Summaries

“Feeling lonely? Meet the people who suffered extreme isolation – then found happiness”

Author: Moya Sarner
Genre: Article
Year of publication: 2018

This article was written by Moya Sarner, a freelance writer and editor based in London. The article was published in 2018 in The Guardian.

The article presents Steve, who speaks about a period in his late 20s when he was isolated and lonely, avoiding his friends even though he wanted their company.  

According to the article, scientists studying monkeys identify lonely individuals not by looking at those who spend time alone, but rather by looking at those who attempt to make contact with a group but then retreat. The article also claims that we are living through an epidemic of loneliness.

The article then takes a look at how Steve became lonely, explaining that he spent his early 20s socialising and partying in Leeds. Steve was a working-class young man from a small town who, unlike his wealthier friends, ended up in bad living conditions, surrounded by people who took drugs.

After he was able to get a place of his own, Steve grew isolated. Taking ...