The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth

May made Theresa of Avila's works (and presumably John of the Cross) more comprehensible to a modern reader than Miribai Starr's recent translations of My Life and The Interior Castle. John's "Dark Night" referring to the obscurity of God within us rather than depression or God seemingly ignoring us was encouraging as was the idea that prayer life is not a linear progression but goes up and down, loops back to be beginning and the stages often overlap. He also contrasts meditation, inward focus to the exclusion of everything else, with contemplation, opening one's awareness to encompass everything happening around which I found interesting and had never heard before.

Gerald May has written an excellent primer to St John of the Cross with a little Teresa of Avila thrown in for good measure. I recommend it to anybody looking to expand their insight into spirituality and specifically our inner growth into the Divine. My only critique is May's comments regarding addiction, which are both intriguing and disappointing. It is like he get the outward veneer of recovery but not the deep monster of addiction, otherwise I highly recommend.

This book got me through the hard time of having my leg broken. It helped me make sense of a large period of time where I was greatly depressed as well, It didn't cure me of anything, but it helped me feel so not lonely.

Very good introduction/summary to John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila's famous writings.

I think its a really interesting book it has so many action and conflict but always the main character solve it.

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