Loneliness (S-15)

I have read and re-read this book. It is excellent! Clark writes beautifully and is always profound.

I've read a lot of academic work on loneliness, and the sterility of such work amazes me. This book stands out in its passionate and personal tone--and in its focus on how loneliness can help people grow. ("I realized that man's inevitable and infinite loneliness is not solely an awful condition of human existence but that it is also the instrument through which man experiences new compassion and new beauty"--p. x in 1961 edition). The writing style is unusual, and may not be for everyone, but Moustakas' tone deeply affected my read of the book, and in my opinion, is one of the book's many strengths. It is a philosophical treatise that can help illuminate the assumptions in shallow self-help books. Obviously, I highly recommend it.