In this episode, we go face-to-face with solitude (or as Peter calls it—channeling the crazed Basel-based philologist—the abyss). We talk about Michael Harris’ book, Solitude, about solitude as an ecological resource, the challenges of solitude, and the vast library of writings on solitude and our inability, regardless, to find solitude. Of course, we also look into the social expectations around solitude and its opposite, and the difference between loneliness and solitude.

A smattering of stuff you might want to look at:

Michael Harris, Solitude: In pursuit of a singular life in a crowded world

Emma Jackson, “Alone and together with myself: how do we experience solitude?” Existential Analysis, July 2016.

Brent Crane, “The virtues of isolation,” The Atlantic (March 30, 2017)