This first of seven volumes of Merton's journals consists of writing that predates his entrance into the Trappist monastery of Gethsemani. As the subtitle promises, it is the story of a vocation; and, as any complete story of a vocation must be, it is the story of the time in which the vocation was formed. Merton was already one of the most influential spiritual writers of the twentieth century when he died unexpectedly in 1968, and, in the more than twenty five years since, his influence has continued to grow. This collection is a fascinating personal glimpse into the intellectual and spiritual sources of that influence. Moments of brilliance are intertwined with ordinariness lifted to extraordinary heights by increasingly disciplined reflection. It is no coincidence that the time in which Merton's vocation was formed was also a pivotal time for the formation of modern history. Merton's spiritual development is thoroughly entangled with the development of his attitude toward war and peace, and his account of the development is an important glimpse into the interconnection of the "personal" with the "political." The book will be of particular interest not only to those who seek a greater understanding of Merton but also to those who seek a greater understanding of spiritual development and the spiritual dimensions of the political developments of this troubled century.