One and Only

A funny, thought-provoking, and myth-busting account what it means to be—or be the parent of—an only child.

Journalist Lauren Sandler is an only child and the mother of one. After investigating what so-called “singletons” are really like, she learned a lot about herself—and our cultural assumptions about parenting. In One and Only, Sandler combines “fierce reporting, tender storytelling, and clear-eyed cultural analysis” to reveal the unique ways that singletons thrive, and why so many of their families are happier (Susan Cain, author of Quiet).

Between the recession, the stresses of modern life, and the ecological dangers ahead, there are increasing pressures on parents to think seriously about singletons. Sandler examines these ideas, including what the rise of the single-child family means for our economies, our environment, and our freedom. At the end, Sandler demonstrates that having just one may be the secret to happiness in the modern age.