collective resilience.

What are some criticisms of *The Lonely Century*?

Critics note its broad focus, with some arguing it conflates disparate issues like AI and urban planning. Others highlight insufficient attention to cultural differences in loneliness experiences. However, most praise its compelling synthesis of research and urgent call to action.

고립의 시대 요약

고립이 우리의 미래를 위협하는 방식

노리나 허츠

3.85(1898 Reviews)

고립의 시대 요약 개요

"고립의 시대(The Lonely Century)"에서 노리나 허츠는 기술과 자본주의가 어떻게 우리의 외로움 전염병을 부채질하고 있는지 밝혀냅니다. 아리아나 허핑턴이 추천하고 이코노미스트가 찬사를 보냈으며, 와이어드(WIRED)가 호평한 이 책은 충격적인 진실을 공개합니다. 우리의 외로움은 단지 개인적인 문제가 아니라 민주주의 그 자체를 위협하고 있다는 사실입니다.

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고립의 시대의 같은 아이디어를 담았습니다. 나에게 맞는 목소리, 깊이, 속도를 고르고 언제든 바꿔 보세요.

1장

The Silent Epidemic of Our Time

In a world more connected than ever, we've never felt more alone. This paradox sits at the heart of Noreena Hertz's exploration of modern isolation. When Hertz's book released in 2020, it struck a cultural nerve, with The Financial Times naming it one of the best books of the year and celebrities from Arianna Huffington to Lily Cole praising its insights. What makes this work particularly prescient is how it identified our loneliness crisis before the pandemic forced us to confront it. As isolation became mandatory during lockdowns, Hertz's analysis of our already-fractured social fabric provided a framework for understanding why so many found quarantine merely an intensification of existing solitude. The book's cultural impact continues to grow as organizations from corporations to governments implement its recommendations for rebuilding human connection in our increasingly digital world.

2장

The Anatomy of Modern Loneliness

Loneliness has transformed from a personal feeling into a societal condition. Even before COVID-19 forced physical separation, three in five Americans reported feeling lonely. Similar patterns emerged across Europe-in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. The UK even appointed a Minister for Loneliness in 2018, with one in eight Britons reporting not having a single close friend. Young and old, male and female, rich and poor-no demographic has escaped this silent epidemic. The depth of this crisis manifests in disturbing ways. In Japan, elderly women like Saito-san deliberately commit petty crimes to go to prison, seeking the community they can't find outside. Crimes by those over sixty-five have quadrupled in two decades, with 70 percent reoffending within five years. Many describe jail as a place where "there are always people around, and I don't feel lonely"-a sanctuary providing company, support, and care that they lack at home. While we often associate loneliness with the elderly-60 percent of U.S. nursing home residents never have visitors, and two-fifths of older Britons say television is their main company-it's actually the youngest among us who are the loneliest. Generation Z reports higher loneliness levels than any other age group, challenging our assumptions about who suffers most from social isolation. Hertz defines loneliness more broadly than traditional measures like the UCLA Loneliness Scale. For her, it's not just feeling bereft of love or intimacy but feeling unsupported by our fellow citizens, employers, community, and government. Loneliness is both an internal state and an existential one-personal, societal, economic, and political. This definition aligns with thinkers like Marx, Durkheim, Jung, and Arendt, encompassing not just our yearning for personal connection but also our disconnection from politics, work, and society. This comprehensive view of loneliness helps explain why, even before the pandemic, two-thirds of people in democracies didn't believe their government acted in their interests, 85 percent of employees globally felt disconnected from their work, and trust between Americans had fallen dramatically since the 1980s. We're experiencing a multidimensional isolation that affects every aspect of our lives.

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

고립의 시대 요약의 각 단어가 오디오에 맞춰 실시간으로 강조되어 편하게 따라 읽을 수 있습니다.

3장

When Loneliness Becomes Physical

Though we often think of loneliness as quiet and passive, it triggers the same "fight or flight" chemical reactions as feeling under attack. In a lonely body, stress responses are amplified-cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and cortisol rise faster than in non-lonely individuals. These physiological changes accumulate over time, with the amygdala maintaining a prolonged "danger" signal that leads to increased inflammation and a compromised immune system. The health consequences are severe: lonely people face a 29% higher risk of heart disease, 32% higher risk of stroke, 64% higher risk of dementia, and are almost 30% more likely to die prematurely. Even relatively short periods of loneliness can negatively impact health, as shown by studies of medical students with lonely childhoods developing more cancers later in life. The Haredi Jews of Israel present a fascinating health paradox that illustrates the protective power of community. Despite having unhealthy diets rich in butter, sugar, and fat (making them seven times more likely to be obese than secular Jews), limited vitamin D exposure due to modest dress codes, minimal physical exercise, and over half living below the poverty line, they defy expectations by living longer than average. In cities like Bnei Brak, which is 96% Haredi, life expectancy is four years higher than socioeconomic rankings would predict. The secret appears to be their extraordinarily strong community bonds-they pray, volunteer, study and work together, celebrate numerous festivals as a community, and provide tangible support during crises. Only 11% report feeling lonely compared to 23% of the general Israeli population. As health economist Professor Dov Chernichovsky puts it: "Loneliness shortens life and friendship reduces pressure." Similar patterns appear in other close-knit communities. In 1950s Roseto, Pennsylvania, Italian-American residents enjoyed half the national average death rate for men over sixty-five, despite smoking, poor diets, and grueling jobs. Researchers attributed this to their tight-knit community. When these bonds eroded in later decades as wealth disparities grew and multigenerational living declined, death rates climbed back to average levels. Humans, like all primates, are fundamentally social animals whose evolutionary success stems from our togetherness. Until recently in human history, isolation meant vulnerability and likely death. Our bodies are hardwired to react to loneliness with physiological distress-an evolutionary feature that Professor John Cacioppo compared to hunger, motivating us to seek connection. But in today's world, this biological alarm can become harmful when chronically triggered. Beyond physical health, loneliness ravages our minds. While not classified as a mental health condition itself, loneliness is intimately connected with numerous mental illnesses. The relationship between loneliness and depression is bidirectional-those with depression are ten times more likely to be lonely, while initially lonely people are more likely to develop depression over time. At its extreme, loneliness can lead to suicide, with over 130 studies confirming this link across all age groups. Interestingly, not only does receiving kindness improve our health and reduce loneliness, but being kind to others provides similar benefits. When we help others without resentment or obligation, we experience the "helper's high"-feelings of energy, strength, warmth and calm. This suggests that creating opportunities for mutual care could be a powerful antidote to our isolation epidemic.

4장

How Loneliness Breeds Political Extremism

When mice are isolated for extended periods, they become aggressively hostile toward new mice introduced to their environment. This animal behavior has disturbing parallels in human society, where loneliness increasingly turns us not just against ourselves but against each other. Scientific studies confirm that loneliness in humans is linked to hostility toward others. This stems partly from a defensive "stepping back" where lonely people send signals pushing others away. Neurologically, loneliness reduces empathy-the temporoparietal junction (the brain's empathy center) shows decreased activation in lonely people when witnessing others' suffering, while their visual cortex becomes hyperalert to threats. As Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo explains, "The lonely mind sees snakes all the time." Hannah Arendt, who fled Nazi Germany as a Jewish refugee, first explored the connection between loneliness and political intolerance. In her 1951 book "The Origins of Totalitarianism," she identified loneliness as a surprising but crucial factor in totalitarianism's rise. Totalitarianism, she argued, "bases itself on loneliness" and finds its adherents among those isolated from normal social relationships. For the lonely who feel they have no place in society, surrendering to ideology offers a way to rediscover purpose and self-respect. While today's world isn't experiencing widespread totalitarianism like 1930s Germany, warning signs exist. The COVID-19 pandemic created economic conditions comparable to the Great Depression, with surging unemployment and poverty-factors linked to increased loneliness. Even before coronavirus, loneliness had become "an everyday experience of the ever-growing masses," mirroring Arendt's observations about pre-war Germany. The connection between social isolation and right-wing voting patterns has been documented for decades. As early as 1992, researchers identified correlations between social isolation and support for France's far-right Front National. In America, 2016 polling revealed Trump voters were significantly more likely than Clinton or Sanders supporters to "just rely on myself" rather than turning to community networks for help. Conversely, Europeans who belonged to civic associations were much less likely to vote for right-wing populist parties. Loneliness isn't just social isolation but also encompasses not being heard or understood. Economic pain and the resulting marginalization have driven many toward populist politicians who make them feel listened to. Railroad workers like Rusty, Gary, and Terry-all former Democrats who switched to Trump in 2016-exemplify this shift. They described feeling personally "hurt" by Obama-era policies and believed Trump was "the only one who seems interested in helping working people." Populist leaders understand that loneliness stems not just from feeling forgotten or isolated, but also from a profound sense of lost status and social standing. For many, especially working-class men, self-worth is deeply tied to having meaningful employment with history, solidarity, and purpose. Trump's promise to "Make America Great Again" resonated precisely because it evoked restoring an order where traditional industries anchored communities and provided dignity-conferring work. Populists offer not just recognition but a powerful sense of belonging to fill the community void left by declining industries and weakened social institutions. Trump's rallies exemplify this approach-they functioned less as political events than as community rituals where multiple generations gathered wearing matching MAGA merchandise, singing familiar patriotic songs, and participating in synchronized chants. Right-wing populists exploit loneliness by weaponizing tribalism against immigrants and "others." They target those feeling abandoned and marginalized, whose traditional identity sources have weakened, offering them nationalist or racial identities as alternative sources of meaning and belonging. Research shows those most receptive to anti-immigrant rhetoric are precisely those experiencing financial insecurity, low trust, and social isolation-key drivers of loneliness.

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5장

Urban Isolation in the Age of Proximity

Cities are increasingly becoming epicenters of isolation, as evidenced by the experiences of their inhabitants who struggle to find connection amid urban anonymity. Frank deeply misses the community connection of his Midwestern hometown despite finding it "stifling." Though he moved to New York to "make it" career-wise, he feels profound loneliness in the city. His evening ritual of messaging random women on Tinder isn't about dating but simply having human contact. Urban loneliness isn't new-Thomas De Quincey described 19th-century London's "utter loneliness" amid countless faces "without voice or utterance." Today's cities are similarly isolating: 56% of Londoners and 52% of New Yorkers report feeling lonely, with comparable figures worldwide. Understanding urban loneliness grows increasingly critical as nearly 70% of humanity will live in cities by 2050. Cities breed incivility-the denser the population, the less civil the behavior. When we're unlikely to see strangers again, courtesy diminishes; anonymity breeds hostility. The sheer number of people overwhelms our social resources, making withdrawal a coping mechanism. As Shannon Deep notes of New York: "If we said hello to everyone we passed, we'd be hoarse by noon." We create psychological distance through headphones, sunglasses, and phones-personal cocoons against urban overstimulation. City dwellers move increasingly faster-urban walking speeds are 10% higher than in the early 1990s, with wealthy cities showing the greatest acceleration. This speed makes us not just unsocial but antisocial. In a revealing study, pastors hurrying to deliver sermons (even on the Good Samaritan parable) would ignore someone in distress if they believed they were running late. Yet brief encounters with strangers can significantly impact our sense of connection. When researchers instructed Starbucks customers to make friendly conversation with baristas rather than being efficient, even these 30-second interactions increased happiness and feelings of connection. The transience of urban life, with constant churn of residents, significantly impacts social cohesion. In major cities where renters outnumber homeowners, people move frequently-London tenancies average just twenty months, while nearly a third of New Yorkers moved within three years. This mobility prevents neighbors from forming connections, reducing trust and community participation. Urban solo living has become increasingly prevalent, with over half of Manhattan residents living alone and similar patterns in Tokyo, Munich, Paris, and Oslo. While some choose this lifestyle as a mark of independence, for many it results from circumstance-bereavement, divorce, or inability to find suitable partners or housemates. Mealtimes often trigger acute awareness of isolation for solo dwellers, evidenced by skyrocketing sales of single-portion meals. In response, a phenomenon called mukbang has exploded globally-watching someone eat on screen while having your own meal. Originating in South Korea, mukbang has spread worldwide, with top performers earning six figures annually from ads and sponsorships. Research shows mukbang significantly decreases viewers' feelings of loneliness by simulating companionship. Living and eating with others teaches crucial democratic skills that paid relationships or solitary living can't provide. Through everyday interactions-deciding who takes out garbage or whose turn it is to cook-we learn to balance desires, compromise, and peacefully coexist despite differences. When we pay extra for solo apartments or rent friends, we gain self-determination but sacrifice opportunities to develop prosocial democratic instincts.

6장

Technology's Double-Edged Sword

Scottish polymath David Brewster's 1817 invention of the kaleidoscope triggered "kaleidoscomania," with people becoming so obsessed they'd bump into walls while using it. This historical parallel perfectly sets up our modern relationship with smartphones-a far more powerful and obsessively used "kaleidoscope" that now dominates our daily lives. Our smartphone addiction has reached staggering levels: we check our phones 221 times daily, spending over three hours (1,200 hours yearly) on them. Half of teens are "almost constantly" online, and a third of adults globally check their phones within five minutes of waking. Unlike previous communication technologies that faced initial resistance, smartphones differ fundamentally in how completely they've integrated into our lives. This isn't accidental; tech corporations have deliberately engineered this dependency. Our perma-connection to devices creates a uniquely modern loneliness crisis. Every moment spent scrolling prevents us from engaging in small but vital social interactions that make us feel seen and validated. Just having a smartphone with us changes behavior-research shows strangers smile significantly less at each other when phones are present. Child development expert Chris Calland has observed alarming deficiencies in interpersonal skills and language abilities among children entering school today. She attributes this directly to parents' phone usage, which prevents crucial communication with their children. Research suggests device-distracted parenting leads to numerous developmental issues: delayed motor skills, picky eating, emotional attachment problems, and reduced resilience. Smartphones erode our capacity for empathy by fragmenting our attention between physical reality and numerous virtual conversations. Even the mere presence of a phone-placed on a table or held in hand-measurably reduces empathy between couples, with the effect most pronounced in intimate relationships. The medium matters too: text-based communication strips away human elements that foster connection, making it easier to dehumanize others. Perhaps most alarming is how our digital dependence compromises face-to-face communication skills, particularly among young people. One Ivy League university president became so concerned about incoming students' inability to read basic facial cues that he implemented remedial "How to Read Faces" classes. At Boston College, Professor Kerry Cronin offered extra credit to students who asked someone out on a date in person, providing 22 specific rules to follow. Ironically, Silicon Valley parents are leading the movement for screen-free childhoods. Steve Jobs limited his children's technology use, Bill Gates prohibited phones until age fourteen, and many tech executives send their children to screen-free Waldorf schools. Some even include "no phone use" clauses in nanny contracts. Meanwhile, a troubling class divide emerges: wealthy families can afford human caregivers and enrichment activities, while lower-income teens accumulate two more hours of daily screen time than affluent peers. Our digital addiction is engineered by design. Social media platforms function like slot machines, consciously configured to keep us scrolling, watching, liking and refreshing in pursuit of affirmation and connection. Former Facebook president Sean Parker admitted their explicit goal was to "consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible," acknowledging, "We knew our creation was addictive. And we did it anyway." Social media isn't just isolating us through screen time-it's actively making society crueler and more hostile. A disturbing new vocabulary has emerged to describe online abuse: trolling, doxxing, swatting. This toxicity persists because outrage and anger drive engagement-they're more addictive than kindness, keeping traffic high and increasing ad revenue. Posts containing words like "kill" or "destroy" get 20% more retweets. Beyond FOMO (fear of missing out) lies something more painful: BOMP-the Belief that Others are More Popular than you. Social media intensifies this feeling by broadcasting our social exclusion in real time. When Claudia discovered her friends had attended homecoming without her through Facebook and Instagram photos, despite claiming they weren't going, she felt "so insignificant and alone" that she refused school for a week. Social media transforms rejection from private disappointment to public humiliation by making our social status visible to all. When posts receive no engagement, we experience rejection not just personally but publicly, creating shame. This visibility drives otherwise accomplished adults to spend hours crafting the perfect tweet, and makes students like Jennifer so focused on documenting experiences for Instagram that she misses actually living them. Social media encourages us to present inauthentic, curated versions of ourselves online-showcasing only highlights, celebrations, and picture-perfect moments rather than our authentic experiences. This creates a profound disconnect between our real selves and our digital personas. As Tessa, a seventeen-year-old, aptly observed, "We are increasingly living our lives like avatars in an online video game."

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

고립의 시대 요약의 각 단어가 오디오에 맞춰 실시간으로 강조되어 편하게 따라 읽을 수 있습니다.

7장

The Workplace Disconnect

Workplace loneliness has reached alarming levels globally: 40% of office workers worldwide report feeling lonely at work, rising to 60% in the UK and over half of Chinese employees feeling lonely daily. In the US, nearly one in five workers have no workplace friends, while 54% of Generation K feel emotionally distant from colleagues. This widespread disconnection correlates directly with the fact that 85% of workers globally don't feel engaged with their jobs. Despite being marketed as collaborative spaces that encourage sociability and idea exchange, open-plan offices-which now comprise half of European workplaces and two-thirds of American ones-actually increase worker alienation. A landmark Harvard Business School study found that when employees moved from cubicles to open-plan layouts, instead of fostering vibrant face-to-face collaboration and deeper relationships, workers socially withdrew and communicated more through email and messaging rather than talking directly. This withdrawal stems from the constant noise (above 55 decibels triggers measurable stress), lack of privacy, and the exhausting performance aspect of being constantly observed. The situation worsens with hot-desking, where 19% of workers report feeling alienated from colleagues and 22% struggle to bond as a team. Beyond physical office design, our workplace relationships have grown shallower through the digitalization of communication. While video communication can help remote workers feel connected, it remains limited compared to face-to-face interactions, lacking full-body gestures, physical closeness, and subtler cues like scent. Making employees feel appreciated as humans rather than cogs in a machine creates more connected workplaces. At Cisco, their "tokens of appreciation" program encourages employees to pass digital tokens to recognize acts of kindness, generating charitable donations with each exchange. These pro-kindness initiatives have helped Cisco become voted the best company in the world to work for. Recognition from others is fundamental to our self-respect, as thinkers from Hegel to Lacan have shown. Even small gestures make significant differences-like the book editor's manager who brought chocolate cookies to meetings, or the publisher who began meetings by acknowledging team successes. It's telling how rare and noteworthy such simple human kindness has become in modern workplaces. Many feel lonely at work because they're lonely outside of it-a vicious cycle driven by increasingly long working hours. While average working hours have decreased in most places, certain groups-particularly professionals with university educations-are working significantly longer. "Extreme working hours" (over 50 hours weekly) have increased among this group across Western Europe since 1990, with the most qualified now working the longest hours in the UK. Even when physically away from work, jobs have become inescapable through smartphones. From private equity manager Paul checking emails during Caribbean family vacations to cleaner Claudia receiving 2am client calls about dry cleaning, the boundaries between work and personal life have collapsed. Workplace surveillance has become pervasive and increasingly intrusive. Call center worker Jane is constantly monitored by a blue box on her screen that measures her speech pace and "empathy," sending alerts to management if she tries to disable it. Bank associate Jack wears a Humanyze biometric badge that records conversations, movements, and even the angle of his chair every sixteen milliseconds. FedEx worker Reynalda Cruz was forced to wear an arm scanner that tracked her packaging pace, and when her wrist became inflamed, managers simply told her to work faster. The constant surveillance workplace doesn't just create feelings of powerlessness and alienation-it fundamentally changes employee behavior. Workers describe the experience as "dehumanizing" and report feeling like robots under constant measurement. The power asymmetry is stark: employees have no access to their own data, no oversight of the monitoring systems, and no way to challenge conclusions drawn about them.

8장

The Commercialization of Connection

The Glastonbury music festival sells out extraordinarily fast-135,000 tickets gone in just 34 minutes for the 2020 event, before any lineup announcement. Despite notoriously uncomfortable conditions (tent camping, rare showers, muddy fields), devotees return annually not primarily for the music but for the powerful sense of community. The festival creates genuine connection as diverse attendees-hippies, hedge-fund managers, students, entrepreneurs-come together in a spirit of cooperation and togetherness. Similar phenomena appear at other festivals worldwide-Coachella in California's desert has grown fivefold in twenty years, with attendees like entrepreneur Joey Gibbons noting that beyond the music, people seek "a place where we can feel a part of something." This reflects a growing countermovement against digital isolation, as people actively break out of their online bubbles seeking analog, face-to-face community experiences. This trend extends beyond music festivals to craft workshops, escape rooms, board game cafes, and group fitness classes like SoulCycle, which have been likened to religions for millennials. Harvard researcher Casper ter Kuile notes people "come because they want to lose weight or gain muscle strength, but they stay for the community." While local businesses naturally foster community connections, big corporations have begun coopting the language of community as a marketing strategy, often with questionable authenticity. Apple's 2017 rebranding of its stores as "Town Squares"-complete with "avenues" (product aisles), "forums" (presentation spaces), and "groves" (technician desks)-represents a concerning "lexical takeover" of civic spaces. A distinct new business model has emerged that treats community itself as a commodity to be packaged and sold. Co-working spaces like CommonGrounds, Work.Life, Convene, Second Home, and WeWork (which at its peak had over 280 locations across 86 cities) wield the promise of community as their primary selling point. Indeed, WeWork's failed IPO prospectus mentioned the word "community" 150 times, even as the company collapsed due to profligate spending and mismanagement. The rapid rise of commercial co-living spaces represents another attempt to commodify community. With the number of co-living units in the US expected to triple within a few years and significant investor interest in Asia (where only 11% of millennials own homes), these businesses emphasize community over the often tiny private spaces they offer. Companies like "Common," "Society," "Collective," and "You+" market themselves with slogans like "Be more together" and "built for community," even listing "community" as part of their all-inclusive service packages. Despite some success stories at commercialized communities, many residents express disappointment with the actual level of connection. When BBC journalist Winnie Agbonlahor investigated co-living facilities in London, she found contrasting experiences. Some residents thrived, like fifty-eight-year-old Lucilla who made more friends in three months at the Collective than in three years living alone in Paris. However, many co-living and co-working spaces fail to deliver the promised community. Amber, a gig economy worker at WeWork Barcelona, described sitting alone among strangers all wearing headphones and avoiding interaction. The fundamental challenge with commercialized communities is that community cannot simply be purchased-it requires active participation and commitment. True community involves shared responsibilities and mutual effort. The author's improv group exemplifies this: each member has specific duties-collecting dues, running sessions, bringing instruments-and everyone commits to showing up weekly regardless of mood. Even when commercialized communities successfully create belonging, they typically exclude those who cannot afford entry. Unlike South Korean colatecs with low fees or yoga studios offering discounted rates, most commercialized communities are financially inaccessible to many. Boutique fitness classes, despite their "community" branding, cluster in affluent neighborhoods with sessions costing up to $40. Music festivals have become prohibitively expensive, with Glastonbury tickets at 265 ($330) and Coachella at $429 plus fees.

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9장

Rebuilding Connection in a Fractured World

Loneliness has evolved beyond a subjective experience into a collective condition with devastating consequences-contributing to millions of deaths annually, costing the global economy billions, and threatening democracy itself. The COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified feelings of disconnection and lack of support from friends, family, employers and government. Today's loneliness crisis has been significantly fueled by neoliberal capitalism-a self-seeking system that normalizes indifference, glorifies selfishness, and diminishes compassion. By redefining relationships as transactions, recasting citizens as consumers, and widening economic divides, forty years of this ideology has marginalized values like solidarity, community, and kindness. We need not abandon capitalism entirely, but rather embrace a form with care and compassion at its center. Even Adam Smith, capitalism's father, wrote extensively about empathy, community and pluralism. The time for transformation is now, just as previous crises sparked the New Deal after the Great Depression and Britain's National Health Service after World War II. Governments must commit greater resources to welfare, social security, education, and healthcare-with public polls showing strong support for such measures. They must also create meaningful employment through public works programs, renewable energy initiatives, and community infrastructure, while implementing a new workforce specifically trained to combat loneliness. To truly address widespread feelings of abandonment, we must go beyond safety nets and well-being metrics to ensure people are properly protected at work and from corporate harm. While the Business Roundtable's 2019 pledge to serve all stakeholders rather than just shareholders was promising, the pressure for short-term financial returns makes meaningful change difficult. Addressing loneliness requires making people feel visible and heard. Trade unions have a crucial role in amplifying workers' voices, especially for gig economy and remote workers who risk being overlooked. All workers need freedom to associate, and unions must advocate more forcefully. Citizens need more meaningful participation in democracy beyond just voting every few years. Deliberative democracy initiatives like Camden Council's climate action citizen panel and Taiwan's online deliberative process (which has engaged 200,000 people) demonstrate how structured participation can reconnect people. Democracy must be practiced in everyday settings, from local associations to workplaces. Communities thrive on face-to-face, repeated interactions that transform strangers into neighbors. Our geographic neighborhoods provide the ideal setting for practicing community through casual greetings at local shops and deeper relationships with neighbors. While voluntary participation in community-building is valuable, we must also find ways to bring together people who wouldn't choose to connect. Rwanda's mandatory Umuganda program offers a powerful model. On the last Saturday of each month, Rwandans spend three hours on community service projects like building schools or repairing roads, followed by community meetings to discuss local issues. The Lonely Century presents unique challenges-economic, political, social, and technological. Despite unprecedented connectivity, vast populations feel isolated. We increasingly identify based on differences while simultaneously recognizing our global interdependence. Our local communities need strengthening and bridges between different communities must be built. Yet this is also a time of hope. We have the opportunity to reconnect capitalism with community and compassion, to better listen to diverse voices, and to actively practice inclusive community. This transformation requires shifts in legislative priorities and business leadership, particularly regarding social justice and worker protections. But society isn't just shaped from the top down-we create it too. Personal responsibility matters, whether through small daily actions like bringing cookies to share at work, putting away phones to be present with loved ones, or inviting neighbors for coffee. Most fundamentally, we need a mindset shift from consumers to citizens, from takers to givers, from observers to participants. The antidote to the Lonely Century can only be us being there for each other, regardless of who that other is.

★★★★★

고립의 시대 요약 완독을 축하합니다

“23일째 매일 사용하고 있어요. 이제 제 일상의 한 부분이 되었습니다.”

jayallen

고립의 시대 요약의 핵심 주제

social isolation crisis
community erosion
digital age loneliness
health impacts of solitude
societal disconnection

고립의 시대 요약의 명문장

We've never felt more alone.
Loneliness has transformed from a personal feeling into a societal condition.
Loneliness shortens life and friendship reduces pressure.
Loneliness is both an internal state and an existential one.

고립의 시대 요약의 등장인물

Noreena HertzAuthor and economist who defined the crisis
Saito-sanElderly Japanese woman seeking community in prison
Dov ChernichovskyHealth economist studying community and longevity
John CacioppoProfessor who compared loneliness to hunger

저자 소개

노리나 허츠(Noreena Hertz)는 글로벌 경제 트렌드, 사회적 과제 및 기업 지배구조 분야의 전문성을 인정받는 베스트셀러 작가이자 경제학자, 이사회 이사입니다. 그녀의 저서 *『고립의 시대: 단절된 세계를 다시 연결하는 법』(The Lonely Century: A Call to Reconnect)*은 경제, 기술, 정치의 접점에서 수십 년간 수행한 연구를 바탕으로 사회적 고립, 공동체 형성, 그리고 현대 자본주의의 심리적 영향을 탐구합니다.

케임브리지 대학교에서 박사 학위를 취득한 허츠는 다국적 기업들에 자문을 제공하며, 나스닥 상장사인 마텔(Mattel)과 워너 뮤직 그룹(Warner Music Group)의 이사회 멤버로서 지배구조와 사회적 책임을 옹호하고 있습니다. *『소리 없는 점령』(The Silent Takeover)*과 *『아이즈 와이드 오픈』(Eyes Wide Open)*을 포함한 그녀의 전작들은 그녀를 거침없는 세계화와 그에 따른 사회적 비용을 비판하는 선견지명 있는 비평가로 자리매김하게 했습니다.

허츠의 통찰력은 뉴욕 타임스(The New York Times), 파이낸셜 타임스(Financial Times), 월스트리트 저널(The Wall Street Journal) 등에 소개되었으며, TED, 다보스 세계경제포럼, 구글 자이트가이스트(Google Zeitgeist)에서 기조연설을 했습니다. *『고립의 시대』*는 20개 이상의 언어로 번역되어 국제적인 베스트셀러가 되었으며, 현대적 소외에 대한 긴급한 분석을 높이 평가받아 *데일리 테레그래프(The Daily Telegraph)*와 *와이어드(Wired)*가 선정한 '올해의 책'으로 이름을 올렸습니다.

고립의 시대 요약 다운로드

고립의 시대 요약을 무료 PDF 또는 EPUB으로 받으세요. 인쇄하거나 오프라인에서 언제든 읽을 수 있습니다.

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컬럼비아 대학교 동문들이 제작 | 샌프란시스코에서 개발

BeFreed는 호기심 넘치는 글로벌 커뮤니티를 하나로 연결합니다

4.7

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@ladyInfinity

정확히 23일 전에 BeFreed를 구입했는데, 그날부터 하루도 빠짐없이 쓰고 있어요. 제 일상 업무 흐름과 학습 습관에 완전히 자리 잡았어요.

@jayallen

솔직히 이 앱은 제 기대를 전부 뛰어넘었어요. 어떤 주제든 오디오로 만들어 달라고 할 수 있고, 결과물이 놀라워요. 제 전문 분야는 심리치료 쪽이고 여러 학문이 얽혀 있는데도 답변이 아주 정확해요.

@Raguipa

제일 고마운 건 스크롤하는 시간이 확 줄었다는 거예요. 검색하는 시간은 줄고 흡수하는 시간은 늘었어요. 오디오북 전권, 팟캐스트, 학습 플랜의 조합이 정말 훌륭해요.

@colonyofcreatorsNGO

저는 24년째 PhotoReading 속진 학습 강사로 일하고 있어요… 책과 독서, 배움이 제 전문인데, BeFreed는 정보를 소화하기 쉽게 전달하는 혁신적인 방식을 정말 잘 구현했어요.

@BeFreed user

단순한 책 요약 앱이 아니에요. '재미' 스타일을 써 봤는데, 전통적인 방식보다 훨씬 나은 요약이고 아이디어를 이해하기도 쉬워요. 이것만으로도 값어치를 해요.

@austinakon

이 앱이 정말 좋아요. 며칠 써 봤는데 듣는 걸 멈출 수가 없어요. 시작하기에 이보다 좋을 수 없어요.

@jcrules328

정말 마음에 들어요. 한 달 정도 써 봤는데 숨은 보석을 찾은 기분이에요. BeFreed로 제가 원하는 주제를 직접 만들 수 있어서 좋고, 목소리도 훌륭한 데다 내레이션 선택지가 무궁무진해요.

@DanielCZ

정말이지 아직 앱을 다 써 보지도 않았는데, 며칠 써 본 것만으로도 깊은 인상을 받았어요… BeFreed는 제가 써 본 어떤 학습 앱과도 차원이 달라요. 몰입감이 엄청나고 집중력도 실제로 좋아져서, 스마트폰을 하염없이 스크롤하는 분들께 딱이에요!

@ladyInfinity

정확히 23일 전에 BeFreed를 구입했는데, 그날부터 하루도 빠짐없이 쓰고 있어요. 제 일상 업무 흐름과 학습 습관에 완전히 자리 잡았어요.

@jayallen

솔직히 이 앱은 제 기대를 전부 뛰어넘었어요. 어떤 주제든 오디오로 만들어 달라고 할 수 있고, 결과물이 놀라워요. 제 전문 분야는 심리치료 쪽이고 여러 학문이 얽혀 있는데도 답변이 아주 정확해요.

@Raguipa

제일 고마운 건 스크롤하는 시간이 확 줄었다는 거예요. 검색하는 시간은 줄고 흡수하는 시간은 늘었어요. 오디오북 전권, 팟캐스트, 학습 플랜의 조합이 정말 훌륭해요.

@colonyofcreatorsNGO

저는 24년째 PhotoReading 속진 학습 강사로 일하고 있어요… 책과 독서, 배움이 제 전문인데, BeFreed는 정보를 소화하기 쉽게 전달하는 혁신적인 방식을 정말 잘 구현했어요.

@BeFreed user

단순한 책 요약 앱이 아니에요. '재미' 스타일을 써 봤는데, 전통적인 방식보다 훨씬 나은 요약이고 아이디어를 이해하기도 쉬워요. 이것만으로도 값어치를 해요.

@austinakon

이 앱이 정말 좋아요. 며칠 써 봤는데 듣는 걸 멈출 수가 없어요. 시작하기에 이보다 좋을 수 없어요.

@jcrules328

정말 마음에 들어요. 한 달 정도 써 봤는데 숨은 보석을 찾은 기분이에요. BeFreed로 제가 원하는 주제를 직접 만들 수 있어서 좋고, 목소리도 훌륭한 데다 내레이션 선택지가 무궁무진해요.

@DanielCZ

유용한 정보와 아이디어를 8~15분짜리 팟캐스트 스타일 오디오로 압축해서 들을 수 있다는 게 정말 좋아요. 원래 팟캐스트는 군더더기가 많아서 안 좋아했는데, 여기는 그걸 싹 걷어냈어요.

@BeFreed user

박사 과정을 마무리하는 중이라 낯선 자료를 많이 읽어야 해요… BeFreed에서는 프롬프트만 입력하면 앱이 자료를 찾아서 오디오 팟캐스트로 만들어 줘요. BeFreed의 과정이 NotebookLM보다 더 매끄럽게 느껴져요.

@Brad

아침을 준비하거나 산책하거나 출퇴근할 때 들을 것을 YouTube에서 자주 찾곤 했는데, BeFreed는 광고도 군더더기도 없이 훨씬 더 딱 맞는 걸 들려줘요!

@BeFreed user

이 플랫폼의 가장 큰 장점은 활용도예요. 다루지 못하는 주제가 말 그대로 하나도 없어요. 무엇을 던져도 다 소화해요… 제한이 전혀 없으면서 약속을 실제로 지키는 학습 도구는 정말 드물어요.

@jayallen

BeFreed는 환상적이에요. 디자인이 편해서 헤매는 시간은 줄고 배우는 시간은 늘었어요. 오디오북, 팟캐스트, 학습 플랜의 조합은 천재적이에요. 제 하루가 완전히 달라졌어요.

@BeFreed user

처음엔 이탈리아어로 팟캐스트를 만드는 방법을 이해하는 데 시간이 좀 걸렸는데, 알고 나니까 — 와! 정말 대단해요! 어떤 주제든 설명해 달라고 하면 정말 똑똑하게 잘 설명해 줘요!

@matteo77

BeFreed는 제가 매일 쓰는 오디오북 앱이 됐어요… 제일 마음에 드는 건 텍스트를 넣으면 이동 중에도 들을 수 있는 오디오로 만들어 준다는 점이에요.

@kotanzu1

유용한 정보와 아이디어를 8~15분짜리 팟캐스트 스타일 오디오로 압축해서 들을 수 있다는 게 정말 좋아요. 원래 팟캐스트는 군더더기가 많아서 안 좋아했는데, 여기는 그걸 싹 걷어냈어요.

@BeFreed user

박사 과정을 마무리하는 중이라 낯선 자료를 많이 읽어야 해요… BeFreed에서는 프롬프트만 입력하면 앱이 자료를 찾아서 오디오 팟캐스트로 만들어 줘요. BeFreed의 과정이 NotebookLM보다 더 매끄럽게 느껴져요.

@Brad

아침을 준비하거나 산책하거나 출퇴근할 때 들을 것을 YouTube에서 자주 찾곤 했는데, BeFreed는 광고도 군더더기도 없이 훨씬 더 딱 맞는 걸 들려줘요!

@BeFreed user

이 플랫폼의 가장 큰 장점은 활용도예요. 다루지 못하는 주제가 말 그대로 하나도 없어요. 무엇을 던져도 다 소화해요… 제한이 전혀 없으면서 약속을 실제로 지키는 학습 도구는 정말 드물어요.

@jayallen

BeFreed는 환상적이에요. 디자인이 편해서 헤매는 시간은 줄고 배우는 시간은 늘었어요. 오디오북, 팟캐스트, 학습 플랜의 조합은 천재적이에요. 제 하루가 완전히 달라졌어요.

@BeFreed user

처음엔 이탈리아어로 팟캐스트를 만드는 방법을 이해하는 데 시간이 좀 걸렸는데, 알고 나니까 — 와! 정말 대단해요! 어떤 주제든 설명해 달라고 하면 정말 똑똑하게 잘 설명해 줘요!

@matteo77

BeFreed는 제가 매일 쓰는 오디오북 앱이 됐어요… 제일 마음에 드는 건 텍스트를 넣으면 이동 중에도 들을 수 있는 오디오로 만들어 준다는 점이에요.

@kotanzu1

웹에서 BeFreed가 어떻게 논의되고 있는지 더 보기

지금 바로 학습 여정을 시작하세요

6장

고립의 시대 요약

고립의 시대 요약 개요

다양한 학습 방식으로 고립의 시대 요약 살펴보기

The Silent Epidemic of Our Time

The Anatomy of Modern Loneliness

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

When Loneliness Becomes Physical

How Loneliness Breeds Political Extremism

고립의 시대 요약에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

Urban Isolation in the Age of Proximity

Technology's Double-Edged Sword

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

The Workplace Disconnect

The Commercialization of Connection

고립의 시대 요약에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

Rebuilding Connection in a Fractured World

고립의 시대 요약 완독을 축하합니다

고립의 시대 요약의 핵심 주제

고립의 시대 요약의 명문장

고립의 시대 요약의 등장인물

저자 소개

고립의 시대 요약 다운로드

다른 사용자들도 좋아한 책

고립의 시대 요약에 관한 자주 묻는 질문

What is The Lonely Century by Noreena Hertz about?

Who should read The Lonely Century?

Is The Lonely Century worth reading?

What are the main causes of loneliness discussed in The Lonely Century?

더 알아보기

BeFreed는 호기심 넘치는 글로벌 커뮤니티를 하나로 연결합니다

다양한 학습 방식으로 고립의 시대 요약 살펴보기

The Silent Epidemic of Our Time

The Anatomy of Modern Loneliness

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

When Loneliness Becomes Physical

How Loneliness Breeds Political Extremism

고립의 시대 요약에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

Urban Isolation in the Age of Proximity

Technology's Double-Edged Sword

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

The Workplace Disconnect

The Commercialization of Connection

고립의 시대 요약에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

Rebuilding Connection in a Fractured World

고립의 시대 요약 완독을 축하합니다

다른 사용자들도 좋아한 책

더 알아보기