I'm fairly certain that the author is English, as the grammar and spellings are English. I find this annoying. The pictures supplied within for visual reflect are nice, and in some regards relate to the words / thoughts but because the pictures are not reproduced well they don't add as much as I think they're supposed to. They're black & whites (I'm not sure if they were originally or that's just how they were reproduced). Black & whites are supposed to have blacks and whites in the photos -- all of these are just muted gray with no blacks and no whites, so they're poorly reproduced.

As for the substance of the book -- well I truly have an interest in knowing more about Thomas Merton. Rather that is specifically because of this book or because while reading this book I heard the author of "My Life with the Saints" mention Thomas Merton, I don't know.

What I don't like about this book in regards to substance is everything is Christian based ... Merton was a Christian. The things he did and this retreat is for Christians. I don't consider myself a Christian. I consider myself a Catholic and Thomas Merton was a Catholic priest/monk (not sure which), so I don't like all this mention of Christian ... In my opinion, it's like the book was written strictly to make some money off this guys writings -- hit both markets ... talk about a Catholic man without talking about what it means to be Catholic.

I'm half way through and should finish it this week, I hope. ( )

De Waal, author of several works of Benedictine spirituality, shares with the reader her own seven-day retreat using the writings and photographs of Thomas Merton as guide. De Waal has chosen judiciously from Merton and offers the enhancement of her own reflection on themes of God's call, human response, the true self, encounter with Christ, the demands of love (or finding God in other people), the ordinary (or finding God in nature), and integrating the retreat. Merton's themes of solitude and responsible concern for others come through clearly, as do De Waal's call for lived spirituality. This book makes an excellent guide for retreat or personal reflection. ( )