The New Yorker for April 18 has a good read about an attempt to "go solo". The well know American writer Jonathan Franzen, after a major burn out from promoting his new book, had himself dropped off on the island that was the basis for Robinson Crusoe. It's more of course than about being alone, from his shopping at REI to trying to use a GPS while searching for a rare bird it's about the "attempt" and maybe not the the results.