In all developed societies, loneliness has taken on dimensions of a social phenomenon. While individuals engage in multiple and diverse interactions, more and more people feel a painful sense of isolation. At the same time, there are those who choose to live alone. In this book, which includes many examples from her scientific experience, Marie-France Hirigoyen shows that today's reality is the result of a profound transformation of the relationships between men and women and that developments have not yet been completed.

Although women have finally gained independence in both the workplace and sexuality, their emancipation has not yet been integrated into the collective mindset. This fact causes a crisis in the roles of friends and instability in close personal bonds: one in two marriages ends in divorce, mainly initiated by women. We also observe that couple relationships have become harsher, reflecting the competitiveness and inhumanity of the work world. As for the traditional "investment" in a romantic relationship, it is now accompanied by the increasingly widespread practice of "limited-time couples".

Periods of loneliness and sexual seasons are prolonged and lead to more frequent resort to online dating sites, as well as "new therapies", which loneliness can often offer activity and inspiration: at any age, chosen solitude can be a source of fulfillment, a way to escape the superficial values of a society dominated by narcissism and the worship of maximum efficiency.