How many of us are lonely? What is loneliness and how does it affect us? William Patrick, the founding editor of The Journal of Life Sciences and co-author of âLoneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection,â discusses loneliness and its impacts.
Barry Vogel, Attorney and Counselor, is the Host and Producer of Radio Curious. Christina Aanestad is the Assistant Producer.
How many of us are lonely? What is loneliness and how does it affect us? Approximately 25 years ago, when asked the number of friends in whom we could confide, most people in the United States said âthree.â When that question was asked recently most people said ânone.â
Inquires reveal that twenty per-cent of people, -- 60 million in the Untied States alone â are feeling lonely at any given moment. And, it appears that chronic loneliness may well compete with smoking, obesity and lack of exercise as a significant health risk.
In this edition of Radio Curious we visit with William Patrick, the founding editor of The Journal of Life Sciences and co-author of âLoneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection,â along with University of Chicago psychology professor John Cacioppo.
My conversation with William Patrick, recorded on October 13, 2008, began when I asked him to define loneliness as used in their book.
The book William Patrick recommends is âThe Lost Gospel: The Book of Q and Christian Origins,â by Burton Mack.
Originally broadcast October 18th, 2008.
Radio Curious is a half-hour, weekly, long-form interview program, now in its 27th year. We interview people on a curiously wide variety of topics about life and ideas. Our website is www.radiocurious.org. If your station airs Radio Curious please let us know curious@radiocurious.org, we will add you to our list of syndicate stations. We also welcome questions, feedback and program ideas. Radio Curious 280 N. Oak St. Ukiah, Ca 95482. (707) 462-6541.