Coffee Table Books & Escapism: 6 Titles If You're Looking To Escape

Why IS Escapism Important?

“We humans have a challenge that other organisms don’t have. We are confronted with way more reality than any of us can stomach and we are afforded way more ways to escape it.” -Jeremy Sherman Ph.D., MPP of Psychology Today

Throughout history, humans have continually been overwhelmed with reality. This pressure is often more than our bodies and minds can handle. More than ever before, people are distracted by technology with the expectation of constantly staying plugged in. Our brains are in dire need of a screen vacation. 

However, busy work days can keep us from escaping the technology dominated world. With all the stressors in our current reality, the need for escapism is at an all time high.  

The Art of Escapism

Giving our minds permission to escape from our current reality can be as simple as daydreaming. Letting our thoughts wander can spark creativity, expand imagination and enhance our daily lives. 

Daydreaming is a natural human habit that we force our minds to avoid while our work agenda piles up, ultimately reprimanding our brains when we catch our focus slipping. Far from being a wasteful distraction, daydreaming is essential to human function, leading to self development, higher consciousness and creativity. 

“It's the spontaneous thoughts we have while [daydreaming] that make us feel vibrant, aware, and engaged.” says Josie Glausiusz of Psychology Today. 

Courtesy Viviane Sassen: Hot Mirror

The more we let our daydream thoughts creep in throughout the day, the more effective our indulgences in fantasy can be.  Harnessing the art of escapism can grow from having experiencing a simple daydream to actively using books and images at hand that increase our ability to step away from our reality and fall deep into our minds. For example, looking at profound visuals of abstract close-ups, imaginative landscapes and eye-catching portraits encourage escapism and nourish our creative brain.

Escapism & Creativity

Courtesy Daniel Merriam

Without escapism, our creativity is left abandoned with nothing to fuel it. Exposing our eyes to visuals, thoughts and ideas outside our familiar realm will let our creativity flourish. This exposure can add quality, depth and excitement to our personal lives as well as the things we create for ourselves and others. 

To create, you must first allow yourself to escape. 

Letting ourselves take a break from routine and fantasize using mediums such as photographs and art, can help defog our brains making room for creative thoughts to flow in.  In particular, visual artist, Viviane Sassen’s work depicts a surrealist style apparent through her dreamlike imagery of vibrant colors and illustrative collages, Similarly, fashion photographer Tim Walker’s surreal visual aesthetic celebrates a fantastical realm. Their otherworldly photo creations, wake up your imagination and fuel creativity.

Artists like Sassen and Walker allow viewers to practice the art of escaping and enter an fairytale universe, simply by studying an image.

“I know the world that I am painting is not a reality. It is a whim, an entertainment to provoke something in people, whether as escapism or relief. I think that is very valid.” -Tim Walker

ESCAPISM & TRAVEL 

Aside from etherial concepts, world travel is often the most sought after form of escapism. Visuals of far away fantasies and twinkling tides whisks away our minds to a dreamy destination. 

When the physical body cannot fulfill our travel desires, photographs inside books are the channels we can use to help satisfy our needs in escaping to a new place.

Photographers like Slim Aarons are famous for capturing a jet-set lifestyle of coastal oasis’s, luxurious hotels and sunbathers lounging at Italian villas. Aaron’s images effortlessly inspire travel while creating an immersive experience for his viewers to dive into.

Taking the time to submerge yourself in a scenic portrait from a book, rather than quickly scrolling through your timeline of friends’ latest vacation posts can help us form a deeper connection with the places we hope to physically travel to one day.

It’s easier to form a personal connection to the scene, as you close your eyes, imagine yourself there, and escape.

Escapism & Books

To guide your thoughts on a well-deserved getaway, close your laptop, lock your phone and open up a book full of inspiring images that enthrall you into a new world.

Books like Tim Walker: Shoot for the Moon, Viviane’s Sassen Hot Mirror and Poolside with Slim Aarons are filled with remarkable scenes, thought provoking paintings, and snapshots of romantic travel destinations meant to revive our lives.

Below are 6 coffee table books that we believe will jumpstart your creative side by exposing your mind to the wondrous side of life.