Customer Reviews

Solitude: A Return to the Self

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QUESTION: what do these great achievers have in common: Isaac Newton (physicist), Fredrick Nietzche (philosopher), Rene Descarte (philosopher), Immanuel Kant (philosopher), and Blaise Pascal (mathematician and physicist)? ANSWER: they all made immense contributions to society. None of them married and most of them lived alone. All of them craved solitude.

This is the kind of interesting information you'll find in this book by noted psychiatrist Anthony Storr.

Storr peppers his book with useful observations and insights. Some of my favorites include the following:

1) "Many human beings make so with relationships which cannot be regarded as especially close, and not all such human beings are ill or particularly unhappy."
2) "With few exceptions, psychotherapists have omitted to consider the fact that the capacity to be alone is also an aspect of emotional maturity."
3) "Those who are not too dependent upon, or too closely involved with, others, find it easier to ignore convention [and thus do not fear being original]."
4) "If we do not look at marriage as the principal source of happiness, fewer marriages world end in tears."
5) "Some of the most profound and healing psychological experiences individuals encounter take place internally, and are distantly related, if at all, to interaction with other human beings."
6) "The capacity to be alone is a sign of inner security rather than an expression of a withdrawn state."

Storr investigates the uses of solitude for ordinary people. For example, "the capacity to be alone is a valuable resource when changes of mental attitude are required."

This book is at its zenith when it explores the connection between solitude and creative personality. (In fact, I felt at times this connection was too thoroughly explored.) Here, Storr gives mini-biographies of scientific and artistic geniuses, explaining how solitude may have been essential to their creative genius. The principles derived from studying these solitary achievers are used to aid ordinary people. For example, a useful principle is that "creative attitude and the ability to have peak experiences depends upon being free of other people; free, especially, from neurotic involvements, from 'historical hangovers from childhood,' but also free of obligations, duties, fears, and hopes."

Finally, throughout this book, Storr uses the insights of other psychlogists (for example, Carl Jung) to develop principles. Also, various themes run throughout this book. For example, "Man's adaption to the world is the result, paradoxically, of not being perfectly adjusted to the environment, of not being in a state of psychological equillibrium."

In conclusion, this is a book that discusses a neglected human need: solitude or the need to be alone. In order to understand this need, this book is essential reading!!

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I have always been a solitary man, someone who likes to be alone, reading and writing, and who prefers solitude becasue I thrive in it. I've never had a ton of friends, and still don't, though I always had a few close ones. Some people say there is "something wrong" with me and that I need to get out more and be more social. Thing is, I don't find that satisfying. I find more satisfaction in solitude, reading and thinking and writing, than I do in "working the crowd." So prevalent were the voices of such critics that I often wondered if they were right; I also began to hate myself.

Mr. Storr's book, I'm glad to say, changed all that. Contrary to popular opinion, Mr. Storr says it's a sign of health if one can be alone for long periods of time; he also suggests that a person is deficient if he can't handle being alone and instead has to fill his life with friends, parties, lots of distractions, and the like.

The fact is, many great writers, philosophers, poets, musicians and artists were very solitary people with few or almost no deep, intimate personal relationships. The humanities would not be what they are had it not been for those solitary men and women who were alone a lot, people who were able to search deep into themselves and listen to what their souls were saying--in solitude. Large sections of Amazon.com, the college library, the fine art museum and symphony hall would not exist had it not been for the men and women in this book.

I can't recommend Mr. Storr's book enough. If you enjoy a solitary life and doubt that you are "normal" or "sane," or if people are always on your back about spending time alone or about how you don't have a lot of intimate friendships, you have nothing to fear: it's perfectly normal to want to be alone, especially if your gifts and talents demand that you be alone.

All in all, Solitude: A Return to the Self was a major discovery and I'm looking forward to reading it again. This book was a rare find. I can't remember a book having this much of an impact on me. If only Mr. Storr were alive so I could thank him for this fine book. Very highly recommended.

I am often called upon to defend my decision my decision to lead a relatively non-social life. Good manners prevent me from answering that I generally have more fun by myself than at parties or dinner out or weekend trips to the country. How relieved was I then to find this book!

Anthony Storr's Solitude renders eloquent arguments that a craving for solitude is not a pathology, but instead, for some people, is lifestyle. He pulls examples from history, limning a clear pattern from the lives of Kafka, Trollope, Wittgenstein, Henry James and others. Those interested in literary lives will certainly find new material in these profiles.

It is true that the book explores the role of solitude in the lives of creative people: "It may be the case that, the less a person feels himself to be embedded in a family and social nexus, the more he feels that he has to make his mark in individual fashion." Any artist, undiscovered or famous, will find solace in these pages. However, anyone who finds herself quite happily content living life solo will also find good company in these pages.

Ultimately, Storr concludes that the creative geniuses who lived lives of solitude have pushed up the bar of achievement for humankind. Most of us would agree after contemplating a world unenriched by Newton, Beethoven and Beatrix Potter (author of Peter Rabbit!).

Storr's book also offers a condensed and imminently readable history of psychoanalysis, with Freud and Jung as the main characters. Storr, to my mind, shows the initial insights into motivation that Freud had, insights that can still hold water today. Storr is also quick to point out how that history of psychoanalysis lead to today's misguided (and frankly, offensive) maxim that if one is not in a relationship, one needs to be in therapy to deal with the issues about why not. No thanks, I'd rather be by myself.

The subtitle of "Solitude", by noted British Psychiatrist, Anthony Strorr is "A Return To The Self." It is about knowing the self - you. There are many great books about solitude - Merton, Thoreau, Emerson and Grumbach, but this well written book is not about just solitude; it is about the value of solitude. The most interesting thing is that Storr first sets the stage by discussing the importance of relationships.

He starts with: "Love and friendship are of course, an important part of what makes life worthwhile." And then: "If we did not look to marriage as the principle source of happiness, fewer marriages would end in tears." and "If it is accepted that no relationship is ever ideal, it makes it easier to understand why men need other sources of fulfillment."

And finally, "Two opposite drives operate throughout life: the drive for companionship, love, and everything else which brings us closer to our fellow men; and the drive toward being independent, separate, and autonomous."

He implies that isolation is a psychological prison out side of society. Cults that isolate people are outside of the accepted mythology of humanity. If you cannot share your insights with your relationship or your community then you have experienced something other than solitude.

Storr reminds us that solitude is at it's best when it is an individual excursion from a fulfilling relationship. Storr explains the need for the paradox of the comfort of companionship versus the solace of solitude.

Solitude is not about an escape from life, but a re-entry into life with new insights from your time of solitude.

Please be patient with his summary of psychological history, because it is the explanation for the need of solitude in our lives.

This is the perfect book to read if you are starting your journey for the meaning of life. Your personal enlightenment, wherever it comes from, only has value when you share it with the place you came from. To embark upon Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey" start with this book.
Bon Voyage.

I agree with Storr that contemporary Western culture can make peace and solitude difficult to attain. In this book he examines why this occurs. Storr's 'Solitude' makes a philosphical and psychological examination of the therapeutic value of isolation, its effect on imagination, creativity, self actualization and general well being. It also highlights implications of extreme forms and discusses the benefit in times of grief, loss and suffering.

Storr illustrates his ideas with some rich examples and quotes from famed artists, writers, composers and other creative people regarding how their creative processes, works, temperaments and lives have been influenced by their solitude or by their lack thereof.

While highlighting the creative utility and positive contributions of solitude on the 'self', this book in no way devalues the need for relationships. I like the idea that solitude is rather, part of a process which by making us more authentic, makes our relationships with others and our world more genuine and satisfying.

The most interesting feature of this book is that, is spite of the "new-agey" sounding title, it is a considered and intelligent discussion about human nature and solitude. Storr is a true philosopher in this sense. He not only discusses the obvious, different lifestyles based on varying opinions about how much of our time and ourselves we devote to other people; he also provides an enlightening discussion about the not-so-obvious and yet fundamental issues - to what extent is it necessary for people to interact with other beings? What is the impact of total solitude (sensory deprivation, long-term imprisonment) and what does this imply about the choices available to us.

It is an accessible, well written book and surprisingly well researched.

I have reread this book over and over again in the last 8 years and wish I had discovered it when it was first recommended to me almost 20 years ago. Every time I reread it I find new ideas which speak to me and new passages to underline. Dr Storr writes wonderful prose, never wastes a word and is marvellously readable and incisive. An extraordinarily wise book that I hope will still be in print a century or more from now.

This book explains why some are singletons and that they can lead happy fulfilled and creative lives.

From the point of view of understanding literary history and artistic creativity as well as as a psychological text this book is endlessly interesting.

Frankly, I've always wondered why most humans choose to run around in herds when they could have much more fun (and learn more) listening to their own thoughts. This book, written with great intelligence and insight, proves just how powerful (and un-neurotic) solitude can be. You can't create in the midst of the madding crowd, and a creative, original life is what we all should strive for, whether we're socially inclined or solitudinous.

It's easy, and safe, to jump on the social bandwagon. Storr talks convincingly about the value of the other side of the coin, about those who get away and listen to their own music, and are not afraid to play it out loud.

Yes, Storr argues that solitude is not the indicator of insanity (impending or otherwise) that American culture often sees it to be. Yes, he includes often touching micro-biographies of some of the greatest artists of the near and distant past (and never without stooping so low as to 'show off' all he's read or listened to)---the biographical selections are so well-tuned to his thesis that it's obvious he's not grasping at straws, but drawing from a wealth of experience in the humanities....

But the best thing about this book is the author's way of making argument and biography read like a prose poem. As important as his argument is, Storr's style and the pace of his presentation are gentle and very unpretentious. Instead of merely selling a ramshackle semblance of new age guru-spiel, as many of his peers have attempted to do, Storr pursues the wonder of our species, inviting us to go with him.

This is as much a pleasurable read as it is an informative one!

For those people who enjoy or need a lot of solitude and have often been told how weird or antisocial they are, this is an excellent exploration of how solitude and the need for it are very positive things.

The book is well-written and engaging. I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in exploring their desire for solitude and learning how it enhances life and creativity.