Loneliness, Solitude and the PhD with David Vincent

This week’s guest is David Vincent, Emeritus Professor of Social History at the Open University where he was Pro Vice Chancellor from 2003 to 2010. He obtained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics from the University of York, and a PhD from Cambridge University.  In this episode we talk about David’s experience of the PhD and his decision to fire his original PhD supervisor!

 

David has published widely on modern British and European history, including studies of working-class autobiography, literacy and popular culture and we focus on his recent book on solitude as a springboard to consider the experience of loneliness on the PhD journey.  

 

We think about how the transitional nature of the PhD experience can be a trigger for loneliness and the difference between loneliness and solitude.

 

We also discuss the challenges that some people face in finding their own space to study.

 

David talks about the importance of “keeping in motion” - which might literally mean taking your PhD for a walk!

You can find David’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Solitude-David-Vincent/dp/1509536590/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OVU9458273JX&keywords=a+history+of+solitude&qid=1643032308&sprefix=a+history+of+solitude%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-1

 

And here is the link to The Cinnamon Trust whose work we discuss in the episode: https://cinnamon.org.uk/

You can sign up here to ‘Note from the Life Raft’ - a useful weekly email to support your PhD journey:  https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft