One example is a Danish aristocrat who reveled in his daily hunting, socializing, and relaxing rituals. In contrast, Wallace Stevens, a prolific poet, and Jack London, a writer, followed disciplined routines to maintain their productivity. Stevens spent his days walking, reading, and working with little time for leisure, while London claimed to write for 20 hours a day, demonstrating a more extreme self-discipline.

Dillard asserts that a life filled with sensory experiences alone is not enough; it is a life of the spirit that requires less and brings more fulfillment. To illustrate, she contrasts the perception of a day spent reading as wasted, but a life spent reading as well-lived.

“Writing Life” is on my reading list. Support an independent bookseller.

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