This graphic novel was stunning start to finish. An incredible work of journalism and introspection, and the color schemes really added to the overall work. I loved everything about this graphic novel, and have recommended it to so many people.

Seek You is an illustrated essay about loneliness in America. The author looks at loneliness through various cultural lenses. I think it's a decent look at loneliness. I hesitate on it, though, because I wanted more from the graphic novel side of things.

The illustrations are good. The color palette matches the tone of the book. I just wish there had been some narrative to integrate the illustrations and the text better. The art illustrates the text without adding anything to it.

Aside from that, the author handles the subject well enough. I think there is definitely an audience for this book.

A study of different themes of loneliness accompanied by beautifully deep colored illustrations. There are ruminations by the author interspersed with outlines of scientific studies. The author weaves the different sections together thoughtfully although the narrative changes can be abrupt at times. The artwork adds even more humanity to this very human story and gives a depth to the narrative.

Please note: That while there are moments of hope and light, this book is dark and at times heartbreaking (there is a large portion that focuses on animal experiments that can only be called torturous) so please be mindful of the content as you pick it up or recommend it.

I was expecting more memoir, but this is more a discussion of different elements of loneliness. Appeal but dark-colored illustrations were easy to follow.

Suggest this to book groups that read nonfiction.

I loved this graphic novel: a rumination on loneliness, its biological purpose, research and experience surrounding it and how it has become an epidemic shaping our world, exasperated by the isolation of a global pandemic. Beautifully drawn and presented. At times deeply affecting, sometimes horrifying, just so good.

It is a very dense book but all the themes about loneliness were very interesting. Who knew all those things about studio audiences, monkey's, and CB radios. Shows that Loneliness can be something that is natural and that during the pandemic it is something we had to think of. and guide ourselves through

This graphic nonfiction book takes the subject of loneliness and explores it from many angles, and then it is illustrated too with art that suits the mood. I was intrigued by the laugh track discussion, impressed by the discussion of loneliness and terror, and horrified by the reasons we know what we know about attachment.

I think it is the author who defines loneliness as the gap between where you are and where you want to be, or who you want to be with, and she talks about how that can be even more magnified in big cities, as a new spouse or new parent, and why rapid change and loneliness go hand in hand.

This abstract yet deeply personal graphic novel is woven with insightful stories about loneliness—what loneliness means, how we project it, how we defend against it—essentially, what it means to be human.

Though it’s as incredible as I anticipated it would be, there were moments when I had to put the book down and walk away from it. The detailing of primate torture during attachment experiments performed by scientists/sadists—not super stoked about that. A hefty 30% of the novel focuses on the extreme conditions these baby primates were put under, and though that lends itself to the discussion on intimacy and loneliness, I felt just…awful reading it. Too awful to connect to the ideas behind the torture, and just focused on the experiments themselves. Horrible stuff, it made me want to stop reading and go join my local chapter of PETA.

I’m not sure that was the author’s intention, but it’s clear after reading in one sitting that the work is meant to be digested in parts. Don’t binge this.

Kristen Radtke's Seek You is magnificent. It expertly explores the intricacies of loneliness and human connection through what connects us, and what keeps us apart from each other. I thought it was so thoughtfully put together with it's sections, each focusing on something different while feeling familiar. The graphic novel medium was such an interesting choice to deliver this book - I thought it made for a really palatable and accessible delivery of the information, which at times was almost academic.

Though the subject matter might seem a bit melancholy at first glance, the way the information is delivered is thoughtful and thought provoking and beautifully illustrates an important message. This book could not have come at a better time; will be highly recommending.

Though somewhat depressing, this is a very good read. I learned a lot. The graphic novel format may not seem to be relevant or appropriate at first glance, but Radtke's art adds a great deal to the narrative.

Kristen Radtke's Seek You went far beyond my expectations with regards to the art style, accessibility of the research, and overall writing style. This graphic novel completely opened my eyes to the topic of loneliness from a sociological perspective and allowed me to understand my relationship with the world around me. Not only topical given the pandemic, but an incredibly insightful read. I would highly recommend!

I was really excited to read this one and got a quarter of the way through it, but ultimately had to stop because I had a hard time reading on my device. However, with a physical copy in hand, I feel like it would be a breeze.

How has the loneliness become somehow ingrained into our way of life? The solitary cowboy on the range… the laugh-tracks that keep us watching our favorite shows “with an audience…” and now a pandemic that kept us in four walls for an entire year.

Radtke’s book is far-reaching and gives the reader a great range of topics to meditate on. Yet, I did find the connection between each topic to be a reach at times. And even the connection between the topics and loneliness was tenuous…

As for the artwork, I appreciated that some drawings were independent of the text. It got away from that feeling of picture/ caption that many nonfiction graphic novels get into.

Overall, this is a mixed review… I liked several parts of the book, but didn’t feel the overall themes connect with any sort of conclusion. Are there any answers?

3 out of 5 stars

I adored Kristen Radtke's first graphic memoir, Imagine Wanting Only This, and was so excited to snag a copy of her new book, #SeekYou. This comic, part memoir and part nonfiction exploration of the science and social science of loneliness and human connection and satisfaction, destroyed me in the best way. I am am extrovert who has been working from home with an almost-seven-year-old for almost a year and a half. My views on loneliness are different than they were pre-pandemic, and this book speaks to pre-pandemic me as well as current me. I'll be buying my own copy, and I'm tempted to buy a second copy to cut out pages to frame and hang in my house. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #bookstagram #5StarRead #BooksAndFlowers #BookReview #KristenRadtke

I love these non-fiction graphic novels. It's such an enjoyable way to consume non fiction and read graphic novels (neither of which I've ever been that great at). Interesting and insightful.

This graphic novel started off interesting, but it got super slow for me. It felt way too long and it really lost my interest when cowboys were brought it.

Seek You is a dive into the deep end of the loneliness epidemic in America. The book addresses the issue in a wide-ranging way - from the author's personal experiences of loneliness to the alarmingly inhumane attachment research done in the 1960s that showed us the consequences of failure to form attachments to the modern loneliness of living a superficial online life.

This is in no way a light read. I'm still undecided as to whether the format of graphic nonfiction makes the topic feel more intense or if it softens the blow. This book was excellent but difficult to read, particularly after a year and a half of COVID restrictions on human interactions have thrown the entire world into bouts of loneliness, restlessness, ennui, and languishing (just to name a few). The segments on loneliness research on monkeys were particularly disturbing, but those particular studies are disturbing in ANY way they are presented.

A graphic novel on loneliness that covers a wide range of topics and areas. As someone who is roughly the same age as the author much of what she wrote of the early internet and identity was especially compelling. This is a more "literary" type comic that will appeal to those who enjoy reading and rereading the text then taking a break to ruminate on each page. There isn't a plot or story only a connected series of topics and observations with a through line of the author's life. I predict this book will inevitably get great reviews from publications though it has less mainstream appeal.

Using ham radio, television laugh tracks, and pop culture as examples, Seek You attempts to explain how loneliness became so widespread in our society.

“The laugh track of each show was a lesson in what I was supposed to feel and know, and a promise for something I could someday be. The laugh track functions by coaxing a solitary viewer into a sense that she isn’t, in fact, alone.“

Loneliness impacts people deeply. The lonely are even at a higher risk of dying. Science has made only tiny steps toward understanding the biology underlying loneliness. What makes some people more suceptible? While others, like me, like solitude at least sometimes?

Seek You has many more questions than scientific answers. The questions are important and need to be asked. However, the book has a distinct and obvious bias against right wing issues, especially guns, and media like Fox. This will turn off many readers. There is no scientific evidence to support the opinions presented. And, let’s face it, the whole book has a depressing feeling. For this reason, 3 stars.

Thanks to Pantheon Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This timely and relevant graphic novel explores one of America's greatest epidemics: loneliness. Through her beautiful prose and emotional illustrations, Kristen Radtke explores the depths of loneliness and how it permeates our inner, most private selves to the relationships and connections we as humans strive to create. It's haunting and stark, but beautiful in it's honesty.