Any fans of Thomas Merton? Recommended books for beginner?

mjc

Dec 11, 2015 at 6:26am

I was struck by Pope Francis' comments about Thomas Merton. What book of his would be a good place to start? Useful bio or criticism?

Vivaldo

Dec 11, 2015 at 8:09am

Many folks have recommended "The Seven Storey Mountain."

wedjet

Dec 11, 2015 at 8:26am

As Vivaldo mentions, The Seven Story Mountain, which is his autobiography, is a good place to start.

Thanks, guys. Seven Storey Mountain is the one I had heard of. I was hesitating on it since Merton seems not to have thought so well of it later. However, with your kind recommendations, plus a short piece about it by James Martin (which I will tuck into the actual (gift) book), I'll go for it. Hope it eases/opens the heart of the recipient.

Happy days & holidays to you!

crankythecrane

Dec 12, 2015 at 7:29am

I prefer Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander - very compelling,from the period in which he was thinking critically about his calling as the result of inter-religious dialogue and his engagement cross-culturally - but you really can't go wrong. He was such an important voice.

mtierney

Jul 30, 2020 at 4:21pm

wedjet said:
As Vivaldo mentions, The Seven Story Mountain, which is his autobiography, is a good place to start.

^^^^^

galileo

Jul 30, 2020 at 5:40pm Edited

At John Lewis’funeral today Bill Clinton mentioned this:In1965 when Lewis walked over the Pettus Bridge he had a knapsack with Merton’s book The Seven Storey Mountain on his back

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