Customer Reviews

Thomas Merton: An Introduction

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Though this is a book about Merton, a word about its author, William H. Shannon, is in order before getting to the content. In addition to being a professor emeritus of religious studies, Shannon is the founding president of the International Thomas Merton Society, general editor of Merton's published letters, and author of numerous books on spirituality. So, one finds the expected level of expertise and objectivity on all things Merton, but also a taste of Fr. Shannon's own spirituality. In the introduction the author enumerates a three-pronged purpose in writing this book: showing that Merton's message is meaningful for current readers, presenting major themes that flow through Merton's enormous body of work, and recommending an order for reading Merton's books.

The organization and writing style make this my current favorite among books about Thomas Merton. The gifts of Merton and Shannon seem to combine to bring something fresh and inspiring to every page. The biography is a true introduction. The section on themes is a useful synthesis of Merton's spiritual growth, always with undertones showing how others can follow his path. And the recommendations for reading Merton are way beyond a book list: Shannon devotes 12 pages to Merton's most popular book, Seven Storey Mountain, giving its history and a section-by-section reading guide. Other major works are treated in similar style with similar detail.