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Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful book for all us aging boomers
Review: I first encountered Jon Katz through his mystery novels about a downsized Wall Street type turned suburban private investigator. I liked his stuff. Then, I discovered the Jon Katz who writes on internet and freedom issues for slashdot.org and the Freedom Forum. I like him even more.Then I read his latest book, Running to the Mountain. It's about aging and spirituality written around his purchase of a cabin in upstate New York and an attempt to write a book on Thomas Merton while there. Books on these topics are often more preachy than insightful. Running to the Mountain isn't preachy at all. In fact, it's hysterically funny in places. In between the laughs, it got me to think more than I have in years about parenting and other relationships, where I'm going with the last third of my career, and, of course, the last half of my life. It is by far the best book I've ever read on spirituality and personal growth and is a must for all us aging boomers.
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Summary: UNEXPECTED TREAT
Review: I first read A Dog Year (because I have a Border Collie too) and really enjoyed Jon Katz style....so I ordered Running to the Mountain not knowing what to expect. I was more than entertained, enlightened and even "introspected" (if that's a word). I just wish I had read it first, before A Dog Year, as I would have appreciated all the references and time spent at the cabin with the dogs. Can't wait to read his latest.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a good book about a man searching for life's meaning
Review: John Katz, the author of a number of books, seems to put forth his best effort in RUNNING TO THE MOUNTAIN. It is clear that Katz had experienced what many call the American dream. He had a good job, a good family, and many friends. Yet, he was frustrated and dissatisfied with life. He was an inward failure! Some ot this can be attributed to the fact that he had reached "middle age." He also admits that the spiritual side of life was missing. This seems to be where Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, comes in. Katz in the light of reading Merton decides to run to the mountain. Much of the book deals with the moving experience.Also, it is evident at Emma, the daughter, has a big impact upon his life. In chapter after chapter, he will write of Emma. He takes her on trips. He relieves her childhood. One wil find that Emma, in my opinion, has as much influence on Katz as Merton or the mountain.It is interesting how Katz explores the impact of silence, solitude,noise, and frustration on the life of a man searching for meaning in life. He, like Merton, sought silence, solitude but could not get away fro friends and other things. For example, Katz could not,even go to the store, without his cell phone. He always had to have his two dogs, Julius and Stanley, with him. Why?I find Katz search for life and especially for the spiritual side of life most interesting. He writes, "But as I turned fifty in the summer of 1997, even before I stood on that mountain, I already suspected that I needed to take another trip, even if I didn't know why." It seems clear that Katz was looking for and needed an encounter with the spiritual, but he resisted it. He read Merton, but feared what he said. When he created a visit and an interview with Merton, who died in 1968, it is clear that Katz tried to understand what his spiritual guide was trying to say to him. If you like adventure, you will like this book. If you like Merton, you will like this book. If you do not know Merton, this will be a good way to meet him. If you are searching, you will like this book. So, I recommend that you read it.Wayne BurnsPhenix City, Alabama
Rating:
Summary: Living a dream
Review: Running to the Mountain is your basic mid-life crisis story except that Jon Katz -- for all his protestations of financial woes -- managed to afford to do what the rest of us would love to do: buy a little cabin in the woods, fix 'er up, and live the country life, watching the sun set. Sounds wonderful to me and more power to Katz for managing it. The heart and soul of the book was lacking for me. It wasn't emotional enough. He outlined his concerns regarding his career, marriage and daughter, the changes in the lives of his friends, the lack of acceptance in our society for men who work at home while the wife does the nine-to-five dance, but he laid them out as simple facts. The emotional turmoil and confusion associated with mid-life re-evaluations (I'm in denial about having a "crisis") is not there. His relationships with the locals was interesting and his observations of Thomas Merton and his writings were excellent. For all of us who dream of escape, here's one for us! Just fill in the emotional blanks to suit yourself.
Rating:
Summary: meaningful and touching
Review: Some people seem to be missing the point of this book. Of course Katz isn't Henry David Thoreau, nor is he trying to be. Very few of us can be monks like Thomas Merton, and Katz is writing directly to us - how can we, normal people, who CAN'T isolate ourselves totally the way Mertom did, and who AREN'T necessarily especially religious, find meaning in our lives? This isn't a mid-life crises book; I'm 18 and i've rarely connected with a book this much. If you're looking for the new Walden, give up, because that will never happen; classics aren't re-written, and you'll never find "the new Hamlet." But for those of us who can't be a Henry David Throreau, but still want to live deeply and well, this is a book you should really consider. And all my ranting aside, the book also happens to be sweet, touching, funny and basically an entirely enjoyable experience.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting blend of writing style.
Review: Upon bying "Running to the Mountain" by Jon Katz, I was hoping it would be a story-wise book, meaning that it told a story, and not just about monks and faith. What I found was a very interesting blend of story-telling and citing from books by monks who Katz is interested in. Starting off the chapters, Katz describes about his house, his family, or the events he encountered that day. Then as the chapter goes on, he leads into thoughts about his faith, comments from books written by Merton the monk, and about his fear of getting older and having new responsilbities. I didn't mind reading about the faith at all, and I'm not a huge fan of just reading about spirtualty, and religion. That's what I go to church for. :) I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good read, something they can relate to in some sence, and just a good look into someone else's life. 5 stars for "Running to the Mountain" by Jon Katz.
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