Hanging Out: The Radical Cure For Social Atrophy

Resources

Books

• "Hanging Out" by Sheila Liming - This book diagnoses what the author calls a "quiet catastrophe" in how people struggle with spending open time with others.
• "Full Surrogacy Now" by Sophie Lewis - This book discusses the family unit as a "hostage situation," exploring the compulsions and unrealistic expectations that come with the nuclear family.
• "Regarding the Pain of Others" by Susan Sontag - This essay discusses compassion as an unstable emotion that needs to be continuously exercised and trained.
• "Black Paper" by Teju Cole - A collection of articles, essays, and lectures published in 2021, where the author discusses concepts like ethics in the modern world and ethical sensibilities.
• "On the Inconvenience of Other People" by Lauren Berlant - A posthumously published book (2022) that philosophically unpacks Sartre's phrase "hell is other people" through the lens of inconvenience, arguing that inconvenience is political.
• "The Hare" by Melanie Finn - A feminist gothic thriller novel published in 2021 by Two Dollar Radio, described as dark, gorgeously written, and fun.

Articles & Papers

• "The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake" (David Brooks, The Atlantic) - This essay argues that the nuclear family norm was a "freakish historical moment" and not a typical human living arrangement for most of history.

People Mentioned

• Sheila Liming (Author) - Author of "Hanging Out," discussed the social structures leading to loneliness and the "lost art" of hanging out.
• Zarina Agnew (Neuroscientist) - A neuroscientist who also works on community living arrangements, she discusses setting life's default towards community versus isolation.
• Ann Helen Peterson (Writer on Substack) - Wrote a post about the dream of living near friends and the class dimension of isolation.
• Jess Clarco (Sociologist) - Mentioned by Ann Helen Peterson, her research indicates that college and graduate degree holders are more likely to live further from their mothers.
• David Brooks (Columnist, The Atlantic) - Author of "The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake," discussed the historical context and societal implications of the nuclear family.
• Sophie Lewis (Author, Colleague) - Author of "Full Surrogacy Now," mentioned in the discussion about the nuclear family.
• Susan Sontag (Essayist) - Author of "Regarding the Pain of Others," referenced for her idea of compassion as an unstable emotion.
• Arthur Brooks (Happiness Researcher) - Made a distinction between anger and contempt, highlighting their different roles in relationships.
• Teju Cole (Author) - Author of "Black Paper," recommended for his lectures on ethics and ethical sensibilities.
• Lauren Berlant (Critic and Theorist) - Author of "On the Inconvenience of Other People," discussed for her philosophical exploration of inconvenience and Sartre's phrase.
• Melanie Finn (Writer) - Author of "The Hare," recommended for her feminist gothic thriller.
• Tove Jansson (Finnish Author/Artist) - Her letters to Eva Konikova during World War II were discussed as an example of maintaining intimate connection through writing during separation.
• Eva Konikova (Friend of Tove Jansson) - The recipient of Tove Jansson's letters during World War II, illustrating enduring friendship through correspondence.

Organizations & Institutions

• Two Dollar Radio - A small press out of Columbus, Ohio, mentioned as the publisher of Melanie Finn's novel "The Hare."