A Book of Days

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

National Book Award-winning author and legendary artist Patti Smith presents A Book of Days, a profound and uniquely poetic visual journey through a year in her life. This captivating collection, inspired by her highly popular Instagram account, encapsulates Smith's singular aesthetic through more than 365 intimate and evocative images. Each photograph is a testament to her passions, devotions, and the moments that shape her daily existence.

In 2018, Smith posted her first Instagram photo, a simple image of her hand with the greeting “Hello Everybody!”, marking the beginning of an unexpected artistic venture. Using her cherished Land Camera 250 and phone, she began sharing glimpses of her world: portraits of her children, snapshots of her radiator, boots, and her Abyssinian cat, Cairo. These personal vignettes resonated deeply with her audience, offering a rare window into her life.

Followers felt a profound connection to Smith's narrative, which weaves together ordinary moments with extraordinary significance. Images of her daily coffee, the books she reads, and visits to the graves of literary and artistic icons such as William Blake, Dylan Thomas, Sylvia Plath, Simone Weil, and Albert Camus, create a rich tapestry of her existence. Through this medium, a coherent and compelling story of a life passionately devoted to art began to unfold, captivating more than a million followers.

Original to this book are vintage photographs that hold special meaning for Smith, including anniversary pearls, a mother’s keychain, and her late husband’s Mosrite guitar. Additionally, the book features never-before-seen photos from Smith’s life, both on and off the road, capturing the essence of train stations, obscure cafés, and the ever-present notebook that accompanies her journeys.

With its 365 photographs that take you through a single year, A Book of Days offers a new and intimate way to experience the expansive mind of Patti Smith. The daily notations reflect a wide range of emotions—hopeful, elegiac, playful—and are complemented by an introduction from Smith herself, in which she explores her documentary process and the inspiration behind this project.

A Book of Days is not just a visual diary but an inspirational map of an artist’s life, providing solace and insight in deeply uncertain times. It stands as a timeless offering, a testament to a year in the life of one of the most dynamic and visionary poets, writers, and performers of our time.