Living Single in a World Built for Two

Single living is on the rise. Half of adults in the United States are unmarried and 28% of households in the United States are one person, surpassing the nuclear family as the most common household.

The rise of singles is not slowing, with one in four Millennials in the United States projected to never marry and half of single adults not interested in dating in the first place. This trend is a global phenomenon, with people going solo from Sweden to South Korea.

With the nuclear family waning, policy makers, religious leaders, and your Aunt Sally lament the loss of the good old days of the 1960’s, where nearly everyone married and had children. As well-intentioned as their concerns are, they hold myths and stereotypes about singles that don’t hold up to scientific scrutiny:

· Singles are sad, lonely, and desperate to find a partner and settle down.
· Singles are unwilling or unable to put in the hard work required to create a family.
· The rise of singles is a symptom of a world in decline.

Drawing from extensive interviews with hundreds of singles, surveys of thousands of singles and non-singles, and the latest research in psychology, anthropology, and demography, McGraw debunks these myths and highlights the diverse experiences and contributions of singles to society.

McGraw concludes by sharing three valuable lessons that married people can learn from singles in order to live a remarkable life.