Solitude

This was quite refreshing after having read probably way too many popular science books from this millenium. Storr wrote this in 1988. So there is no handholding of the reader, no attempts to be overly clever or funny, no constant referencing of modern culture or modern diseases like procrastination or internet-obsession. Just thorough research, thematic quotes, insights. Leaving enough breath to form your own opinion.

But his message is clear. Somehow we've been entrained that human happiness can only be achieved through interpersonal relationships (we might as well blame Freud for this as well). But Storr shows that a deeper encounter with one's self, and following one's interests can also lead to deep and meaningful happiness. That that ‘oceanic feeling' not only emerges from being/falling in love, but also from making sense of the world, the rush of scientific discovery, of creative expression.

Storr discusses the need for solitude (grief, sleep, contemplation), the capacity for solitude (stability in bridging one's inner and outer world), the effects of enforced solitude and the creative/productive effects of focusing on one's imagination. How our temperament informs our need and capacity for solitude: how some of us are drawn towards Abstraction (beauty in order, fear/independence of nature) and others towards Empathy (beauty in the organic, trust/absorption in nature). In similar fashion how we are either patterners or dramatists (H. Gardner).

The first half definitely had some eye-openers for me, while the second half probably had a few too many biographic details of famous artists, philosophers, scientists. All in all this was great, no wonder the book still gets this much praise.