The Seven Storey Mountain

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Summary: Ah, Merton.
Review: If I am of any religion, I am probably a confused blend of Taoist and Hindu -- thus has Fate conspired to mix me up. However, I don't find that there is anything in Merton's SSM which does not speak across incredible gulfs of difference. Any serious religion is the search for transcendent truth, and Merton's quest is a compelling, beautiful account of an individual's journey along that path. I don't care much at all whether or not he is a great philosopher; I would be willing to pay far more attention to someone who seeks to experience and to know of God directly than I would to listen to the too-many theoretical-philosophical works of a remote and mediocre nature, whose authors cerebrate what they can not feel. There are few great philosophers who can touch us, and Merton may not be one of them. But when I read what he has left for the world, I can't help but feel that I have felt the profound influence of a great MAN, and there aren't too many of those around these days, either.

Rating:
Summary: Fair at best
Review: Decent potential for this book, but it really began to drag after awhile. I expected more in depth passages detailing his ultiamte decision and eventual life in the monastary. The book dwells too long on his "sinful" lifestyle and not enough on the moments that drew him to Gesthemani.

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Summary: Second Time Around
Review: I am currently reading this book forthe second time. I searched far and wide and finally found it at theHarvard University bookstore in 1993. It was, and still is, worth the effort. For anyone doubting why they are Catholic or the true depth of their faith, this is a must read. Merton speaks to the heart, soul, and mind as he tells the story of his journey to the Truth. Other great Merton books are "No Man is an Island" and "Thoughts in Solitude". Don't let the reader from San Francisco dissuade you. If you're looking for philosophy, as this person was, read Plato. If you wish to renew or strengthen your faith, read this book. END

Rating:
Summary: What a biased view
Review: It appears that though quite intelligent, Thomas Merton is greatly influenced by the church, and therefore, his philosophies are quite clouded. I give him two stars because he is intelligent, but fail to give him the other three because his story is less than brilliant--he is spews out what he believes he should. I tired of this book because it failed to stimulate me. Original thought is what I believe makes a philosopher great--and, as a result, that he is not.

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Summary: Review of Seven Storey Mountain
Review: A must read for any Catholic, or any non-Catholic for that matter. How fortunate that I was allowed to witness through this book the spritual journey of such a faith-filled individual. Thomas Merton is one of the extraordinary writers of this century. What a gift he has in revealing so much of himself through his writing, yet it spoke to me of my ownself and my own faith in God. I loved it!

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Summary: This book is the kind that changes your life and perception
Review: Remarkable, stirringly beautiful, often overflowing into religious ecstasy, the author fills the reader with admiration, respect, and perhaps even a little envy of that rare breed who are drawn to a life in quest of the root of their being. Many times during this book I felt longing creep quietly into the back of my mind, raising the questions that we so often evade - what is the true purpose of our life, and are these brave adventurers the people who alone have fulfilled our calling as human beings? Reading this book is a responsibility, a responsibility to listen to this voice and hear it out, a responsibility to be prepared to have our lives changed by this quiet urging we all hear, but often refuse to listen to. Do not expect to read 'The Seven Storey Mountain' and walk away the same person. You won't.

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Summary: The spiritual journey of a Renaissance man
Review: The Seven Storey Mountain takes the reader on the spiritual journey of Thomas Merton - poet, scholar, world traveler - as he makes his way to God. Merton is a true Renaissance man of the modern world, who has experienced what the secular world has to offer - and, finally chooses the solitude and silence of a Trappist monastery. This is to be his vehicle for coming closer to God. That he chooses to share his journey with the reader is like opening the doors of a house of great riches for all to experience. Merton willingly gives the reader a glimpse into his soul and the result is unforgettable. Each reader will take something different from these riches - depending on where he is at on his own journey.

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Summary: A Long and Difficult Read
Review: It has taken me six months to get half way through this book. I am sure it will provide wonderful spiritual insight by the end, but it is really slow reading.

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Summary: The Common Man & Contemplative Life
Review: What a wonderful autobiography! Merton is someone that most everyone can identify with. In Seven Storey Mountain, Merton lovingly expresses his desire to be in the closest communion possible with God. Read as Merton struggles with his feelings of inadequacy and his quest to determine his true vocation. A wonderful read that can give us all pause to think.

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Summary: a wry blessing..
Review: Thomas Merton's early years gave no clue as to the vast richness of spirit and intellect he would develop through out his life and share through his writings. He was the son of an itinerant painter, had an upbringing with little or no religious character, was a nondescript student, a rabble rouser.. not even a Catholic.. who at a point in his early manhood left the fast life of New York and knocked on the doors of a Kentucky monastary, to give over his life to austere celibacy and contemplation.. and profound internal enrichment. Seven Story Mountain has been compared to the Confessions of Augustine, but these books are of different timber. Merton's is a story told at a personal level, of a spiritual journey in a modern context. It does not try to compete with Augustine's intense intellectual and theological reasoning, preferring to dwell on the peace and joy of religious life, and more generally the meaning and responsibilities of all lives. You can't read this book without being charmed and blessed by the proximity to this rare bit of humanity and devotion in our very secular and material age.