This book laden with deep profundity, I don't agree with every idea but Merton definitely sat with his concepts "in the light". Deep thinkers and brooders will love this book. ( )

Good T Merton, also read "the monastic way" by him, also good. ( )

from back cover: ". . . Thomas Merton, one of the leading spiritual writers of our time, presents his personal reflections on certain fundamental aspects of spiritual life. . . . [he] shares his thoughts on such subjects as love, hope, sincerity, conscience, prayer, vocation, and solitude. . . . These sixteen meditations are written for modern man who, living in the turmoil of this challenging century, seeks to attain that peace and inner calm which all men desire."

CONTENTS:
1. Love can be kept only by being given away
2. Sentences on hope
3. Conscience, freedom, and prayer
4. Pure intention
5. The word of the Cross
6. Asceticism and sacrifice
7. Being and doing
8. Vocation
9. The measure of charity
10. Sincerity
11. Mercy
12. Recollection
13. "My soul remembered God"
14. The wind blows where it pleases
15. The inward solitude
16. Silence

As a person, I find Thomas Merton really interesting. About a year ago I read a 4-part biography about some key Catholic writers of the 20th century. Besides Merton, the biography also featured Flannery O'Connor, Dorothy Day, and Walker Percy and I found each of these individuals to be extremely interesting people, especially in their interpretation of personal faith into their writing craft and their lifestyles. After reading No Man is an Island, I have to say that I enjoy reading about Merton much more than I actually enjoy his writings.

I can appreciate the way Merton talks about fairly basic tenets of Christianity, but manages to update them for the 20th century or just provide his thoughtful twist on the subject. However, the essays seem to assume that the reader is already a Christian with an understanding of broad concepts such as "faith", "love", "spiritual solitude", etc. And I guess that's fine if he just intended to reach other people of faith. As someone who has some understanding of these concepts, I could generally follow along, but found aspects of the essays vague and admit to skipping over large portions. ( )

I read this with the Episcopal Church at Yale prayer group and was impressed by Merton's ability to answer
objections which were occurring to me as I read. ( )