In the book I argue that the spike of living alone has played a large and overlooked role in revitalizing cities, because singletons are so likely to go out in the world, to be in cafes and restaurants, to volunteer in civic organizations, to attend lectures and concerts, to spend time in parks and other public spaces. They have played a big role in reanimating central cities. People who study cities tend to believe that the way to revitalize cities is to create a better supply of public spaces and amenities.

Super-interesting interview. Klinenberg has a book called Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone.  This short interview is full of fascinating tidbits.