Book Review - The Seven Storey Mountain
Sep. 11th, 2016 02:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23The Seven Storey Mountain - by Thomas Merton - I find Merton fascinating. It's hard to imagine Merton in a modern world. He is still controversial. At the end of his life, he was exploring the similarities and benefits of the Eastern religions- something that makes some Catholics feel he should be discredited. Still, Merton had a talent for phrasing and in modern culture where a big part of many people's day is posting inspirational quotes on social media, Merton is a constant presence.
The truth is Merton just had a talent for putting certain thoughts into phrases that resonate. Like Jack Kerouac (who wrote On the Road 9 years after Merton's classic), he strikes a nerve that he can capture people's imagination with his quotes. Of note, Kerouac was a Merton fan- and shares some of the qualities found in both men's works- Catholicism and a quest for peace through mysticism.
But before I get to my review of Merton's most famous work- his autobiography written in 1948- I am compelled to share this anecdote.
I wanted to read this book and figured the easiest way was to stop at the local Catholic bookstore. Though Merton's final writings are controversial, his early work is revered by Catholics, and quite point of fact, he is one of the most famous modern Catholic apologist writers (a short list that includes CS Lewis and GK Chesterton). So I was shocked to get the response "We have carried his books in the past, but we currently don't have anything". Meanwhile, same store had a shelf of Ben Carson's books. Carson, of course is a Seven Day Adventist. Oh well, it's all about the bottom line, I guess.
As I was saying, I find Merton fascinating. It would be interesting to see him in this century. Surely, his activism for social justice and outspoken pacifism would find him much loved by liberals. But I think he would be most like Pope Francis (who has mentioned Merton in some of his major speeches), loved in many ways by the Left, but surely would come into resistance on other issues. Merton likely would have a fundamentalist streak. Indeed, in 7SM, Merton espouses the view of pre-Vatican2 conference Catholicism which is that Protestants aren't going to Heaven.
I think Merton's book has been constantly in print because Merton is such a talented writer. He is simply telling the story of his life in 7SM, but you can tell that regardless of where his life's path was headed, he was a natural born writer. He had attended some of the best journalism schools, and he just has a knack for the story. You could say he shares that talent with Henry Miller, who was Merton's unlikely pen pal). Miller and Merton, as captured in correspondence easily found on the internet were mutual admirers and exchanged letters throughout their life.
Though Merton is certainly talented and the book (as I mentioned above) is full of great pull-out quotes, I did find it a bit of a slog at a time (a criticism I have of Kerouac's books as well). It's hard for me to sell this book to people who aren't interested in Merton to the level that they want to learn something about the man.
Merton at times is that hardline Catholic. It's hard to imagine there are no bullies in Catholic schools as there are in secular ones as Merton posits. Merton also takes "Thou Shall Not Kill" as an absolute, which given if you believe that is the Word of God, then it's hard to dispute. Merton was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam war, was a conscientious objector all of his life, and it is very easy to draw a conclusion that he would not only be against carpet bombing the Viet Cong, but also drone strikes on ISIS and the dearth penalty.
That said, we do get Merton's thoughts on the absolute evil- the Nazis- and Merton does indeed understand that they must be stopped as they rip through, damage and take over the lands he grew up in.
It's hard to rate this book and I will use the standby of different people will experience it differently. It's plot is essentially, Merton's road from wild young man to mystic monk Man of God. There are some unintentionally light thoughts- such as if you are going to give up all your worldy possessions to God, then why not spend it all and take a Cuban vacation first; or what would you have to give up, if you had to give up everything that you could not carry with you.
I don't want to make light, though. This is a very persuasive book and at the end of the day, there is a reason Merton is one of the greatest Apologists. There's plenty here that surely would make atheists stop and consider. Even the staunchest anti-Deist would have to conceed some points to how Merton chose to live his life.
It can be confusing for non-Catholics as Merton assumes everyone knows the Catholic graces, and in hindsight, surely he would have reached more readers and converted more if he had done some explanation, although again I assume it has some to do with the Church of that day
What's left unsaid is that we are told the Church censored Merton's manuscript. Merton really was a case of the most unlikely convert. He was allegedly a womanizer, a drunk, a communist (which he does touch on) and fathered a illegitimate child. In present time, one would consider that would make his story more compelling, but at that time, the Church wanted no part of that in the story.
Even given this background, it is often a compelling story of an unlikely convert, who experienced all life has to give and felt empty, finally working through some personal realities to decide ultimately to become a monk and the life it gives. It is at 500 pages, not an easy read, compounded by the fact that it is often heavy material. If one is willing to put the time into it, it's easy to see why it's so well loved. I have not read his other books, but they seem to be more digestible, and might work better for some people than this full autobiography.
On a random note, although I don't think there is much true physical comparison, I always think this cover (the 100 year centenary) makes him a look a bit like Ian MacKaye and certainly does not hurt his coolness factor.
The truth is Merton just had a talent for putting certain thoughts into phrases that resonate. Like Jack Kerouac (who wrote On the Road 9 years after Merton's classic), he strikes a nerve that he can capture people's imagination with his quotes. Of note, Kerouac was a Merton fan- and shares some of the qualities found in both men's works- Catholicism and a quest for peace through mysticism.
But before I get to my review of Merton's most famous work- his autobiography written in 1948- I am compelled to share this anecdote.
I wanted to read this book and figured the easiest way was to stop at the local Catholic bookstore. Though Merton's final writings are controversial, his early work is revered by Catholics, and quite point of fact, he is one of the most famous modern Catholic apologist writers (a short list that includes CS Lewis and GK Chesterton). So I was shocked to get the response "We have carried his books in the past, but we currently don't have anything". Meanwhile, same store had a shelf of Ben Carson's books. Carson, of course is a Seven Day Adventist. Oh well, it's all about the bottom line, I guess.
As I was saying, I find Merton fascinating. It would be interesting to see him in this century. Surely, his activism for social justice and outspoken pacifism would find him much loved by liberals. But I think he would be most like Pope Francis (who has mentioned Merton in some of his major speeches), loved in many ways by the Left, but surely would come into resistance on other issues. Merton likely would have a fundamentalist streak. Indeed, in 7SM, Merton espouses the view of pre-Vatican2 conference Catholicism which is that Protestants aren't going to Heaven.
I think Merton's book has been constantly in print because Merton is such a talented writer. He is simply telling the story of his life in 7SM, but you can tell that regardless of where his life's path was headed, he was a natural born writer. He had attended some of the best journalism schools, and he just has a knack for the story. You could say he shares that talent with Henry Miller, who was Merton's unlikely pen pal). Miller and Merton, as captured in correspondence easily found on the internet were mutual admirers and exchanged letters throughout their life.
Though Merton is certainly talented and the book (as I mentioned above) is full of great pull-out quotes, I did find it a bit of a slog at a time (a criticism I have of Kerouac's books as well). It's hard for me to sell this book to people who aren't interested in Merton to the level that they want to learn something about the man.
Merton at times is that hardline Catholic. It's hard to imagine there are no bullies in Catholic schools as there are in secular ones as Merton posits. Merton also takes "Thou Shall Not Kill" as an absolute, which given if you believe that is the Word of God, then it's hard to dispute. Merton was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam war, was a conscientious objector all of his life, and it is very easy to draw a conclusion that he would not only be against carpet bombing the Viet Cong, but also drone strikes on ISIS and the dearth penalty.
That said, we do get Merton's thoughts on the absolute evil- the Nazis- and Merton does indeed understand that they must be stopped as they rip through, damage and take over the lands he grew up in.
It's hard to rate this book and I will use the standby of different people will experience it differently. It's plot is essentially, Merton's road from wild young man to mystic monk Man of God. There are some unintentionally light thoughts- such as if you are going to give up all your worldy possessions to God, then why not spend it all and take a Cuban vacation first; or what would you have to give up, if you had to give up everything that you could not carry with you.
I don't want to make light, though. This is a very persuasive book and at the end of the day, there is a reason Merton is one of the greatest Apologists. There's plenty here that surely would make atheists stop and consider. Even the staunchest anti-Deist would have to conceed some points to how Merton chose to live his life.
It can be confusing for non-Catholics as Merton assumes everyone knows the Catholic graces, and in hindsight, surely he would have reached more readers and converted more if he had done some explanation, although again I assume it has some to do with the Church of that day
What's left unsaid is that we are told the Church censored Merton's manuscript. Merton really was a case of the most unlikely convert. He was allegedly a womanizer, a drunk, a communist (which he does touch on) and fathered a illegitimate child. In present time, one would consider that would make his story more compelling, but at that time, the Church wanted no part of that in the story.
Even given this background, it is often a compelling story of an unlikely convert, who experienced all life has to give and felt empty, finally working through some personal realities to decide ultimately to become a monk and the life it gives. It is at 500 pages, not an easy read, compounded by the fact that it is often heavy material. If one is willing to put the time into it, it's easy to see why it's so well loved. I have not read his other books, but they seem to be more digestible, and might work better for some people than this full autobiography.
On a random note, although I don't think there is much true physical comparison, I always think this cover (the 100 year centenary) makes him a look a bit like Ian MacKaye and certainly does not hurt his coolness factor.
