Title: Not for everyone
Review: Instead of inspiring me (as he has clearly done for many readers), Merton more often left me frowning and scratching my head. While this book contains some gems, I can understand how the reader from Florida saw it as "mumbo jumbo." For starters, Merton is not exactly a skilled writer (he admits as much in his introduction). His writing is often frustratingly vague and disconnected. Moreover, his calls for strict adherence to Catholic dogma and for perfect Christians to become communists were a bit off-putting to this layperson. Perhaps at a different point in my life, I might find it wonderfully inspiring. But as an early guide in my contemplative journey, Merton was more of a stumbling block than a stepping stone.
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