Loneliness today is not only a consequence of random circumstances, but also a conscious choice of millions of people in developed countries. This is the new social reality of large cities, the responsible decision of both young representatives of the “creative class” and the elderly who want to grow old alone. Sociologist Eric Kleinenberg, Ph.D., of New York University, explores the phenomenon of modern loneliness. For him, this is a consequence of the transformation of urban spaces, which makes it possible to experiment with his lifestyle. Equally important is the strengthening of the role of women, the revolution of “social networks” and the jump in average life expectancy. The author comes to an unexpected conclusion: to live alone does not mean to feel lonely. And being alone at a certain stage of your life is not only not scary, but interesting and even necessary.