Book Discussion: "The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone" by Olivia Laing

The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone by Olivia Laing

When author Oliva Laing moves to New York City in her mid-thirties for a relationship that ultimately ended, she finds herself profoundly alone. Seeking comfort in art, Laing ruminates on the intersection of solitude and art, examining the lives and works of several artists who grappled with isolation and used it as a source of creativity. While this is an insightful analysis of art, it ultimately becomes a mediation on how loneliness can foster creativity and lead to personal and artistic growth.