In February 2001, Bob Kull traveled to a remote island in the Patagonia wilderness with enough supplies to live alone for a year. He sought to explore the effects of deep solitude on the body and mind, and to find answers to the spiritual questions that had plagued him his entire life. With only a cat and his thoughts as companions, he wrestled with inner storms while the wild forces of nature raged around him. The physical challenges were immense, but the struggles of mind and spirit pushed him to the limits of human endurance.

Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes contains the diary of Kull’s tumultuous year. Throughout the book, he also includes reflective “interludes” between his journal entries to add perspective and to allow the reader to step back from the immediate intensity of his solitude experience. But the heart of his story beats within the hours, days, and months of his journal.

When asked if he recommends deep wilderness solitude to others, Kull says, “I do not. It was painful, difficult, and can be dangerous. A person needs to be called to it from within, and if someone requires external encouragement, he or she is not ready. But I do think that many of us benefit from stepping out of our hectic daily activities to spend time alone.”