“Poet punk laureate” Patti Smith, released her newest book, A Book of Days, on November 15^th. The new book includes over 365 photos taken by the author herself, with small captions attached to each image. The pictures give readers a heartwarming insight into Smith’s daily life, showing her coffee cups, current reads, icons, prized talismans, and the small, yet beautiful, details of her travel around the world. Her artist’s heart is reflected entirely in her work. Her words are brilliantly poetic, much like all her other writing.

The singer-songwriter paid a visit to the Miami Book Fair, where she spoke in-depth about some of the photos included in the book. Smith and life-long bandmate, Lenny Kaye, sang three songs, with a powerful performance of her song, “People Have the Power.”

While I felt this book was a light read, Patti Smith never ceases to amaze me. Her way of thinking is incredibly unique, and she has a vivid appreciation for even the most trivial aspects of her life. Even so, I felt like this book would not be the best introduction to Smith’s work. While still amazing, the captions limit her writing to two to three sentences per picture. Her memoirs, Just Kids – my personal favorite – and M-Train, are a better way to dive into her world.