Thomas Merton's "The Seven Storey Mountain": A Spiritual Autobiography

Iain MacLeod-Brudenell: An excellent book

United Kingdom on Nov 03, 2023

Gines Pasamonte: While most of us will never possess Merton’s ability for reflection, self-criticism and ultimately, focus, this book shows us how it can be exercised at a very deep level and told in a truly informative and entertaining fashion.

The elephant in the room, however, is what he doesn’t tell the reader. The secret in his life that was a deal killer for the first order he tried to join but that the Trappists let slide — that he had a child with a woman several years earlier, abandoned them in England and never found out what happened to them. To put it simply, this fact bugs the hell out of me. Call me lowbrow, but I couldn’t give two ——s. Merton was fundamentally a deadbeat dad. He wrote this book. And he never addressed the issue. Maybe he did so in a later writing. I don’t know.

The tragedy is doubly compounded by the death of Merton’s brother: John Paul. John Paul is going to England to fly bomber missions for the RCAF. Does Merton ask him: “John Paul. Find my kid. Tell her I love her.” No. So. John Paul is dead. The Introduction says the daughter and mother probably died in the Blitz. Meanwhile we are reading a very spiritual book abut deep levels...

United States on Jul 31, 2023

Dr.T.: A most interesting read. Google the authors real life after reading.

Canada on Jun 26, 2023

tranceangel_3: This is a must-read for everyone wanting to know more about the Trappist monk Thomas Merton. I myself decided to start off with his biography and eventually move on to his other books. His autobiography really lights the way to a man who was a real searcher of truth and God. I believe he found both. Sadly, his untimely passing in 1968 shows once more, that great souls are not always accepted in this illusionary world.

Germany on Aug 08, 2022

Rob Duncan: Merton uses his skills as a writer to unfold for us his thoughts and reflections, in the form of an autobiography, that led to his conversion to Catholicism and ultimately to becoming a Trappist Monk in Kentucky. Now before you switch channels, give it a chance and read this book! I couldn't put it down. I think he has captured something of what every human being wants to explore and experience: meaning in life. So suspend any pre-judgement or pre-conception about "religion" and dive into what he has to say. I think you'll find the journey intriguing! A powerful experience.

Canada on Feb 27, 2020

Anthony(Tony) Riggio: A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book The Seven Story Mountain by Thomas Merton; 1/14/15

I finally read this book after years of my wife Micheline telling me that this was such wonderful book and well written by Thomas Merton, a Cistercian Monk, i.e., a cloistered monk who dedicates his life to silence and the devotion to God in all labors at the monastery.

After reading My Life with the Saints by James Martin, SJ, he listed Thomas Merton as one of those saints (though not canonized) and his review sparked my interests de novo.
I purchased the Kindle edition and read it. One of the reviews was quite negative about typographical errors and I did take the time to report the typos to Kindle and I certainly hope they have corrected them as promised.

Thomas Merton led a most interesting life being born in France at the foot hills of the Pyrenees Mountains in 1915 to “Bohemian” parents, both artists but adhering to no religion. They had two sons Thomas and John Paul. The father, an impressionistic artist was a bit of a vagabond and they moved often. Merton’s mother dies soon after the birth of John Paul, the father moves to England and changes schools...

United States on Jan 16, 2015

Peter Dubbelman: Thomas Merton writes well and he's my brother in Christ; further, his writings inform and stir my passion to come alongside other people's spiritual journey in hopes of seeing them further immersed into the life of God (cf. Acts 8:26-40); however, this book isn't for everyone, and, if you're within Protestant Christianity there will be isolated mentions of Catholicism that you'll need to wrestle through; after all, there are real differences in how Protestants and Catholics articulate the gospel and how their churches construct that understanding.

Merton confesses, "The bent of my mind was essentially `Augustinian.'" (241) Therefore, we shouldn't be surprised that his autobiography is a modern day version of Augustine's Confessions, albeit with a Roman Catholic, pre-Vatican II, monastic flavoring. The book covers his life from childhood to priesthood, highlighting his struggles with surrendering both to Christ and becoming a Trappist Monk.

My take away quotes:
1. The persons most influential in his conversion: Merton and his father occasionally rented a room from the Privats: "They were to be among the most remarkable people I ever knew ... Full of that...

United States on Dec 22, 2014

Genevieve DuGas: I chose this book because it's a well-known classic that I always wanted to read. Also, it's a memoir, which I hoped to find helpful in writing my own memoir. Merton is a brilliant writer, recreating places and phases of his life story in such a way as to place me right in the thick of it. Also a gifted theologian, he writes convincingly of the reality of faith, the reality of God. He is convincing because he so deeply and unequivocally believes it himself. He is mercilessly honest about his own failings and wrongdoings, his pride, self-delusion, etc. From a young, confused, hedonistic, self-absorbed young man to a committed, serious man of faith, he took me every step of the way, never losing my understanding and sympathy. Why? Because of his scrupulous self-honesty and self-criticism. He also intelligently and fairly criticizes religious orders, holding them up to the ideal forged by Christ. Believers and nonbelievers alike will find this book intriguing and provocative.

Colleen Gillis

Canada on Aug 25, 2013