The Power of Solitude

Name: The Power of Solitude
ISBN: 9787512511057

斋藤茂太 / 杨素宜International Culture Publishing Corporation · ChinaApr 2020

3.3

Word count: 57K words
Chapters: 60
ISBN: 9787512511057

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Summary

People have, in fact, all misunderstood "solitude." Time spent alone is extraordinarily precious, for it is exactly the time in which we can properly face ourselves and think only of ourselves. Time alone can thus be called "time for creating the self," in which we can truly be "ourselves." Those who know how to use this invaluable time to strengthen their own inner resources—and who then put that strength to use in living out their "true self"—are the people who possess the "power of solitude." The author, psychiatrist Shigeta Saito, distills 90 years of life experience and everyday wisdom to help readers make the most of their "time alone." Fully practicing "time alone" not only helps us shift our thinking and refine our sensibilities so we can move in a better direction, but also enables us to break through bottlenecks and to cultivate the will to live that meets every challenge with our own strength. This book gathers 51 secrets for enjoying time alone—for getting along with yourself, casting off the negative emotions that loneliness brings, trying to face your true self, and affirming your own worth, so that you need not fear being disliked or being isolated, and will not easily be swayed and lose your way.

Editor's review

Shigeta Saito's The Power of Solitude is not a self-help book about how to eliminate loneliness, but a work of reflection that probes the nature of solitude and guides readers to turn it into inner strength. A renowned Japanese psychiatrist and writer, Saito draws on deep professional expertise and humanistic care to pry "solitude" away from its usual place among negative emotions and redefine it as fertile "soil" and precious "time for the self." The book offers no quick-fix social techniques or shallow comfort; instead, it systematically sets out the difference between solitude and loneliness and argues for the indispensable value of moderate solitude in cultivating independent thought, deepening self-knowledge, and sparking creativity. In the editor's view, the book's core value lies in the shift of perspective it offers: it invites us to stop seeing solitude as a void to be filled or a failing social label, and to learn to live with it—even to choose it deliberately—turning it into a precious opportunity to settle the mind and gather strength. In an age of information overload and exhausting social networks, this "power of solitude" is precisely the inner discipline modern people need. The discussion is plain and sincere, enriched by the author's extensive clinical cases and life experience, and avoids abstruse theorizing, giving the book both intellectual depth and readability.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Urban readers who often feel drained by socializing and long for high-quality time alone
Readers with a sustained interest in self-growth and inner exploration
People in a life transition or a creative bottleneck who need quiet time to think through their direction
Those prone to anxiety in relationships who hope to build a steadier sense of self-worth

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting concrete social methods or a guide to interpersonal skills
People in the acute phase of severe depression, social anxiety disorder, or other mental health conditions who urgently need professional medical intervention

Reading tips

Read in installments in a relatively quiet, undisturbed setting, reflecting on your own experience as you go
Don't rush to finish; pause at passages that resonate or confuse you and jot down brief notes
After reading, try putting the book's suggestions into practice—for example, scheduling a "solitude time" and observing your feelings and changes

About the publisher

International Culture Publishing Corporation China · Founded in 1984

International Culture Publishing Corporation is a publisher known for introducing foreign literature and world classics, with about 283 relevant titles in the database. Its representative books include Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther, Hesse's Siddhartha, Jiménez's Platero and I, and Gibran's The Prophet, as well as cultural readings such as Zhu Guangqian's Twelve Letters to Youth and Common Talk on Classics. In psychology, it offers the nine-volume Collector's Edition of C. G. Jung's Works, covering social psychology and applied psychology. Its author resources include Goethe, Hesse, Jiménez, Jung, and Zhu Guangqian, along with Chinese authors involved in translation and compilation. Its publishing focus is on foreign literature, classic works, psychology, and culture, serving both academic and general readers. Public information is limited, and the above is based mainly on the books in the database.

版权信息
前言 “孤独力”带来的幸福
第一章独自一人为何会感到悲伤寂寞呢？
为什么没有人能了解“真正的我”？
孤独并非在深山里，而是在街道上
独自一人的时间，就是道别和问候之间的桥梁
重新审视自己，做真正的自己就好
只有明白孤寂的人，才能拥有战胜孤单的力量
活出真正自我的价值
顺其自然，自然而然地一切事情都会有最棒的处置
第二章在独处的时光里“预见”未来的自己
正视自己的内心，看清自己真正的目标是什么
一味配合，最终只会失去自我
热衷于追随潮流，最终会丧失自身的感受力
每个人都有自己的个人风格，不要害怕自己和别人不一样
人际关系中最重要的，就是要拥有“面对自己的时间”
无法忍受孤独的人，也无法站在众人之上
人们不会愿意帮助一开始就不努力的人
内心涌现怪罪别人的念头时，想想自己应该可以怎么做
独处的人更懂得设身处地地理解他人
要是有个对象可以诉苦，或许就能卸下心中的重担
第三章恋爱中，也需要保有自我
恋爱，从“开始”就能知道成败
两个人相处时，最重要的是保有自我
真心喜欢的对象，才更需要去了解对方的想法
即使再喜欢，也不要介入别人的婚姻
彼此敞开心胸，才能真心交往
面对面交谈，人与人之间的牵绊才会变得更紧密坚定
不要害怕受伤，勇敢表达出自己的观点
比起服从对方来维持爱情，一个人也可以过得轻松自在
时间是最具疗效的失恋特效药
将不愉快的情绪消化掉，就能缩短和他人的距离
第四章一个人也可以好好过
向内自查，孕育富有特色的人格
给自己一个“休息时间”
放下手机，和身边的人打个简单的招呼
成为派对达人
任何事情，只要把它们想得很有趣，就会变得有趣
孤独的人都要好好吃饭
在阅读中体验他人人生
装扮自己是元气的来源
给付出努力的自己一点奖励
尽量跟各式各样的人来往
享受一个人的行动时间
偶尔来一趟“一个人的旅行”
偶尔来点“小奢侈”
找寻自己的疗愈小物
第五章让“孤独力”觉醒
能够填补寂寞感的，是做自己喜欢的事
试试与自己对话
三行恰恰好的日记
试着与人分享内心的喜悦
总之就开怀大笑吧
尽情大哭一场
来一碗热汤
在太阳底下挥汗
将“好幸福”和“好开心”变成口头禅
找到自己的BGM
参考文献
后记

FAQ

Can this book help me get rid of the pain of loneliness?

The book's aim is not simply to "get rid of" loneliness but to guide readers toward a new understanding of solitude and a positive, constructive relationship with it—turning the possibly painful feeling of loneliness into the inner nourishment of the "power of solitude."

What is the author Shigeta Saito's professional background?

Shigeta Saito was a renowned Japanese psychiatrist and medical doctor, as well as a prolific essayist. His father, Mokichi Saito, was a celebrated Japanese poet and physician; this family heritage gave him both a rational medical perspective and deep humanistic care, and he was known for exploring life's questions through clinical experience.

How is this book different from other books on solitude?

Unlike many books that focus on social skills or psychological comfort, this book centers on philosophical "cognitive reframing." It offers no external solutions but seeks to change readers' fixed assumptions about "solitude," emphasizing its inherent positive potential and necessity from a more fundamental and profound angle.

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About the author

斋藤茂太 Author

Saito Shigeta is an author about whom Chinese-language book resources offer limited biographical information; publicly available sources are insufficient to confirm his nationality, dates of birth and death, or similar details. Judging from the six works held in the collection, his writing centers on inspirational growth, applied psychology, and social psychology, often exploring loneliness, self-awareness, and inner strength. Representative works include The Power of Solitude, The Lonely Time Every Excellent Person Has, and boxed collections such as How to Face Your True Self. His books tend to begin from everyday situations and turn psychological observation into practical advice, in a plain tone that leans toward self-adjustment and gentle self-acceptance. They suit readers who wish to rethink loneliness and rebuild confidence and vitality.

杨素宜 Author

Yang Suyi is a Chinese-Japanese translator, interpreter, and Japanese-language instructor. After completing her graduate coursework at Sophia University in Japan in April 2000, she returned to China and began working as a Chinese-Japanese translator. Her translations include Saito Shigeta's The Power of Solitude, as well as Madoromi Animal Clinic and The Beer Yeast Diet, spanning psychology, everyday life, and comics. Her works in this catalog include The Power of Solitude, How to Face Your True Self (a three-volume set), and Outstanding People All Have a Lonely Period. Commonly grouped under inspirational growth, applied psychology, and social psychology, these titles center on the experience of loneliness, self-understanding, and psychological adjustment. Given the limited public information available, readers chiefly come to know her style through her translations: plain and close to daily life, attentive to turning psychological and interpersonal issues into accessible, practical content, with some influence in inspirational and self-help reading.