Needless to say, the Soloist has absolutely no friends, and is hated by everyone in the company. If this sounds like your boss, you can see why Solocrafting works. On the other hand, if this also sounds like the homeless guy living in an empty refrigerator box under a freeway overpass, you can see why there are some risks involved. My advice is it's perfectly fine to hate everyone, but at the same time, make sure that everyone loves you. That way, if you end up standing before the firing squad, someone might lend you a blindfold.
Perhaps my favorite part of "I Hate People" comes at the end of the book, when the authors suggest that a Soloist's success at work depends on having his own "Personal Cave." This private space is a "creative cocoon that allows you to do all those things best done without interruption," like playing Doom or napping!
The authors do not limit the location of your Personal Cave to your assigned cubical, but suggest that when the negative energy of group space starts to get the best of you, take the time to "dig yourself in" at the nearest Starbucks, or the local library. There is much to be said for getting out of the box if you want to produce out-of-the-box thinking, but the authors do neglect to take into consideration the negative effect of being AWOL for hours of time, despite the beautiful solo symphonies emanating from your personal Fortress of Solitude.
That's why I say, "Don't leave the workplace." Instead, go ahead and turn your Personal Cube into your Personal Cave. Cover your carpet with peat moss. Block out distracting sunlight on your floor by painting all the windows black. Cover your cube with a tree branches and light a fire in the file cabinet. It might get a little cold, dark and smoky in there, but you'll love it, and so will the earthworms.
