Best Of: The ‘Quiet Catastrophe’ Brewing in Our Social Lives

Ezra Klein interviews Sheila Liming, author of "Hanging Out," about the increasing social isolation in modern life and the declining ability to simply spend time with others without a specific agenda. They discuss factors contributing to this isolation, such as decreased free time, the diminishment of public space, and the prioritization of private property and control. The conversation explores the class dimensions of isolation, the impact of technology (like wireless headphones and social media) on social interactions, and the changing attitudes towards social risk, particularly for children. They also touch on the role of the workplace in socializing and the trade-offs between short-term comfort and long-term meaning in relationships, and the importance of compassion in navigating social conflicts.