Upon the release of a new book, we like to ask the author to share their thoughts on the how and why of their work. Joost Joossen, photographer and author of the mindful activity book One Photo a Day Keeps the Doctor Away, explored the calming, enlightening, and creative power of time spent alone for The Little Book of Solitude.
What is the book about, how did you come up with the idea for it and why is the subject matter important?
As a photographer, I am surrounded by people every day. That social aspect is one of the reasons why I have enjoyed my job so much for more than 20 years. But I also notice how good it feels to be completely alone sometimes. Losing myself in a book for an hour, going to the sauna by myself for a day, or running with music or a podcast in my ears. Just getting away from the hustle and bustle, taking time for myself. I believe that deep down we are all a bit extroverted as well as introverted. The older I get, the more consciously I seek out that balance – and the less guilty I feel when I skip a party just to be alone. Perhaps that is why I am so drawn to the theme of this book. The Little Book of Solitude is about the value of being alone – not as something to be avoided, but as a source of inspiration, strength and creativity. I wanted to collect stories of writers, artists, philosophers and thinkers who have sought silence and found something valuable in it. How did they become who they are? How did they create the works we know today? Again and again, I came to the same conclusion: behind all this creativity and clarity lies a period of retreat.
Time alone, short or long, during which they were able to focus entirely on one thing. I have always been fascinated by people who consciously spend time alone. Not to isolate themselves from the world, but rather to understand it better. At a time when we are constantly distracted and our attention is claimed by screens, notifications and expectations, it is more important than ever to take a step back from time to time -to see clearly again and really listen to yourself.
What misconceptions exist about being alone, and how does your book try to give a different perspective on them?
Many people associate being alone with loneliness, as if it is something to be avoided. But solitude and loneliness are not the same thing. Being alone can actually be something positive and powerful – a moment to recharge, reflect, create. In The Little Book of Solitude, I show that some of the most inspiring thinkers and artists found their greatest ideas in moments of solitude. The book helps you look at silence and time alone differently, not as emptiness, but as space.
Is the concept also applicable to people who do not have a large villa with a silence room or an outdoor retreat in nature?
Absolutely. Solitude does not have to be a luxury. You don't need a cabin in the mountains or a perfectly equipped meditation room to find it. It is in small moments: a walk without your phone, a few minutes alone at the kitchen table before the day begins, the conscious choice to do nothing for a while. In the book, you will read about people who found their time alone in a wide variety of places: Libby DeLana, who got up earlier every morning to walk ten kilometres and thus came out of her burnout step by step. The artist Maira Kalman, who during her walks through New York always finds her way to a museum – the perfect place to be alone, while still being surrounded by stories of artists through the ages. The philosopher Alain de Botton, who likes to sit on a train for hours staring out the window, daydreaming about life. Even someone with a busy life like Barack Obama makes time daily to write in his diary. For him, that time alone to write is a way to organise his thoughts and get clear on what he sees, what he considers important and what his deepest values are. It is not the place that matters, but the choice to step away from time to time and live that time consciously.
How and how often do you escape the hectic pace of everyday life yourself?
I have always needed time alone, but it is not something that comes naturally. The world pulls at you, there is always something to do, someone wanting something from you. That's why I try to consciously build it in. For me, that was in the morning. Going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. So I carved time out every morning, first 1 hour, and soon 2 hours, all to myself. I love it, when the whole world is still asleep and the house is still quiet, making coffee, reading a book, and... writing. That's how this book came to be, in those early hours. Photography also helps me. That's what my previous book, One Photo A Day Keeps The Doctor Away, was about. There are so many ways to go out with your camera and be completely alone for a while, surrounded by the world around you. You give yourself the gift of time to connect, to just be present without having to do anything. For me, those moments of focus, without distractions, are the essence of solitude.
Do you have any practical tips for people reading this who are experiencing a stressful time?
Besides the 55 stories in The Little Book of Solitude, we have also added ten top-ten lists of tips & tricks on how to embrace being alone more consciously and finely. Handy as a reminder for those moments when you momentarily forget how good it can feel to be alone. Find your place. Everyone has somewhere they can retreat to-your favourite chair by the window, a bench in the park, a quiet café where you can disappear for a moment anonymously.
If you don't have one yet, think about where you could go when you want to get away from the crowds for a while. And if you can: go there now. Step into a coffee shop where nobody knows you, find a spot in the library, or walk to that one park where you can just sit on a bench and look at the trees. Leave your phone in your pocket, take a deep breath, and enjoy the simple fact that you don't have to be anywhere for a while. If you are at home and want to escape for a while, create your own space. A corner with a book and a hot drink, a place at the kitchen table with the newspaper, a room where you can just be alone for a while. It doesn't have to be grand or complicated-it's about having a place where you give yourself permission to take a breath.
Who is this book for?
For anyone who longs for peace in a world that is always ‘on’. For people who sometimes feel overwhelmed by the constant flow of stimuli and obligations. For creatives seeking inspiration. For introverts who want to discover that their way of being is a strength. And actually also for extroverts-because they too can benefit from a moment alone. This book is not a manual, not an obligation, but an invitation to truly embrace being alone, in whatever way you can. To take time for yourself and simply do what you, and only you, feel like doing.
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