Nikki Stout writesPatti Smith’s “A Book of Days” as 366 Testaments to Gratitude

Authored in tandem by Bradley Morgan and Nikki Stout

On December 30th, Patti Smith celebrates 76 years of a journey that has seen joy, grief, discovery, love, and prayer. Using words, music, and art, Patti has sought ways to revere Mother Nature for her gifts, to relish in her love, and to respect her for her limits. Patti’s awareness comes from a curiosity to explore her relationship with the world around her, which becomes an energy driving her music, poetry, and a now-published collection of Polaroids created with her Land camera.

We see this relationship unfold over the course of a year in Patti’s latest work, A Book of Days, a collection of 366 photographs elegantly documenting a life lived artistically. Photos of old friends, curiosities, feelings, and memories illustrate the way Patti moves through the world, curious and distant at times, always at the ready to create, seek inspiration, or respect a stillness that answers a deeper question, or invites you to dive further. In the introduction, Patti shares that the first photo on her Instagram account was a hand, writing that it is a symbol that is a, “Direct correspondence between imagination and execution," with the capacity to heal and to hurt.

Those hands were raised to welcome, celebrate, and click through presentation slides when Patti toured for A Book of Days at the Music Box Theatre as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival on November 20.  She shared stories and answered questions submitted by the audience as she clicked from slide to slide, highlighting photos from her latest book, and inviting us into her world of wisdom and musings, occasionally turning to a musical moment joined by her son Jackson on guitar. These were moments that captured a unique connection to the world, much like the photos in A Book of Days.

During the event, Patti expressed immense gratitude for the life she has said, stating that gratitude was the theme for the book and the night with the audience. The moments that make up a life of gratitude are not always pleasant, but A Book of Days proves that Patti has found a new way to navigate culture at her own pace and become the artist she is through this provident lens. 

To celebrate Patti’s birthday and the gratitude we have for her, here are some of our favorite moments and stories from Patti’s book and event:

January 8: A glimpse into Patti’s environment and how she arranges objects of admiration—objects reflecting the gratitude for those early influences that stay with you. (BM)

March 8: Patti has embraced Instagram and uses it as a medium for expression, often taking moments to honor and respect the ways in which others have benefited others through their own means of expression. Patti discussed on stage her fascination with geometry, and here praising the accomplishments of a brilliant mathematician for International Women's Day. She elevates Maryam with gratitude for what her accomplishments meant for the world. (BM)

April 22: Earth Day. Patti gifts her readers with a poem entitled Supplication to Nature, stressing reverence for its gifts and power. Three of the four images on this page include her hands. (NS)

May 19: An assortment of objects captioned, “Each day I remind myself how fortunate I am to be the master of my own ship, with the sustenance to prevail.” A most noble ethos, and a touching moment of relativity for how I feel I am coming into myself. (NS)

September 1: This photograph of Patti with Robert Mapplethorpe appears on the cover of some editions of Just Kids, a beautifully documented slice of Patti’s life that explores the gratitude for joyous young love and respect for another person. That kind of friendship is a rare treasure and a significant part of the roadmap through future relationships. (BM)

October 15: Commemorating the closure of NYC’s beloved CBGB, Patti discusses her band being the final performers on this hallowed ground. Rebirth as symbolized by the lilies in the photograph eases my longing for never having visited the club.  (NS)

November 15: A celebration for Cairo the Abyssinian’s 21st birthday. As Cairo and my mother share a birthday, each year since Patti began her Instagram, I have shared a message celebrating Cairo with mention of my own senior cat, Cora, who has carved out a soft spot for these wonderful creatures in the hearts of my family. (NS)

December 21: I have always had a deep reverence for winter, probably because I grew up around a lot of snow. Snow is very cleansing to me, and winter traditionally carries much meaning as a time for new beginnings. During the winter solstice, the cosmic representation of the delicate balancing act between life and death, we reap the harvest of what we have sown throughout the year.  The sun begins its return, ushering in a sense of wonder as the light shines on the change of a new year, melting away the snow with life beginning anew. I received great personal news on the winter solstice, giving me perspective that has me holding onto what brings me joy, what I have gratitude for, what shines a light on me. Patti honors Zappa on this day, born on the winter solstice, in a tribute to an artist who very much understood the gratitude that comes from reaping what you sow. (BM)

Authors' Note: All images courtesy of Patti Smith and Random House. A Book of Days is available now through Random House.