
Plain English with Derek Thompson Plain English BEST OF: The Antisocial Century
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Dec 9, 2025 In this insightful discussion, Nick Epley, a behavioral science professor at the University of Chicago, delves into the paradox of human isolation. He highlights research revealing how people often misread social interactions, leading to unnecessary solitude. Epley shares experiments showing that small conversations can significantly enhance mood, challenging the expectation that solitude feels better. He emphasizes the importance of building social habits and suggests that intentional interactions can enrich our lives and foster deeper connections.
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The Rise Of Solitude In Daily Life
- Americans spend more time alone today than in any period with trustworthy data, reducing face-to-face socializing by ~20% in the 21st century.
- This shift adds nearly 99 minutes of home time per day and reshapes consumer habits and company strategies.
Dining Shifted From Tables To Takeout
- The restaurant industry shifted toward takeout: in 2023, 74% of restaurant traffic came from takeout and delivery.
- Increased solitary consumption nudges companies to design products for homebound consumers rather than public social life.
Monastic Self-Optimization Trend
- Young men are increasing alone time fastest and some cultural trends celebrate optimization and solitary routines like 'secular monks.'
- Social-media morning-routine videos often depict lives devoid of other people, promoting monastic self-optimization.

