The Loneliness Cure: Six Strategies for Finding Real Connections in Your Life Paperback – May 1, 2015

"The Loneliness Cure” clearly presents not only the problem in our affection and connection starved society, but some tangible and applicable solutions for improving our relationships with others. This well-written and researched book is easy to read and understand, without losing the complexities of the issue. This is a wonderful guide for helping us form deeper and more meaningful connections with others.

Good

As someone who experiences chronic loneliness/isolation, I found this book largely useless when it came to suggestions. This book seems mostly to address people who already have enough people in their lives but just need a bit of change of perspective. But for someone who does not have many people in their life, it only offers two pages of advice on how to develop new connections. The author suggests a list of activities that provide "avenues for interacting and developing trust with others". Let me save you from buying the book and just list the activities here:- Sign up for a benefit walk- Join an investment club- Take a public speaking class- Attend services at a new church or synagogue- Join a gym or start a lunch-hour exercise group- Throw a party where every invitee brings a companion you don't already know- Volunteer at a hospital, a school, or an animal shelter- If you're bold enough, host your own Free Hugs eventHalf the list is pretty obvious/cliche and the other half is absolutely ridiculous. Overall, there's little advice on helping someone who is shy and has a hard time talking to strangers. So it was pretty much useless for me.

Arrived quickly as described. Excellent, helpful book.

Loneliness is human condition that can have significant impact on the quality of human life and health. I was amazed to learn in this book that in today's modern world we touch our phones more frequently that we touch or hug another human being. It is a sad fact of modern life. Author is a researcher that looks into causes of loneliness, types of people who are most susceptable to be lonely and what kind of health damage can emotion of loneliness bring onto a human being. One in four Americans is lonely and has no other person they can talk to or confide to when it comes to making important decisions. Loneliness leads to a number of health issues: depression, anxiety, promiscuity, eating disorders, gambling addiction and the list goes on and on.Author mentions three ways a lonely person can work on overcoming their loneliness: reading (romance) books where one can immerse themselves into affections imaginary characters experience; immersing in nature and finally practicing meditation. Although those do not necessarily mean establishing real life affectionate relationships with (other) real people, it is a good coping mechanism in loneliness situation.For me personally the most exciting chapter was about toxic affection. Sometimes loneliness would cause people to get into relationships that are toxic or unhealthy. Those can lead to financial, health and psychological trauma. Author methodically explains "love bombing" phenomenon. For me this chapter alone is a reason good enough to read the entire book. If anything one learns to recognize warning signals of a potentially troubling situation. Sometimes it is worth walking away from a person, or a relationship, if it is underlined with potential to harm a lonely seeker of happiness with false emotions and false expressions of affection. It is also a chapter that explains that in life all relationships with people we know run their own course and the moment comes when such relationships need to end for everyone's benefit.I chose to read this book after group "Yes" was indicted to Hall of Fame and they sang their most popular song "Owner of a Lonely Heart". I was always wondering what is better - to be an owner of a broken heart or owner of a lonely heart. Song believes in a benefit of having a lonely heart. Once you read this book, you can make your own choice of what is a better choice for you - lonely or a broken heart.

Published in May of 2015 and with only 7 reviews on Amazon, I figured I would give this book a shot. Truthfully, I only got through the first chapter of this book and never picked it up again. Kory Floyd, a professor, studied upon human behavior/affection and how it impacts a person. The layout is simple and very accessible thus catering to all audiences. Unfortunately, it did not hold my interest long enough. It's a mix of scientific and personal writing. He provides questions for self-reflection at the end of each chapter, but these questions were very subliminal and self-explanatory. His writing, in my opinion, doesn't captivate a reader as much as it should. Skimming upon the rest of the book, I’ve noticed that it’s structured similarly as the first chapter with reflection questions. There are tidbits on how to understand loneliness, affection, and how we internalize it.For someone who is just starting on their journey of self-love and finding platonic/romantic intimacy, this would be the perfect book for you. For the rest of us who has been on this journey for a while, I suggest looking into other books.Edit: I edited the typos in this review.I saw a photo of this book in my phone and wondered if it’s something I should give another shot. Fortunately, I wrote this review because I forgot what the book consists of. It’s been three years since then. If anyone is curious, I’ve learned to love myself and made so many new friends. Give it time — the right people will come at the right time.

So many popular press articles highlight tips about this or that gleaned from the author's own personal experience. Although personal experiences can be valuable, Floyd relies instead on decades of research to provide practical tips that do not overreach and can be enacted today. I liked that he did not just tell me what to do - but rather showed me the source of the issue and she potential ways I could address it. Maybe the advice wasn't flashy but I would take Floyd's advice backed by research any day.