For Single People Who Like Being Single
Books, blogs, videos, podcasts, discussion groups, advocacy groups, academic resources, and practical help
By Bella DePaulo • Dec. 4, 2022
Search for resources for single people and you will probably be inundated with advice for becoming unsingle. That ends here! For years, I have been putting together resources for unapologetically single people — those who want to embrace their single lives, and are not whining about being single or trying to escape into coupledom.
Here you will find collections of books, blogs, talks, podcasts, discussion groups, advocacy groups, academic writings, practical resources, and more. I had already created collections of books, talks, blogs, and writings on many different topics; they are at the top of this post, with just one link for each to the relevant collection. Entries into the other categories are collected here for the first time; they come next.
I know there are many more resources that could be added to each category. Maybe there are some other categories that could be added, too. Feel free to add your suggestions.
Books
Badass Single People: 63 Books for You
Well, there were 63 when I first posted this at Medium. I have updated it since and will continue to do so.
Talks
Unapologetically Single? Here are the Best TED Talks for You
Not all of them are TED talks. If I found a singles-relevant talk I liked, I included it.
Blogs
A list of blogs about single life
Blogs, newsletters, and such.
Writings on Many Different Topics Relevant to Single People
What we really know about single life
Most of the writings are mine, but some guest posts from other people are included, too. There are more writings by other scholars under ACADEMIC RESOURCES, below.
Would Charlie Kirk Be Mourned the Same if He Were Single and Childless?
After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, many mourners grieved the untimely death of a “father and husband.” Opinions of his rhetoric aside, the unintended implication is that he would be less worthy of being mourned if he were single and childless.
Online Discussion Groups and Other Groups
Singles in Pursuit of Financial Independence
Podcasts
Spinsterhood Reimagined, by Lucy Meggeson
A Single Serving, hosted by Shani Silver
Solo: The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life, hosted by Peter McGraw
Thriving Solo, hosted by Jennifer Fields
Individual Podcast Episodes
These are mostly just episodes in which I was interviewed, but sometimes other people are included, too.
The mysterious disappearance of love, sex, and romance, hosted by Harry Enten, CNN
When partnership is not the destination, hosted by Rebecca Rashid and Olga Khazan, the Atlantic
A thing called singlism, hosted by Mary Griffith, Poll Hub, Marist Poll podcast
All the single ladies . . . pay more, hosted by Delyanne Barros, CNN
How to be single, hosted by Laura Stassi
Marketplace Morning Report, reported by Ashley Milne-Tyte
Single and Thriving, hosted by Gabe Howard
Single by choice, not chance, hosted by Candace Sampson
Speaking of Psychology: Living the better single life, hosted by Audrey Hamilton, American Psychological Association
Practical Help
Singles Helping Singles in Need
“A place for singles to post when they are stuck and need help; when one person can’t do things alone. An example might be when no one can pick them up from a medical appointment and everyone they know has said NO or is unavailable… when no one can be hired for help. Here people can ask and help each other.”
“NavigatingSolo.com was created in October 2021 to be a clearinghouse for reliable information and resources for solo agers. In time, we will be expanding our offerings to include a business directory of professionals who work with solos, solo ager profiles & stories, a Navigating Solo Workbook (December 2022) and more!”
Consulting available from Jessica Moorman, Ph.D.
“Feeling pressured to get married/coupled up and don’t want to? Want to speak to an expert on singlehood to help find strategies to deal with this?” Contact Dr. Ketaki Chowkhani.
Organizations Standing Up For Single People
Association for People Who Live Alone (Finland)
CISA: Standing up for singles (the Netherlands)
Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan, The Association of Strong Women Alone or ENSS (India)
Fairness for Single People (U.S. Facebook group)
Familial Status (unlawful housing discrimination in the U.S. military)
Family Story (advocates for the value of families in all their forms, including single people’s; U.S. organization)
Pro Single Schweiz (Switzerland)
Relationship Status Equality (UK Facebook group)
Single Parent Rights: Equality for Single Parents (UK)
Unmarried Equality (U.S.)
Academic Resources
Single People: Oxford Bibliographies Online, Psychology
An online bibliography of social science articles about single people created in 2011 and updated a few years later. Happily, more researchers are starting to study single people and not just as a comparison group when their real interest is in people who are married. That means that the number of relevant articles not in this collection will continue to grow. A subscription is needed to access more than the Introduction — sorry! (My own scholarly writings are here.)
The Research Network of Singlehood Studies
Singles Studies: Global Perspectives
This online conference was held on October 10, 2020. It was not recorded but you can read the keynote address here. The presentations will be published in a book edited by K. Chowkhani and C. Wynne (Eds.): Singular selves: An introduction to Singles Studies. Routledge.
[Want to learn more? Take a look at this collection of articles on all sorts of topics relevant to single life. Read my first, and still favorite, book: Singled Out: How Singles Are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After. Watch my TEDx talk, “What no one ever told you about people who are single.” Check out my website. Find my other stories on Medium here. Want to become a member of Medium, meaning that you get unlimited access to all of Medium? It costs $5 a month or $50 a year. If you sign up using this link, I’ll get a portion of your membership fees, and you won’t get charged anything extra. Disclosure: Links to books may include affiliate links.]
Written by Bella DePaulo
“America’s foremost thinker and writer on the single experience,” according to the Atlantic. SINGLE AT HEART book is a gold medal winner. www.belladepaulo.com
Singles Equality | Singles Bill of Rights 