Singles Equality | Singles Bill of Rights

For Single People Who Like Being Single

Books, podcasts, organizations, and other resources.

ABOUT THESE RESOURCES: Much of the below list was originally compiled by Dr. Bella DePaulo in 2022. Singles Equality is adding updated resources. Please feel free to suggest ones we haven’t yet included.

Books

The “Single by Choice” Manifestos

These books challenge the idea that being single is a “waiting room” for marriage and celebrate it as a first-class lifestyle.

• “Single at Heart” by Bella DePaulo (2023/2024): Dr. DePaulo’s definitive work on people who are “single at heart”—those for whom living solo is their most authentic and fulfilling life.
• “Happy Singlehood” by Elyakim Kislev: This data-driven look at why solo living is rising globally offers strategies for building a “portfolio” of social connections and finding purpose outside of a romantic partner.
• “Going Solo” by Eric Klinenberg: A sociological deep dive into the dramatic rise in people choosing to live alone.
• “Thrive Solo” by Lucy Meggeson (2025): Based on the popular podcast, this is a celebratory guide specifically for those who are single and childfree. It focuses on redefining happiness beyond “coupledom” and rejecting the idea that solo life is a problem to be fixed.
• “Shiny Happy Singles” by Lucy Meggeson (2025): Emphasizes the joy of independent, childfree lives while offering practical ways to navigate social pressures and “friendship shifts” when peers become parents.

Practical Guides for Living Solo

Being single requires unique logistical planning, including regarding finances and long-term care.

• “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers” by Sara Zeff Geber: A must-read roadmap for “solo agers” on how to handle healthcare proxies, housing, and social support when you don’t have a traditional family net.
• “The Singles Tax” by Renée Sylvestre-Williams (2026): Offers specific financial advice for solo earners navigating a world built for dual-income households, covering everything from emergency funds to the high cost of “living alone.”
• “Aging Without Family” by Lily Penrose (2025): A newer guide to building “safety-first” systems for daily life and legal documentation for those living independently in their later years.
• “Do You Have Kids? Life When the Answer Is No” by Kate Kaufmann: A practical guide that weaves research with stories from women aged 24 to 91 addressing the question of “what we leave behind” (legacy) when we don’t have children.
• “The Art of Living Alone” by Jennifer Lynn O’Hara: Practical advice on turning solo living into a fulfilling life chapter.

Emotional Resilience & Self-Discovery

These titles focus on the internal work of being comfortable in your own company.

• “Single on Purpose” by John Kim: A “no-BS” guide to reclaiming your identity, arguing that “dating yourself” isn’t a cliché—it’s a necessary process of self-alignment that most people skip.
• “How to Be Alone” by Lane Moore: A deeply personal and often funny exploration of loneliness for those who find solo life difficult at times.
• “The Unexpected Joy of Being Single” by Catherine Gray: A great choice if you are transitioning from “serial dating” to intentional singleness. Gray chronicles her year-long “dating fast” and the clarity it brought to her life.
• “Party of One: Truth, Longing, and the Subtle Art of Singleness” by Joy Beth Smith: A thoughtful exploration of the insecurities and strengths of living without a partner.
• “How to Remain Single in 2026” by John A. Davis: A guide focused on intentional singleness. It explores emotional independence and how to build a full life without centering romance or feeling the need to explain your status.

The Art of Solitude & Loneliness

These books help you distinguish between being alone and being lonely, turning solo time into a source of strength.

• “The Lonely City” by Olivia Laing: A beautiful exploration of loneliness through the lives of famous artists. It’s a “holy grail” for anyone who has ever felt the weight of living alone in a crowded city.
• “Alone: The Badass Psychology of People Who Like Being Alone” by Bella DePaulo: A psychological look at the “pro-solitude” personality and why some people thrive most when they have their own space.
• “What a Time to Be Alone” by Chidera Eggerue: Often called the “single person’s bible,” this book focuses on the “joy of your own company” with a vibrant, modern tone

Podcasts

Access these podcasts through the links provided or through your preferred podcast provider.

• Solo – The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life: Hosted by Dr. Peter McGraw, this is the gold standard for solo issues such as “Relationship Design,” “Solo Aging.” and “The Solo Economy.” 
• Thrive Solo: Hosted by Lucy Meggeson, this show reframes the “spinster” narrative and building a fulfilling life without a partner.
• A Single Serving Podcast: Shani Silver (author of A Single Revolution) focuses on changing the narrative of singleness from a “waiting room” to a destination. 
• The Navigating Solo™ Podcast: Hosted by Ailene Gerhardt, this is the premier resource for “solo agers,” covering healthcare advocacy, building a “village” of support, and practical steps to ensure you remain independent as you get older.

Websites/organization

• Unmarried Equality (UE): A U.S. nonprofit that advocates for fairness for those who are single, cohabiting, or choose not to marry. They educate the public on how current laws often disadvantage single people in housing and healthcare.
• Single Friendly Church Network: Encouraging churches to welcome and value single people.
• ShareWell: A peer-support platform that provides a space to discuss social pressures and foster connections outside of romantic relationships.
• Village to Village Network: A national organization that helps “solo agers” (older adults living alone) form neighborhood networks to support one another, ensuring they can age in place without a traditional family safety net.
• The Foundation for Social Connection: Drives national policy and awareness campaigns to address the unique social isolation risks faced by those living in single-person households.
• Bella DePaulo: While not a traditional “organization” Dr. Bella DePaulo is the leading academic voice in the singles movement. Her work provides the research-based foundation many advocacy groups use to fight singlism (discrimination against single people).

Other Resources

Books

• “Women Without Kids” by Ruby Warrington (2024): This is one of the most talked-about books in the childfree community. Warrington coins the term “unsung sisterhood” to describe the vital role childfree women play in society and explores the “motherhood dilemma” with high intellectual rigor.
• “No One Tells You This” by Glynnis MacNicol: A critically acclaimed memoir about turning 40 while single and childfree. It’s an honest, raw look at how to build a meaningful life when you’ve stepped off the “traditional” path.
• “Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed” edited by Meghan Daum: A collection of 16 essays from various writers on the decision not to have kids. It’s great for single people because it offers a wide variety of perspectives—from the hilariously cynical to the deeply philosophical.

Podcasts

• We Are Childfree: Hosted by Zoë Noble, this podcast shares global stories from childfree people of all backgrounds. It’s excellent for hearing diverse perspectives on why people choose this path and how they navigate a pro-natalist world.
• Childfree Life by Design: Hosted by Dr. Jay Zigmont (a CFP specifically for childfree people), this focuses on the logistics. It covers financial planning, estate planning (who will be your power of attorney?), and “Childfree Wealth.”
• The Childfree Connection: Rick and Veronica provide a duo-perspective on the childfree life, tackling everything from social pressure at family gatherings to “friendship shifts” when peers start having kids.

Websites/Org

Childfree-Specific Communities & Support

These groups cater specifically to those who have chosen a life without children.

• The Childfree Connection: A modern platform providing resources, a podcast, and a membership community for childfree individuals to connect and navigate social pressures.
• The NotMom: Specifically designed for “women without children” (both by choice and by chance). They host a major international conference and provide a hub for news and networking.
• Childfree Girls: A collaborative project (podcast/blog) that provides high-visibility advocacy for the childfree lifestyle, focusing on destigmatizing the choice globally.
• No Kidding!: An international social club for childfree adults. It operates through local chapters, providing a space for single and coupled childfree people to socialize without child-centric activities.

Support for Childless (Not by Choice)

For those who are single and childless due to life circumstances or infertility, these organizations provide specialized peer support.

• The Childless Collective: Originally founded as Gateway Women, this is one of the largest global communities for people navigating life without children. It includes specific subgroups for single people.
• World Childless Week: An annual awareness campaign that highlights the experiences of people who are childless. They provide a massive directory of social groups and resources for those living a “life unexpected.”

Aging Without Children (AWOC)

A crucial niche for single, childfree/childless individuals is planning for the future.

Ageing Without Children (AWOC): A UK-based organization (with growing influence in the US/Canada) that campaigns for the rights of people who will not have adult children to care for them in old age. They focus on policy change and community support.