Happy Singlehood

If you are single and looking for self-help for your life as a single person, this hefty volume, Happy Singlehood by Elyakim Kislev is not going to be a book of any help for you. This is an academic sociological study with massive scholarly writing, not meant to be read by the average reader. In fact, it’s uncertain whom Kislev targeted for his readership.

Superscript numbers referred to some sixty pages of Notes and References at the end of the book. This study was based on thorough research by the author using published information and studies, and one-hundred-and-forty-two personal interviews of singles in the US and European countries. The text includes many short passages by interviewed singles using first names only.

Kislev considers eight areas by which singlehood is a growing trend (like demographic changes, urbanization) throughout much of the world. He discusses these in detail. His scholarly writing is not easy to read—it is dry, lacking sparkles and readability that a good editor could’ve improved. There are only five illustrations as charts and graphs. A chapter-by-chapter summary may also have improved this volume.