Don’t Turn Inward
After a bruising election, many Americans may feel an impulse toward solitude. That’s the wrong instinct.
Julie Beck
Julie Beck is a staff writer at The Atlantic and is the creator of “The Friendship Files.”
Latest
Mikael Siirilä What the Suburb Haters Don’t Understand
The homogeneity of the suburbs has an upside: If strip malls and subdivisions remind you of home, you can feel nostalgic almost anywhere.
Benedict Redgrove / Gallery Stock How to Talk to People
How do we overcome the awkwardness that keeps us from starting a conversation?
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Debrocke / ClassicStock / Getty. The Comic Strip That Explains the Evolution of American Parenting
What eight decades of Goofus and Gallant illustrate about society’s changing expectations of children
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Highlights. How to Talk to People: How to Not Go It Alone
American narratives about “freedom” can lead people to pursue what’s best for themselves by themselves. But they may also explain why many Americans miss out on the joys of coming together.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Maskot / Getty. How to Talk to People: How to Know Your Neighbors
A commitment to knowing our neighbors can help us feel more connected—and may allow us to experiment with the feeling of being known.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Getty. How to Talk to People: What Makes a House a Home
Two married couples who bought a home together have found that expanding their household led to a deeper sense of community.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Getty. How to Talk to People: What Do We Owe Our Friends?
A culture that prioritizes romance and family relationships can push people to undermine their friendships.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty. How to Talk to People: The Infrastructure of Community
The design of physical spaces can either encourage or discourage relationships. But people also have to be willing to slow down and take the opportunity to connect.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Bettmann / Getty. How to Make Small Talk
How do we overcome the awkwardness that keeps us from starting a conversation?
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Debrocke / ClassicStock / Getty.
