An urgent guide to combatting the loneliness epidemic, with 100 ways to increase connectivity right now, from the iconic therapist and Holocaust survivor appointed as New York’s first-ever loneliness ambassador.
US surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy recently sounded the alarm that loneliness ‘represents an urgent public health concern’ — social media overuse, the effects of the pandemic, and the lack of ‘third places’ have all combined to make us more alone than we’ve ever been. Now, trusted therapist Dr Ruth K. Westheimer has made it her mission to shine a light on the problem and help us break out of the box of isolation.
We are social animals. We are not meant to live in solitude. We have a shared desire to connect and create lasting bonds with the people around us. But the heaviness of loneliness can make this feel impossible. In tackling this problem with compassion and her trademark no-nonsense approach to therapy, Dr Ruth provides practical, sincere strategies for finding companionship, community, and intimacy.
With her tips on navigating family, finding friends and lovers, and using technology in healthy ways, you will find wisdom and help here, whether you’ve been struggling with loneliness for years or only recently. The Joy of Connections isn’t just a guidebook for overcoming loneliness: it’s a vital kick in the pants we all need to start seeking — and finding — deep and lasting human connections.
‘Dr Ruth has done it again! If only I could give this book to my lonely twenty-something self.’
Judy Blume
‘With her newest book, The Joy of Connections, my friend and honorary bubbe Dr Ruth has brought her particular brand of expertise and insight to address the crisis of loneliness. She is as practical, savvy, enthusiastic, and tough as ever — all her best qualities — to help us all face the challenges of loneliness and improve our wellbeing.’
Nate Berkus
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‘Dr Ruth’s brilliance and insight into human behaviour will continue to enlighten and support all those whose loneliness and isolation have been crippling.’
Vera Wang
‘Dr Ruth brings her decades of therapeutic experience to offer a practical approach for building relationships. Her Menu for Connection is a how-to guide for anyone struggling with loneliness. If you have ever found yourself wondering, “How can I do this?”, now you literally have 100 ways!’
Dr Julianne Holt-Lunstad, director of the Social Connection & Health Lab and lead scientific editor for the US Surgeon General’s Advisory on loneliness and isolation
Praise for Stay or Go: Dr Ruth’s rules for real relationships:
‘Ever practical, Dr Ruth wants to help you figure out whether you have enough of the whole package — love, lust, trust — to make the union worth saving.’
AARP Magazine
Praise for Stay or Go: Dr Ruth’s rules for real relationships:
‘A clearly written, succinct resource for those waffling with the decision to stay or move on from a long-term relationship.’
Library Journal
Praise for The Doctor Is In: Dr Ruth on love, life, and joie de vivre:
‘An exuberant celebration of life by America’s favourite octogenarian sex guru … Her warmth, wit, and wisdom shine through this lively account of a life well-lived. A joy for her many fans, old and new.’
Kirkus Reviews
Praise for The Doctor Is In: Dr Ruth on love, life, and joie de vivre:
‘Part memoir and part life manual, the latest from renowned sex therapist Dr Westheimer uses stories from her remarkable, often arduous journey to instruct readers on embracing positivity … Her wit and brassy style breathe new life into familiar self-help material.’
Publishers Weekly
