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At the Center of All Beauty

Solitude and the Creative Life
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
At the Center of All Beauty by Fenton Johnson delves into the lives of solitary individuals who have channelled their solitude into creativity and innovation. Drawing on both historical figures and his personal experiences, Johnson explores how choosing to live alone can lead to profound self-discovery and fulfilment. This reflective memoir questions societal norms and celebrates the beauty of leading a singular life.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by the lives of solitaries and the beauty they find in solitude. Fenton Johnson explores the connections of solitude with creativity and the lives of famous individuals who thrived on their own. It's perfect for readers interested in personal reflection and the historical and cultural aspects of living alone.

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At the Center of All Beauty

β€œA treasure that I didn’t know I was looking for.” β€”Rabih Alameddine, author of The Angel of History

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Fenton Johnson's lyrical prose and searching sensibility explore what it means to choose solitude and to celebrate the notion that solitude is a legitimate and dignified calling. He delves into the lives and works of nearly a dozen iconic solitaries he considers his kindred spirits, from Thoreau at Walden Pond and Emily Dickinson in Amherst, to the fiercely self-protective Zora Neale Hurston.

The bright wakes these figures have left behind illuminate Fenton Johnson's journey from his childhood in rural Kentucky to his solitary travels in America, France, and India. Woven into his musings about better-known solitaries are stories of friends and family he has lost and found along the way.

At the Center of All Beauty is a profound reflection on the strengths of choosing a solitary path and the rich inner life it can foster.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

At the Center of All Beauty by Fenton Johnson has received praise for its insightful exploration of solitude as a powerful and creative state, distinct from loneliness. Reviewers describe Johnson's prose as lyrical, accessible, and tender, offering a philosophical yet familiar approach to understanding aloneness. The book is noted for blending memoir, literary critique, and personal reflection, and it is celebrated for encouraging readers to embrace solitude as a fertile ground for spiritual and creative growth. Overall, it is recognised as a beautifully written work that offers a new perspective on self and community.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780393541441

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 January 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 142.0mm

Height: 211.0mm

Weight: 236g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Fenton Johnson is an award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction. He teaches at Spalding University, contributes to Harper’s magazine, and has been featured on Fresh Air with Terry Gross. He lives in San Francisco, California, and Tucson, Arizona.

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